I once took a silver necklace to a jeweler for cleaning and got charged eighteen dollars. It came back looking exactly the same. That was the last time I paid someone to clean jewelry.

Most jewelry cleaning is shockingly simple. You already have the supplies. The key is matching the method to the metal and stone — what works for diamonds will ruin pearls. Here is the breakdown.

Silver: Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil

Line a bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up. Place your silver in the bowl. Sprinkle baking soda generously over it. Pour boiling water to cover. The tarnish transfers from the silver to the aluminum foil through a simple electrochemical reaction.

You will actually see the tarnish disappearing within seconds. Rinse, dry with a soft cloth, done. This works on sterling silver, silver-plated items, and even heavily tarnished pieces. I cleaned my grandmother’s silver bracelet — tarnished for a decade — in under two minutes with this method.

Do not use this on oxidized silver (the kind with intentional dark recesses) or silver that has gemstones glued in. The hot water can loosen the adhesive.

Gold: Dawn and Warm Water

Gold is easy. A few drops of mild dish soap in warm water, soak for fifteen minutes, scrub gently with a soft toothbrush, rinse, pat dry. That is it. Gold does not tarnish, so you are just removing oil, lotion, and dead skin buildup.

For stubborn grime in crevices, use a wooden toothpick — not metal — to gently dislodge it. Metal can scratch gold, especially higher karat pieces that are softer.

Diamonds: The Same Soap and Water

Diamonds attract grease like a magnet. The same mild soap and warm water soak works, plus a soft toothbrush focused on the back of the stone where gunk accumulates. Rinse under running water with the drain plugged or a strainer in place — losing a diamond down the drain is a very expensive mistake.

Pearls: Be Extremely Gentle

Pearls are soft and porous. No soaking, no scrubbing, no chemicals. Wipe each pearl individually with a barely damp soft cloth after wearing to remove body oils and perfume. Let them air dry completely before storing. Never submerge pearls in water — the string can stretch and weaken.

What to Avoid Across the Board

Toothpaste is a common internet recommendation and it is terrible for jewelry. It is abrasive and will leave micro-scratches on metal and softer stones. Ultrasonic cleaners are fine for diamonds and hard stones but can shatter emeralds and opals. And never clean jewelry over an open sink without the drain plugged.