We’re all washing our hands more frequently these days — or at least, we should be. It’s one of the most important components of stopping the spread of COVID-19. But do you disinfect your jewelry? What about your watch? According to the CDC, studies have shown that skin underneath rings contains more germs than skin without rings. Yuck.
If wearing jewelry is part of your daily routine, cleaning it should be a part of it, too. Here’s how to disinfect your jewelry and daily accessories:
How to Disinfect Your Diamond Jewelry
Diamonds are unique because they are the hardest natural substance on Earth. You should clean your diamond jewelry regularly, especially if its a wedding/engagement ring you wear every day. Diamonds and most colored gems can be cleaned with warm water, mild dish soap (no detergents) and a soft brush, according to GIA. Be sure to rinse your jewelry in a glass of water to remove cleaning solutions rather than rinsing with running water. That way, you won’t lose any loose stones.
How to Disinfect Your Rolex Watches
Luxury watches, like Rolex require special care and services every few years. Between visits, you can keep your Rolex clean and germ-free by following these steps:
- Screw down the crown. According to Rolex, “the crown of your Rolex screws down tightly to create a hermetic seal like the hatch of a submarine.” This important step will keep your watch waterproof and safe during cleaning.
- Fill a small bowl with water and a bit of mild soap. Soaps with harsh chemicals could damage your Rolex
- Scrub the watch gently with a soft toothbrush. Dip the brush in the cleaning solution and scrub the watch everywhere, including between the links and lugs.
- Rinse the watch under warm water. Make sure all the soap is washed away to avoid residue.
- Dry using a microfiber cloth. This will prevent scratching and leave your Rolex shining like new!
How to Disinfect Your Silver Jewelry
For polishing and disinfecting silver, we recommend using specially-made silver wipes, like these ones from Weiman. These wipes were made to remove tarnish, polish dull and discolored metal with a mild, fresh-scented formula.
For those stuck at home, here’s a home remedy from The Today Show:
What you’ll need:
- A dish or a bowl
- Aluminum foil
- Boiling water
- 1 tbsp of baking soda for each cup of water
What you’ll do:
- Line the bottom of a dish or a bowl with aluminum foil.
- Bring water to a roaring boil (it should be enough to fill that bowl or dish).
- Add 1 tbsp of baking soda per cup of water. Expect that the solution may bubble and froth a bit.
- Place the piece of silver jewelry in the dish, making sure that it’s touching the aluminum foil. This is essential for the chemical reaction to occur.
- Pour the solution of baking soda and boiling water into dish.
- Let sit for two to 10 minutes, depending on the level of tarnish.
- Allow it to dry.
How to Disinfect Your Smart Watches and Fitness Trackers
For smart watches and fitness trackers, we recommend using alcohol pads. You can purchase these online or at any drug store. This will disinfect your accessory without damaging the materials in the process.
Other Cleaning Tips
It’s also important to note that hand sanitizer should not be used on any organic gems like pearls, opals or turquoise. The alcohol in the sanitizer can dry out the gems leading to permanent damage. When in doubt, take off your jewelry before washing your hands.
We at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange offer free jewelry cleaning services to our customers! No matter the metals or stone, we can get your jewelry squeaky-clean and shining like new. We are still practicing social distancing amid the COVID-19 crisis and disinfecting our high-traffic areas. We just ask that customers wear a protective mask when they come see us.
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