Tip Tuesday: How to clean 10 Types of Pendants

Knowing how to clean jewelry requires knowing what kind of jewelry you have. There are many different types of jewelry and each type requires specific attention. Today we share how to clean enamel, fossil, stone, hard-medium-soft gemstones, crystal, glass, real coin pendants, plated metal pendants, acrylic, and resin pendants.

First, start by inspecting and cleaning the necklace chain. To clean your chain necklaces, check out these Pendant and Ring posts:

Now things get complicated. This is a pendant-specific post, but these cleaning tips apply to these substances wherever you encounter them – not just in jewelry. There are millions of different kinds of pendants. The following categories will cover almost any kind of pendant, but if you have a specific question, ask in the comments below.

Enamel pendants are beautiful and come in three main types. This Pendant and Ring post deals with those types in detail. How to Clean 3 Types of Enamel Jewelry

Fossil and Stone pendants are durable with beautiful details. The settings are typically pretty secure but it’s always a good idea to double-check. Use white vinegar to clean fossils and soapy water to clean stone pendants.

Hard Gemstone pendants need to have their settings checked before cleaning. Bezels and screws can become loose, prongs can bend out of shape, and cups can clog with debris. Once you have verified that your hard gemstone is secure in the setting you can soak it for up to 40 minutes in warm – almost hot soapy water before cleaning it with a soft toothbrush.

Medium Gemstone pendants also need their settings thoroughly checked before cleaning. You can soak secure pendants for up to 15 minutes in warm soapy water before cleaning them with an extra-soft toothbrush.

Soft Gemstone pendants that are secure in their settings should never be soaked. Try dry cleaning them using an extra-soft toothbrush, or lint-free cloth. If there is a great deal of caked debris, spray it with room temperature water and remove it immediately with a soft cloth, or by very lightly sweeping the debris away using a slightly damp, extra-soft toothbrush.

Crystal pendants come in different hardnesses. A relatively hard crystal pendant, for example, a quartz pendant, can be cleaned with soap and water. Some crystal pendants – like a selenite pendant, will melt in water and will scratch easily. Use a dry extra-soft toothbrush on selenite crystal pendants. If you have a crystal pendant – tell me what kind it is in the comments below and we’ll get it clean together.

Glass pendants (previously called paste pendants) are easy to clean. Soap and water are the first options, but glass pendants with large faces may shine brighter if they are cleaned with a touch of ammonia on a cloth or on a cotton swab.

Real Coin pendants are made of various metals because real coins are made out of different types of metal. Proof coins will scratch and lose value if you try and clean them. Gold and silver non-proof coin pendants can be cleaned with a solution of 1 part white vinegar to three parts hot water and a soft cloth. To clean all the other types of real coin pendants check out this post, “How to Remove Tarnish from Coin Jewelry” here on Pendant and Ring.

Plated metal pendants should be cleaned gently and infrequently. Every cleaning removes a layer of plating. Use a dry brush, and only if you must, use vinegar to dampen a cloth and gently wipe the plated pendant clean.

Acrylic pendants can be cleaned with an alcohol-free mouthwash. Do not soak the acrylic pendants, or earrings, or other jewelry, but use a cloth dipped in alcohol-free mouthwash to gently wash away any debris. DO NOT use alcohol as it will cloud the acrylic.

Resin pendants are easy to clean with lukewarm soapy water and a lint-free cloth. Again, don’t soak the pendant, but it is okay to apply light polishing pressure to make your pendant shine. Do not use alcohol as it dissolves resin.

Cleaning your pendants will help prolong the life of your jewelry collection. It can be a fun activity that you do once a year while watching your favorite movie, listening to your favorite podcasts, or watching all the Pendant and Ring videos on YouTube.