It can be difficult to not fall in love with a shiny, new piece of jewelry. The bad thing is that a jewelry’s shine never seems to last long. The shimmer starts to fade away soon. You could take your jewelry into a professional to have it cleaned for you. But jewelers can be expensive and leave your valuable with a stranger can sometimes be kind of nerve-wracking. The good news is that bringing your jewelry for professional cleaning is not the only way to renew your jewelry sheen.

There are, fortunately, a few different ways that you can get the same, professional level of jewelry cleaning done in the comfort of your own home. Two great ways to get the job done at home are ultrasonic jewelry cleaning and steam jet jewelry cleaning. With an ultrasonic cleaner, you can also use it to clean many other small items. These two methods prove to be some of the best ways to get your jewelry back to its original shine.

• Ultrasonic Cleaners – An ultrasonic cleaner is a device that houses a tank which is filled with a cleaning solution. You place your jewelry in the tank’s solution and the device’s motor produces ultrasonic vibrations all throughout the liquid. These tiny vibrations help to break down dirt particles and “scrub” the surface of your jewelry without being abrasive. This action works to completely clean your jewelry. The vibrations can reach and clean parts of your jewelry that you, otherwise, would not be able to get. The tiny, but powerful, forces act on your jewelry to penetrate the tiniest holes. Every crack and crevice will get cleaned. Ensuring that no particle of dirt gets left behind.
• Steam Cleaners – Steam cleaners are probably the safer method. They are also just as effective at cleaning your jewelry at home. When you use a steam cleaner, you also eliminate needing to use any cleaning solutions which can contain chemicals. These can sometimes be too harsh for certain types of jewelry. Not to mention, your own health. There are, also, some types of jewelry that should not be cleaned with steam. Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies can safely be steamed. But, opals, pearls, and semi-precious stones have a softer surface and should never be steam cleaned. One other benefit of a steam cleaner is that it can also be used to clean other items around the house. You can use them on floors and other hard surfaces. Try using it to clean fabrics and linens or even try it on your car’s upholstery.

Other Uses for an Ultrasonic Cleaner

There are many things that can be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner. Anything with small parts and surfaces that can fit into the cleaner can be brought back to its original cleanliness. You can use your ultrasonic cleaner for things such as small gun parts, car parts, or for even more personal items like dentures. Ultrasonic cleaners are strong enough to get the dirt off but gentle enough to not cause any damage to the surface of your items.

What to Consider When Choosing a Cleaning Solution

There are basically two options when it comes down to choosing a cleaning solution to use in your ultrasonic cleaner. You can either choose to purchase a cleaning solution from a company. Or, you may decide to prepare your own cleaning solution at home.

When choosing to purchase a solution, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid any possible reaction that could cause personal injury.

As to preparing a solution at home, you can either use a solution of water, ammonia, and dishwashing liquid or simply use vinegar. Another thing to remember is to always make sure to warm the solution before placing it in your ultrasonic cleaner. The hot solution will further help break down any dirt and get your jewelry shiny again.