Shine On: Expert Guide to Cleaning Your Bling

Jan. 11, 2007 — -- Diamonds are the toughest rocks in town; opals are among the softest. To keep your treasures looking their best, follow these tips from Carolyn Forte, director of home appliances and cleaning products at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

If instructions call for brushing, use an eye shadow brush; for scrubbing, use a baby's toothbrush. If your ring or necklace is set with a variety of jewels, heed the advice for the most delicate; our list starts with the hardest stone and ends with the softest.

Soak your diamonds in a solution of two parts warm water and one part ammonia for several minutes. Scrub to loosen any dirt. Rinse and pat dry. Hand lotions and soaps can make diamonds look dull. Do this every few weeks if you wear your diamond all the time; do it every few months if you take it off every now and then.

Store your diamonds individually. These gems are so hard, they can scratch or crack if knocked together in a box. Separate them from other stones in a soft pouch or a little box.

These gems are all types of quartz. Immerse them separately, to avoid scratching, in a mixture of warm water and mild, softener-free dishwashing liquid. With a baby's toothbrush, scrub the stone gently, rinse, and dry.

As a cleaner, Ivory is better than Dawn. Whatever cleaner you use shouldn't use aloe or vitamin E or be antibacterial. While these things are good for hands, they are bad for jewelry.

Dip your emeralds in room-temperature water and brush gently without soap and then let them air-dry.

You should also have your emeralds re-oiled by a jeweler every few years.

To clean opals, use a soft, soapy cloth, then rinse. Be extra careful when handling and storing these stones because they're prone to chipping.

Opals need to absorb moisture from the air, otherwise they can crack. Keep them in a jewelry box that you open frequently and not anyplace airtight, like a safe-deposit box.