Can You Clean Jewelry with Apple Cider Vinegar? (Solved!)

We have heard a slew of claims about apple cider vinegar of late; it aids digestion, helps in weight loss, grows hair, and even benefits skincare. Some claims have stood the test of the internet audience, while others didn’t seem to pan out.

One of the most asked questions about apple cider vinegar (ACV) is if it can be used to clean jewelry.

The short answer is yes, ACV can clean the grease and dirt from your jewelry. It can also revive the tarnished silver pieces.

However, ACV is not the right medium if you are looking for the luster associated with professional chemical cleaning.

It’s important to know that high acidity levels can damage soft stones and pearls. If your jewelry has either of these, you should not use ACV.

How Does ACV Clean the Jewelry?

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid with a pH between 1-2, which is very high on the acid-base scale. It’s a natural chemical that can dissolve dirt, grime, and grease by breaking down the molecules.

The ideal jewelry cleaning solution should be safe to use on delicate designs while still abrasive enough to clean the article thoroughly. ACV is an excellent choice because it’s both mildly abrasive and non-corrosive.

You just have to soak the jewelry in the solution for some time and then clean the piece with a soft toothbrush to get rid of the dirt.

If you are dealing with a particularly tough stain, you can add some boosters like baking soda to the mix. This not only leaves your precious pieces shiny but also squeaky clean.

How to Clean Different Types of Jewelry with Apple Cider Vinegar

Let’s discuss a few methods to clean different types of jewelry with ACV.

Gold Jewelry:

Gold looks the best when it shines like the sun, and it’s effortless to keep it glowing with apple cider vinegar. Here is how you can do it:

Method 1: Fill a bowl (preferably glass) with enough ACV to immerse your jewelry; then, drop the piece in and let it soak for half an hour or a little longer if the item is very dirty.

Then, remove the piece and take a toothbrush to brush away any debris. Next, rinse the item with fresh water and pat it dry with a cotton cloth.

Method 2: Mix two teaspoons of salt with four teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to make a paste. Leave this paste on your jewelry for about an hour, then brush away the grime with a soft toothbrush and carefully rinse the piece with warm water.

This method will clean calcified dirt and restore the shine of your gold.

Platinum Jewelry:

Platinum jewelry is beautiful and luxurious. However, it needs special care to maintain the shine. Here are the steps you should follow when cleaning your platinum jewelry:

Line a bowl with tin foil. Now, mix half a cup apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of ground sugar, and one tablespoon of baking soda. Pour the solution into the bowl, immerse the platinum jewelry, and let it soak for about ten minutes.

Then brush, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

Silver Jewelry:

Silver is fit for everyday wear; it needs help to retain its shine, though. You can breathe fresh life into your tarnished silver by using apple cider vinegar as the cleaning solution. Here’s how you do it:

Method 1: Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with two tablespoons of ACV, immerse your silver jewelry in the solution, and let it soak overnight. Then, brush away any dirt with a clean toothbrush and leave it to soak for another half hour.

Now, brush the piece again and rinse with water. The tarnish will come off, and it’ll shine like new,

Method 2: (For highly tarnished pieces) Line a bowl with aluminum foil. Pour half a cup of ACV and a tablespoon of baking soda into the bowl. Now, drop your silver jewelry into the solution; it’ll only take a few minutes.

Next, remove the piece carefully and give it a brush with a soft toothbrush. Then, rinse it thoroughly. Repeat the process, if necessary.

Baking soda in aluminum foil creates a chemical reaction that exchanges the ions. The tarnish, which is actually Sulphur attached with silver, gets transferred to the aluminum foil.

When we use the ACV in this method, the process is sped up, and it only takes two to three minutes to get shiny silver jewelry back.

Brass Jewelry:

Jewelries, Brass Earrings Displayed for Sale on a White Wall

Brass is a metal alloy of copper and zinc, and its jewelry looks antique and trendy. Here is how you can maintain the shine of your brass pieces.

Method 1: Mix equal parts of ACV and salt with a little bit of flour. Apply this paste on the piece, let it dry for about ten minutes, then gently brush it off with a soft toothbrush. Rinse and dry.

Method 2: Mix one full tablespoon of table salt with hot water to make a solution. Soak the brass piece in the solution for about ten minutes.

Rub away dirt with a cotton cloth, then rinse it thoroughly. Dry the piece completely before storing or wearing it.

Fake/Fashion Jewelry:

Fashion jewelry quickly rusts or tarnishes when it comes in contact with water, moisture in the air, and even skin oils. The delicate nature of these types of jewelry requires careful cleaning. Here’s how you can clean your fake/fashion jewelry:

Method 1: Clean any dirt with the help of a clean cloth, then take a Q-tip and soak it with ACV. Now, remove any excess liquid from the Q-tip and gently rub it on the piece.

Next, use a similar technique to clean off the ACV with water-soaked Q-tips and pat it dry with a soft cloth.

Apple Cider Vinegar in a jar and sliced apple

Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother; Does it makes any Difference in Cleaning Jewelry?

Apple cider vinegar with mother contains extra probiotic enzymes and vitamins. They may help in digestion, but do not affect cleaning properties. In fact, ACV with mother has a lower acidity level than simple ACV, making it less efficient for cleaning.

So, just grab a bottle of ordinary ACV to clean your jewelry; it should work fine.

A Few Tips on How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Clean Jewelry

It’s critical to thoroughly rinse the jewelry with water after ACV treatment. Any left-over vinegar can damage delicate parts.

2. Always confirm the kind of stones or other materials before bringing in contact with ACV; it’s especially vital for fashion-type jewelry.

3. Do not use the ACV to clean soft gemstones like calcite and feldspar. If you still want to clean them, do not soak for too long.

4. Pearls should never come in contact with ACV. The vinegar will damage the outer shell of the pearl.

5. The strength of vinegar varies greatly depending on brand and age, so use it carefully, do not get careless when you clean your fine jewelry pieces.

6. You can use a toothpick or an old cloth to get into the details of your jewelry and get rid of any grime.

7. If a treatment didn’t work as perfectly as you wanted, you can repeat the process a number of times before resorting to other steps.

Can You Clean Jewelry with Apple Cider Vinegar? (Solved!)

How Does ACV Clean the Jewelry?