Turquoise Jewelry is the epitome of class and luxury. These delicate yet extremely beautiful jewelry pieces add a charming touch to your overall look. However, air and moisture are the biggest enemies of these sparkling pieces.
When not used frequently, you can keep them in a storage box. But if you love to flaunt them often, it’s a necessity to keep them well-maintained. Now, the question remains— how to clean turquoise jewelry at home without any professional help?
Well, despite sounding tricky, this is quite easy and you can clean turquoise jewelry using the methods mentioned in the following article. Here, you get adequate learning of the necessity for special care, multiple methods, precautionary measures, and some expert tips.
What Is Turquoise?
What’s in this article?
If you don’t know much about your turquoise metal, then worry not. Before delving deeper into the cleaning methods, let’s first understand the semi-precious turquoise metal. It’s highly prized for its striking blue-green coloration. This may range from sky blue to greenish hues.
It’s mainly composed of aluminum sulfate and hydrated copper, however, it’s derived from basalt and granite rocks. Turquoise has been valued for both its aesthetic appeal and spiritual meaning for ages.
Native American tribes including Egyptian and Persian civilizations also have turquoise in their culture. Its vivid hue and distinctive matrix patterns make it a well-liked option for adornments and jewelry. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also known to have therapeutic qualities and enhance emotional health.
Significant Properties Of Turquoise
Certain significant properties make turquoise a loved choice among the people. It incorporates several therapeutic qualities other than the visible ones. Here, we’ve elaborated on some unique characteristics of turquoise:
- Color Variation: The various blue and green tones that turquoise displays are caused by various elements, including the presence of iron and copper impurities and the geological circumstances at the time of production.
- Porosity: Turquoise can absorb moisture, oils, and chemicals as it has a porous surface. The porous characteristic of turquoise makes it prone to harm from extended contact with materials such as cosmetics and perfumes.
- Matrix Patterns: Certain elements like iron pyrite or quartz are present in the turquoise metal. Due to this, many turquoise specimens have distinctive matrix patterns. These patterns strengthen the stone’s visual appeal providing it with more personality and depth.
- Mohs Hardness: When compared to other gemstones, turquoise has a somewhat soft Mohs hardness of 5 to 6. If not handled carefully, this softness increases its vulnerability to abrasions and scratches.
- Therapeutic Qualities: Turquoise has special significance in many cultures. Owning some therapeutic qualities makes it even more valuable. It is said to have healing and relaxing properties. To maintain these properties, it’s important to handle them well.
Precautions Before Cleaning
As turquoise is a delicate material, it requires gentle cleaning and proper handling. Before you begin the cleaning process, you may consider the following precautionary steps. These simple steps will protect against damage to your precious turquoise jewelry.
- Before cleaning, carefully look into the settings of your turquoise jewelry to ensure they’re steady. Loose settings can lead to the loss of stones all through the cleansing system.
- Examine the turquoise stones for any signs of damage or instability, inclusive of cracks, chips, or loose fragments. Cleaning broken turquoise can enhance the issues.
- Ensure that clasps, hooks, or other fasteners are in appropriate condition and properly secured. This prevents unintentional wearing or breakage for the duration of cleaning.
- Use a soft brush or cloth to gently take away any visible dirt or particles from the surface of the jewelry. This prevents scratching or abrasive harm at any point in your cleaning process.
- Always avoid using harsh chemical compounds or abrasive cleaners for turquoise jewelry cleaning. These can damage the stone’s surface and affect its color and luster.
- Choose cleansing substances that are gentle and non-abrasive, which include moderate soap, lukewarm water, and a gentle-bristled brush. Avoid rough or abrasive substances that could scratch the turquoise.
- Handle turquoise jewelry with care to save them from unintended bumps or drops. Turquoise is extremely gentle and can easily get scratched or broken when you mishandle them.
How To Clean Turquoise Jewelry : Walkthrough The Methods
Let’s start learning turquoise jewelry cleaning at home using some different methods. The following section will take you through the diverse methods, essential tools, storage guidelines, and much more:
Supplies You’ll Need
As we’re talking about three different methods, the cleaning supplies may vary accordingly. However, the list of some common supplies you might need during the cleaning process includes the following:
- Distilled Water
- Soft Microfiber Cloth
- Soft Cotton Swabs
- Jewelry Cleaning Solution
- Jewelry Polishing Cloth
- Soft Toothpicks
- Dental Floss
Soap and Water Method
To clean the Turquoise Jewelry using soap and water, you’ll need the following supplies:
- Dish Soap
- Gentle Hand Soap
- Lukewarm Water
- Soft-bristled Brush
- Clean, Lint-free Cloth
The Steps:
- Foremost, you’ll need to prepare a cleaning solution. For this, fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and then add hand soap or dish soap to it. Mix it well to create suds.
- Now submerge all of your turquoise jewelry in the soapy mixture. Allow them to soak for no more than ten minutes. In the meantime, it’ll remove all the loose residual particles, dirt, etc.
- After soaking, use a gentle-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush or a gentle earrings brush, to softly scrub the surface of the jewelry. Pay interest to any intricate details or hard-to-reach areas where dust may additionally acquire.
- Once the jewelry has been scrubbed, cautiously rinse it underneath lukewarm walking water to do away with any soap residue and loosened dust. Ensure thorough rinsing to save you soap buildup, which can impact the jewelry’s appearance.
- Once you’re done with the cleaning process, allow jewelry pieces to dry. You can pat them dry using soft, clean clothes. Don’t apply excessive pressure as it can damage the surface.
- If preferred, gently polish the dry turquoise jewelry pieces using a soft microfiber cloth to restore the natural luster and shine.
Baking Soda Paste Method
The cleaning supplies you might need to clean the Turquoise Jewelry may include the following:
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Toothbrush
- Soft Clothes
The Steps:
- In a small bowl, mix baking soda with a small quantity of water to prepare a thick paste. The consistency must resemble that of toothpaste.
- Using a cotton swab, apply the baking soda paste to the surface of the turquoise jewelry. Ensure that the paste covers all areas of the jewelry, which include any tricky details or crevices where dust may be lodged.
- With the baking soda paste applied, use the tender-bristled brush or cotton swab to gently scrub the jewelry. Focus on regions with seen dirt or tarnish, applying light pressure to avoid scratching the turquoise.
- After scrubbing, allow the baking soda paste to sit on the jewelry for a couple of minutes. This lets in the baking soda to penetrate and raise away any stubborn stains or residues from the turquoise.
- After that, rinse the jewelry beneath lukewarm water to cast off the baking soda residue and dust particles. Ensure thorough rinsing to save you any residue from impacting the turquoise’s appearance.
- Pat the turquoise jewelry with a smooth, lint-free fabric. Apply gentle pressure and avoid rubbing or wiping the jewelry. Doing so will protect the turquoise delicate surface.
Lemon Juice and Olive Oil Method
Get the following tools in handy to proceed with cleaning Turquoise Jewelry through the lemon juice and olive oil method:
- Lemon Juice
- Olive Oil
- Soft Brushes
- Smooth Microfiber Clothes
The Steps:
- In a small bowl, mix squeezed lemon juice and olive oil in a 1:1 ratio. Ensure that the lemon juice is natural and doesn’t contain additives, and use extra virgin olive oil for better results.
- Using a smooth-bristled brush, apply the prepared mixture on the surface of the turquoise jewelry. Ensure that the mixture covers all areas of the jewelry, which includes even the hardest spots.
- When you’ve applied the mixture properly, start rubbing the surface of the jewelry using the cotton swab. Focus on areas with visible dirt or tarnish, making use of mild strain to avoid scratching the turquoise.
- After rubbing, allow the mixture to soak inside the jewelry pieces for a few minutes. This allows the acidic properties of the lemon juice to help dissolve any stubborn stains or residues from the turquoise.
- Once the suggested time is over, rinse the jewelry underneath lukewarm running water to eliminate the lemon juice and olive oil mixture and residual particles. Ensure thorough rinsing to prevent any residue from impacting the overall aesthetic appeal.
- Pat the turquoise jewelry pieces dry using a clean, lint-free fabric. Be mild to avoid rubbing or wiping the jewelry too vigorously, to avoid scratching the sensitive surface of the turquoise.
- Allow the jewelry to air dry earlier than wearing or storing it. Ensure that moisture has evaporated to prevent water harm to the turquoise or its settings.
Also Read : How to Clean Antique Jewelry
Storage Guidelines
Now that you are done with the cleaning process using multiple methods, you should also know how to store turquoise jewelry. Optimal storage is necessary to protect the delicate material from getting damaged and harmed. You can consider some of the following guidelines:
- Store turquoise jewelry in a dry environment to prevent moisture buildup, which may damage the stone with time.
- Keep turquoise rings far from direct daylight or extreme warmth, as prolonged exposure to heat sources can cause the stone color to fade or exchange.
- Avoid storing turquoise jewelry in areas at risk of severe temperatures, which includes close to heating vents or inside the fridge. Sudden temperature modifications can cause the stone to crack or fracture.
- Store each piece of turquoise jewelry separately to save it from scratching or getting harmed from contact with other pieces. Use soft material pouches or jewelry packing containers for an enhanced level of safety.
- Never keep delicate pieces of turquoise jewelry around harsh chemical substances, which include family cleaners, perfumes, hairsprays, and cosmetics. Chemical exposure can cause damage to the stone and its placement.
- Periodically investigate stored turquoise jewelry for any signs of harm, such as free stones, scratches, or tarnish. Promptly deal with any troubles to prevent similar harm and preserve the quality of the jewelry.
- Consider placing anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packets in the storage location to help absorb moisture and prevent the tarnishing of metal components in the jewelry pieces.
- Store turquoise jewlery pieces in a safe area, inclusive of a jewelry container with a locking mechanism, to save you from loss or theft.
- Keep turquoise rings away from areas with high humidity as moisture inside the air can promote tarnishing and damage to the jewelry.
Final Words
Cleaning turquoise jewelry needs accurate methods and the right approach as it’s a delicate material. You can have a satisfying cleaning experience at home with the methods and steps mentioned in this article on how to clean turquoise jewelry. In this way, you can maintain the integrity and aesthetic appeal of your precious jewelry for many more years.