Surprising Christmas leftovers you can use to clean your jewellery
The Christmas clean-up is in full swing around the UK - but don’t throw everything away just yet as it turns out some of the items we can use for cleaning.
Nilesh Rakholia, jewellery expert and founder of Abelini has shared the common items you can use to give your favourite (or if you’re lucky) or brand new jewellery a deep clean.
Vodka for sparkle
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Vodka isn’t just for cocktails - it’s also a quick fix for bringing back the shine to crystal or glass jewellery.
"Vodka’s alcohol content cuts through grease and dirt, restoring a brilliant finish," says Nilesh. "Dip a soft cloth into vodka and gently rub it over your jewellery. However, avoid using this method on porous stones like opals or pearls, as they can absorb the liquid and become damaged. For best results, always dry the jewellery with a lint-free cloth to prevent streaks and maintain its sparkle."
Boiled potato water for silver
Don’t toss out that starchy potato water from your roasties as it’s a natural cleaner for silver jewellery.
Nilesh explains: "The starch in potato water can help lift tarnish from silver. Let the water cool after boiling potatoes, then soak your silver pieces for 15–20 minutes. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water and finish by polishing them with a soft cloth. It’s an eco-friendly way to restore silver’s shine without harsh chemicals."
Beer for a golden glow
Polishing gold jewellery with beer might sound unconventional, but it’s a surprisingly effective method for restoring shine.
"Beer’s mild acidity can gently remove surface grime without being harsh on gold," says Nilesh. "Simply pour a small amount of beer onto a soft cloth and rub it over your gold items, avoiding any gemstones. After polishing, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth. It’s an easy, safe way to bring back gold’s natural lustre. For long-term care, consider storing gold jewellery in soft pouches to prevent scratching and have it professionally cleaned once a year to maintain its brilliance."
Nilesh also shared one common household hack for cleaning jewellery that you shouldn’t ever use
Don’t use toothpaste for cleaning
Using toothpaste can be abrasive to metals. Toothpaste can scratch metal surfaces, especially softer ones like gold or white gold and so should never be used on jewellery and not anything as precious as an engagement ring," says Nilesh.
"Instead, opt for a soft chamois cloth and a jewellery cleaner designed for delicate items. For a deeper clean, soak your pieces weekly in a gentle degreasing solution, then use a soft toothbrush to reach tricky spots, like the underside of a diamond. Always rinse thoroughly and air-dry on a lint-free cloth. Don’t forget to visit a jeweller annually for a professional clean and inspection to keep your jewellery secure and sparkling."
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