Cleaning your jewelry without ruining it

Jewelry care advice on the internet is mostly wrong. Here are four myths and what to actually do.

Myth 1: Toothpaste polishes silver

It does. It also scratches it. Use a soft cloth instead.

Myth 2: Lemon juice fixes tarnish

It strips plating. If your piece is gold-plated brass, lemon juice will eat through the gold layer in days.

Myth 3: Ultrasonic cleaners are universal

Stones with cracks (most natural gemstones) shatter in ultrasonic baths. Use only for solid metal.

Myth 4: Storing in a Ziploc preserves silver

The plastic gases out and accelerates tarnish. Use the cloth pouch your piece arrived in.