Bridal Bling: Sparkling Clean Diamond Rings, Jewelry and Crystal
James Allen
Your wedding day is your day to shine! You’ll want to pay close attention to the details – especially since everyone else surely will!
Rock that bling!
Clean your wedding jewelry and engagement ring a few days before the wedding so it sparkles like brand new! This is simple enough to do at home – here are some great tips that will work great on gold jewelry and most precious gemstones:
1. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild liquid detergent. A soft toothbrush can be used to gently brush the jewelry while it is in the suds. Rinse jewelry items in warm water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth or tissue paper.
2. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of cold water and household ammonia (half and half) for thirty minutes. Once again a soft toothbrush can be used around the mounting. Swish in the solution again, then rinse and air dry on a soft cloth.
3. Use a brand name liquid jewelry cleaner and follow the instructions given on the label.
4. Using a baking soda, add a small amount of water to create a paste. Brush on the paste with a soft toothbrush, rinse under warm running water and let air dry.
Some people swear by a solution of vinegar and warm water, while others prefer to use vodka. I have also read about using toothpaste as a cleaner, but jewelers seem to discourage this. (Note: Toothpaste and other abrasive substances can scratch your jewelry.)
Swarovski bridal necklaces are very popular as they are much more affordable than diamonds and precious gemstones. Cleaning of your Swarovski crystal jewelry should be done on regularly basis by using warm soapy water. You can also use ultrasonic jewelery cleaner on occasional basis. After this, it should be rinsed with warm water and air dried. It’s recommended that you keep your Swarovski bridal jewelry away from make-ups, hair sprays, perfumes and other strong chemicals.
Sparkling Crystal and Glass
I have seen so many incredibly gorgeous crystal and glass pieces at weddings: from Tiffany and Wedgwood to Baccarat and Swarovski! It always surprises me that these items are often not properly cleaned before they are displayed at the wedding ceremony or reception.
All of your personal items – unity candle sets, champagne flutes, picture frames, candy decanters, etc – should be cleaned of finger prints and filmy residue, and all stickers and tags should be removed.
Tips for removing tags and merchandise labels include GooGone (my favorite), WD-40 (be careful where you use this) and the age old ’soaking’ technique. Heating the labels with a hairdryer is also helpful in loosening the adhesive glue. Whenever possible, use cotton gloves to handle the items.
Note: Take special care when cleaning heirloom pieces. When in doubt, consult a professional jeweler.
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