How to Clean Jewelry With Ammonia. Some of the most precious possessions enjoyed by both men and women include fine jewelry pieces. Whether your favorite piece of jewelry is a family heirloom you rarely wear, or your diamond wedding ring that never comes off, taking regular care and cleaning your jewelry keeps it looking great. Ammonia is a great and safe cleaning agent, that when used properly, can keep your jewelry looking new.
Clean diamonds and colored gems by making a solution of one part water and one part ammonia. Soak your jewelry in the solution for 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water and place on a towel to dry.
Use an old soft bristle toothbrush, if soaking doesn't clean deeply enough. Dip the brush in the cleaning solution and gently 'tap' around the mounting with the bristles of the brush, removing any dirt and grime that may have built up. Dip the ring into the solution once more to remove loose pieces, rinse and place on a towel to dry.
Remove light tarnish from gold and silver jewelry by mixing 1/4 cup of warm water, 2 tsp. of liquid dishwashing soap and 1 tsp. of ammonia. Place the solution on a soft cloth or cotton swab and gently rub the jewelry until the tarnish is removed.
Soak the jewelry in the tarnish solution for 30 minutes if the soft cloth or cotton swab cannot remove tarnish from detail or around mountings. Remove the jewelry and cover the head of a toothbrush with a soft cloth, rubbing gently with the covered toothbrush until the tarnish is removed. You may soak the jewelry again if necessary.
Tip
Jewelry quickly picks of dirt and grime. To keep your jewelry clean, use the ammonia solutions often and take of your jewelry when cleaning, applying make-up or lotion. When storing your jewelry, remember that diamonds can easily scratch other jewelry, including other diamonds. Protect your jewelry by wrapping each piece in cloth.