Tips for Keeping Jewelry Clean

Mike Levine

If you’re like the rest of us, staying safe right now includes washing your hands consistently and thoroughly, especially whenever you touch any “foreign” surface. As a result, many of our hands are dry and cracking from all the washing in the recent colder weather. The increased use of hand-sanitizing products only worsens this dryness.

Your jewelry may also be feeling the effect of all that extra hygiene. Excessive use of hand-sanitizer and contact with strong cleaning agents can damage fine jewelry. But it’s important you keep your jewelry clean. Germs can hide on the inside of rings and in design crevices, for example. While stones like diamonds are pretty sturdy, other more delicate stones, like opals and pearls, don’t react well with some soaking solutions.

Even though we love jewelry (of course!), at this delicate time we suggest that you consider following the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) tip: If you have to head out of your home for an essential errand, leave jewelry at home. In an article in USA Today, Rochelle Walensky, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital said, “I think removal of rings/jewelry when washing hands – or perhaps limiting their wear altogether right now- represents a wise move forward.”

We understand some people don’t want to take off engagement rings and/or wedding bands for sentimental reasons, fear of theft or accidentally misplacing them. Many individuals do not like to ever remove engagement rings or wedding bands. If you really feel you have to wear rings out in public and for some reason aren’t wearing protective gloves, David Craig Jewelers suggests you follow these two steps:

#1 Before scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, always remove rings and wash them thoroughly with warm, soapy water, letting them dry on a clean surface. NEVER place rings near a sink or you could risk seeing your precious investment literally go down the drain!

#2 Wash your hands thoroughly in soap and water before you put the rings back on.

If you have specific questions about the safe cleaning of a particular piece of fine jewelry, please feel free to call David at 267-278-1986. We’re happy to offer advice.

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