How To Clean Your Jewelry With Ketchup, Plus More Surprising Bling-Brightening Hacks

Here's Why You Should Clean Your Jewelry With Ketchup

jewelry hacks

Don't let your bling bling become blah blah.

Although we're super vigilant when it comes to washing clothes, shoes and bags, our jewelry is often an afterthought. And let's face it, these are the accessories we usually keep on all day, every day. Gross!

But before you pull out your hair out thinking about all the fancy jewelry cleaners you have to go buy, we're here to let you know that most of your baubles can be cleaned with items found in your kitchen. Seriously.

Believe it or not, ketchup, beer and vodka are just a few of the surprising items that will bring back the shine to your favorite jewels. Keep in mind that you might not want to DIY clean your finest pieces or heirlooms since many of these hacks rely on their acidic ingredients to polish your gems and they can be abrasive.

Check out the GIFs below for a full tutorial, and let us know in the comments section if you gave these tricks a try.

Ketchup will polish your tarnished silver.
This beloved food condiment isn't just for burgers and fries -- your lackluster silver (jewelry or beyond) can be completely transformed. Simply submerge the item in a bowl of ketchup and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. (Don't leave it in too long, or the acid from the tomatoes and vinegar could cause damage.) Then remove the jewelry and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the paste around before rinsing it off with warm water. Dry it off and put it on!

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Beer brings back the shine to solid gold.
Pour a little brewski on a clean cloth and gently rub some life back into your gold. There are just a few things you need to keep in mind: Make sure that your jewelry is solid gold or gold plated without any gemstones, and don't use dark ale -- any other brew will do.

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Vodka makes your diamonds dazzle.
While our favorite thing to do with vodka is sip it, it's nice to know that one of our favorite beverages can also bring a sheen back to hard stones like diamonds or crystal rhinestones. Simply pour some vodka on a clean cloth and thoroughly wipe the jewelry. You can also swish the accessories around in a glass of vodka and then wipe them down if the pieces are particularly dirty. Bonus: Vodka will shine up your spectacles, too. Woot!

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Seltzer water gets your gemstones gorgeous.
Time to give your precious and semi-precious gemstone baubles a bath in club soda. Soak the jewels in glass of the fizzy liquid overnight, wipe them dry and voilá!

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Window cleaner safely wipes away the grime.
Liberally spray Windex or another window cleaning solution on a piece of any metal jewelry or items with hard gemstones, such as diamonds or rubies. Then scrub off the grit and grime with an old toothbrush. Finally, wipe off the jewelry with a clean cloth.

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Toothpaste is the ultimate all-purpose jewelry cleaner.
Surprisingly, toothpaste can be used on spiffy up pretty much anything in your jewelry box, except pieces with pearls. Place a bit of paste on an old toothbrush and scrub away at your dull pieces of silver, gold or gemstone jewels. Dip a clean cloth in warm water and completely wipe away the paste.

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GIFs created by Tiara Chiaramonte

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