Cleaning Technique Solutions: Clean Your Gemstones The Right Way

Published on Jul 29, 2016

SHARE ON

These wonders of nature leave no stone unturned adorning your jewels (pun intended). We must feel duty-bound to keep their magnificence intact. A thorough care will ensure a long life and durability of our dear gemstones, and knowledge is a pre-requisite for that. Below is a comprehensive table of cleaning techniques for the major gemstones.

However, before we delve into scientifically established techniques for cleaning, let us quickly go over some basic points we need to keep in mind:

Use a soft brush to clean hard gemstone
Make sure the brush you are using for scrubbing has soft bristles
A regular glass cleaner works wonders in removing oil and dirt
Use a lint-free cloth to wipe and dry
In case you use a strong chemical to clean, for instance, while using Ammonia, make sure to dilute one part of ammonia in three parts of water

Gemstone	Hardness (On Mohs Scale)	Suggested Cleaning Technique	Avoid	Special Comments	Use of Ultrasonic Cleaners
Diamond	10	Use commercial jewellery cleaner or any mild household detergent	Powdered abrasive household cleansers and steaming pose a serious threat to diamonds		NO
Sapphire	9	Typically, lukewarm soapy water is favourable. Fracture-filled or dyed should only be cleaned with a damp cloth	Use of acid will damage treated or untreated stones	no boiling	For untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion treated stones only
Emerald	7.5 to 8	Warm, soapy water with gentle scrubbing will make emeralds shine again	Steaming can cause oil or unhardened resin to sweat out of fractures		NO
Ruby	9	Typically, lukewarm soapy water is favourable. Fracture-filled or dyed should only be cleaned with a damp cloth	Use of acid will damage treated or untreated stones		For untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion treated stones only
Tourmaline	7 to 7.5	Lukewarm soapy water is the prefered substance for cleaning tourmaline	Steaming will prove maleficent		NO
Alexandrite	8.5	Lukewarm soapy water is considered safe for both, untreated and fractured-filled stones	Chemicals are usually not suggested for cleaning		Favourable for only untreated stones
Morganite	7.5 to 8	Warm soapy water is the safest solution	Hydrofluoric acid should be kept away		Unfavourable for liquid inclusions or fractures and fractured filled stones
Topaz	8	Warm soapy water is the safest solution	Steaming causes damage		NO
Zircon	6 to 7.5	Warm soapy water is the safest solution	Steaming causes damage	Prone to impurities	NO
Aquamarine	7.5 to 8	Warm and soapy water are the best ways to clean and keep your gemstone shine bright	Steaming cleaning is suggested only for stones with liquid out fractures and untreated stones		Unfavourable for liquid inclusions or fractures and fractured filled stones
Amethyst	7	Warm soapy water is the safest solution	Steam cleaning and heat will damage amethyst beyond repair		Favourable for only untreated stones
Opal	5 to 6.5	Lukewarm soapy water is the prefered solution for cleaning Opal	Detergents with phosphate can damage the stone		NO
Spinel	8	It’s always safe to clean spinel with warm soapy water	Steaming is highly unfavourable		Unfavourable for stones with fractures
Garnet	7	Warm soapy water is the safest solution	Steam cleaning is not recommended		Unfavourable for stones with fractures
Amber	2 and 2.5	Warm soapy water is the safest solution. Use the mildest soap you can find	Damaged by chemicals	Do not use brush	NO
Moonstone	6 and 6.5	Warm soapy water is the only recommended substance for cleaning	Steaming and hydrofluoric acid are harmful		NO
Tanzanite	6 to 7	Warm soapy water is the safest substance	Exposure to hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids is harmful		NO
Turquoise	5 to 6	Warm soapy water is the safest substance	No chemicals or steaming method is recommended. Treated stones are especially suggested to be kept away from heat exposure		NO
Peridot	6.5 to 7	Warm soapy water is the safest substance	Steam cleaners are not recommended		NO
Iolite	7 to 7.5	Warm & soapy water works the best	Steam cleaning method is suggested to be avoided		NO
Jade	6.5 to 7	Warm & soapy water works the best	Jade stones are usually treated by dyeing, bleaching and impregnation, coatings, or heat treatment. It is suggested to use steaming or ultrasonic cleaners		Favourable for only untreated stones
Kunzite	6.5 to 7	Warm soapy water is the safest substance	It’s recommended to avoid steaming		NO
Pearl	2.5	It’s safe to use warm soapy water. However, use lint-free cloth to clean pearls after every use	It’s recommended to avoid steaming	Occasional cleaning is suggested	NO
Carnelian	7	Use Moist cloth for gentle strokes or rub with dry cloth briskly	Steaming & boiling are not recommended		NO
Citrine	7	Warm soapy water is the safest substance	Steaming and boiling, which means exposure to excessive heat, will dull the colour of your stone		NO
Lapis Lazuli	5-5.5	Warm soapy water is the safest substance	Steaming & boiling are not recommended	Steaming and boiling, which means exposure to excessive heat, will dull the colour of your stone	NO

Personalised Gemstone Consultation

GemPundit has a team of learned astrologer who will guide you in choosing the most suitable astrological gemstones on the basis of your birth-details.

Call Us Request a Call Back

Write a comment | 0 Comment(s)
Published on Jul 29, 2016

SHARE ON