Sapphire stones are often used in wedding rings and other kinds of jewelry, but cleaning them isn’t always simple. Different types of sapphires require different cleaning procedures, so knowing how to clean your sapphire stone the right way will ensure it keeps its luster for years to come. Here’s how to clean a sapphire stone correctly.
Step 1: Preparing the surface
Sapphire and other precious gems should be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Always wash with lukewarm water; hot or cold water can crack gemstones. Examine your sapphire stone before cleaning: if there are any scratches, you may want to have it professionally polished by an expert jeweler. If it’s loose in its setting, you’ll need to see a jeweler immediately.
Step 2: Washing it with soapy water
Soak your green quartz in water that has been mixed with detergent for half an hour, then rub it gently with toothpaste. After rinsing and leaving it under water for half an hour, scrub it with salt or baking soda. For best results, try doing this over several days so you have time to let each treatment sink in before scrubbing again. Some people say that slowly washing your stone can make them even more beautiful than they already are. Leave your sapphire stone outside under a sunny sky if possible while you clean it because some sunlight can intensify its colors even further!
Step 3: Applying a mild bleach solution
Mix a solution of two cups warm water, two tablespoons mild liquid dish soap and one tablespoon bleach. If you don’t have any detergent on hand, you can also use undiluted bleach. Dip your toothbrush in it and scrub away at any stains. Rinse thoroughly when finished with your cleaning session. Rubbing alcohol is another great way to clean a sapphire stone if you have it handy; its antibacterial properties help destroy germs that might cause odors or other problems for your jewelry piece over time. Make sure you are using rubbing alcohol meant for external use only and avoid getting it anywhere near gemstones or pearls; ethyl alcohol can damage these materials!
Step 4: Rinse, rinse, rinse
After you’ve used your emery board, step up your scrubbing game with an ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to create bubbles that agitate dirt and grime in objects. They’re gentle on different surfaces and materials (even gold!) so they’re perfect for clearing away rust, oxidation, and corrosion on delicate pieces like jewelry or rings. Plus, since ultrasonic cleaners don’t use chemicals, they won’t cause damage to any stones or other parts of your piece that could be vulnerable after harsh chemical exposure. Using an ultrasonic cleaner is a great way to get deep into tight crevices where dirt and grime can hide.
Step 5: Restoring its natural luster
Start by gently rubbing off any film of dirt from your gemstone. To do so, moisten a cotton ball with denatured alcohol and wipe it across the surface of your stone. Continue until all of dirt is removed, but avoid getting any water on your sapphire or you risk cracking its color coating (which is applied under high heat). Wipe it dry with another clean cotton ball. If you see any light scratches on your stone, rub them out with fine-grit #0000 steel wool. You can also use a polishing pad designed for polishing jewelry. All you have to do is dip it in denatured alcohol and then wipe it across your sapphire several times.
