How to Keep Your Jewelry Shiny

The sentimental value of most fine jewelry or precious gems can vastly increase their worth to the owner, making the care of old and new heirlooms a doubly important task.

The American Gemety, a national nonprofit organization of retail jewelers, recommends professional cleaning for your fine jewelry, or this home-made solution:

1 tablespoon liquid detergent (such as Mr. Clean or equivalent)

1 tablespoon pharmaceutical ammonia

1/2 cup warm water

Dip the jewelry in this solution and let it soak for five minutes.

Then gently brush clean with a soft toothbrush. After cleaning, jewelry should be dried on a lint-free towel.

Some notes of caution: Be sure to use pharmaceutical ammonia; household ammonia leaves a film. Do not use the solution on porous gemstones that might lose their color, such as lapis lazuli, coral and pearls.