Not everyone has time to make the trip to their local jeweler just to clean their prized jewelry. Buying expensive jewelry cleaning kits may also be out of the question. So how can you keep your jewelry clean and sparkling? As it turns out, the answer might be in your own kitchen. There are plenty of household products you can use to clean your jewelry in a pinch.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a common go-to when it comes to cleaning a lot of things, including carpet stains and even silverware. When combined with baking soda, white vinegar is surprisingly effective at removing grime and built-up tarnish, especially from pure silver and gold jewelry.

To get your jewelry clean without the need for any scrubbing, lay out your jewelry in a container lined with aluminum foil. Next, add a tablespoon of salt and baking soda to a cup of boiling water and pour the mixture into the container. Slowly add a half-cup of vinegar to the pan and let the entire mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes before removing and drying your jewelry.

Club Soda

If you have a bottle of club soda lying around, you can also use that to clean your jewelry. The carbonation in club soda can help gently remove caked-on grime and dirt. Club soda can even be used to give diamonds, emeralds, and other precious gemstones their sparkle back.

To use the club soda method, wrap your jewelry in a cheesecloth pouch or drop it into a small strainer. Next, add some sodium-free club soda into a small bowl, along with a couple of drops of household dish detergent. Dip the jewelry into the solution and let it soak for at least 5 minutes. Badly tarnished jewelry can be left in the solution overnight, if necessary.

Remove the jewelry and gently scrub it with an old toothbrush. Afterwards, place the jewelry in the strainer and rinse it thoroughly with cool water before drying the jewelry with a soft cloth.

Ketchup

That's right — the same stuff you put on your burgers, hot dogs, and French fries can also remove caked-on grit and grime from your prized jewelry. The secret is in ketchup's high acid content, which works to eat away excess dirt and tarnish.

All you need to do is pour a small amount of ketchup into a bowl, making sure that there's enough to completely submerge your jewelry. Next, place your jewelry into the bowl of ketchup and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. If left in for too long, the acids in the ketchup can actually start eating away at the metal itself.

After removing your jewelry, use an old toothbrush to scrub the ketchup-laden jewelry for a bit. Afterwards, give your jewelry a thorough rinsing with warm water before drying it off and wearing it again.

For more information, contact local professionals like House of Urban.