How to clean agate after purchase?

Each stone and mineral requires its own storage conditions and has its own characteristics.
There are general rules for storing stones and rollers for Guasha massage: store in a box or in a special bag that comes with all scrapers.
Before each and after each use, the stone tool must be washed with soapy water or a disinfectant. Please note that during processing the stones will be very large – handle with care, since the tools, although made of stone, can still break if dropped or other excessive mechanical impact.
Important! The design of the Guasha roller allows you to remove the rollers from the antenna holders. In rare cases, this can happen during a massage – do not be alarmed. The roller is working properly, you just need to put the roller in place by placing the holder antennae in the holes with silicone bushings and clamping the antennae so that the situation does not happen again.

Preparing the stone

Prepare a container with a solution of warm, soapy water.
Immerse the item in the solution for half an hour, with the exception of items made from Lapis Lazuli, as this stone does not like water.
If there are heavy dirt or greasy stains, you can use a brush with soft bristles; you need to work with the brush in a circular motion without pressing.
Rub the surface of the stone with your hands and fingers.
Rinse off any remaining soap solution.
After cleaning, wipe the item dry; you can use a small piece of velvet to create additional shine.

It is recommended to immerse a new stone in a soapy solution for 12 hours.
There is also a method of primary cleaning without soaking the product – the product must be boiled.
Afterwards, drain the water and rinse the product thoroughly under running water.
After cleaning, wipe the product dry.

Features of mineral storage
and Guasha stones

Below we also provide storage recommendations for each type of stone.

Pink quartz – rose quartz items should be stored in a cool and dark place, as the mineral is sensitive to sunlight and heat. It may fade.
Amethyst – Like rose quartz, amethyst should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place to avoid discolouration.
Aventurine It is unpretentious in storage; you just have to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, as this will cause the mineral to fade, just like any other.
Agate and Chalcedony – like aventurine, agate does not require special storage conditions, with the exception of prolonged exposure to the sun.
Serpentinite – Avoid heat and excess moisture. Like any mineral, it should not be left in the sun.
Crystal – unlike many, it is not afraid of direct sunlight, but you should still avoid strong heat. The heat can cause the mineral to crack.
Lapis lazuli – it is not recommended to wash and rinse the stone often, but it is not afraid of the sun, on the contrary, its color becomes richer.
Shungite does not require special storage conditions, but it is recommended to wash the mineral with a weak soda solution once a week.
Terahertz stone – does not have special storage conditions, but the material is quite fragile – avoid strong physical impact.

We hope our article was useful to you.

Let’s look at the most popular types of Guasha stones, what are their differences and features. Buy Guasha Roller for massage. Delivery and Pickup

Instructions and techniques for Guasha massage with a scraper with lines. Benefits and contraindications. How to choose the shape of a scraper and what to pay attention to when doing gua sha massage. Online store Guasha.ru

How to choose a stone and mineral, find “your stone” and enhance its positive effect on the body and internal state. Which stone suits me best? Delivery and Pickup

How to properly cleanse the energy of Guasha stones and tools at home. Delivery and Pickup

Jewelry makes our life more beautiful, interesting and vibrant. I want them to remain as beautiful as possible for as long as possible – just like on the first day. If you don’t take care of your jewelry, over time it will darken and lose its shine and attractiveness. Jewelry with stones requires especially careful handling. Be sure to learn about the correct cleaning methods that will not harm them.

General tips for caring for jewelry

Do you want rings with stones to shine even after years and decades, as if you were wearing them for the first time? Make it a habit to groom them regularly. It’s not difficult, but the result will pleasantly surprise you. The following tips will help you achieve the desired effect:

Sort your decorations every four weeks. Separate those that need cleaning. Dirt accumulating under the setting leads to loosening of the stone, so preventive treatment is mandatory.
Features of care depend on the characteristics of the insert. You need to study its properties before purchasing.
When working, do not use hard objects, aggressive chemicals, or abrasives. By using them, you risk permanently ruining earrings with diamonds or other stones.
Professional cleaning is required once a year. The master will polish the metal to a perfect shine, check the fastening of the stone, and remove dirt from it.

Keeping your jewelry in good condition is much easier than fixing major problems. You just need to learn the basic rules, stick to them and avoid mistakes.

How to properly clean different metals

When in contact with air, water, skin and household chemicals, jewelry darkens, fades and even changes color. This is easy to fix. Take white toothpaste or chalk paste. Apply to a cloth and rub the gold, carefully avoiding the stones. Then rinse to get rid of white streaks. Silver is cleaned in a similar way using a paste of baking soda. You can remove stuck fat from gold and platinum with a cotton swab dipped in medical alcohol.

One of the most accessible products that is in any kitchen is salt. Dissolve a teaspoon in a glass of water. Place pendants with zodiac signs there and hold for 10 minutes. After this, it will be easier for them to regain their beautiful appearance. Rhodium-plated and blackened silver requires careful handling. It should not be dipped into an acidic environment or rubbed intensively, as there is a high probability of damage to the decorative coating. Use a simple folk remedy – the inside of a banana peel.

What not to do when cleaning jewelry with stones

What is suitable for metals can easily ruin the inserts. For example, when they come into contact with concentrated acids and alkalis, they fade and change color. Abrasive substances leave micro-scratches on the polished surface, into which dirt subsequently gets clogged. When cleaning stones, you should not use:

a piece of chalk;
dry washing powder;
toothpaste;
salt;
citric acid;
soda;
solvents;
hydrogen peroxide;
bleach.

It is also prohibited to soak jewelry in hot water and boil it like ordinary metal products. Most minerals are very sensitive to heat, so don’t take any chances. Be careful when working with multi-stone products. Make sure the method you choose is suitable for different types of inserts. If they are held on by glue, keep in mind that excessive wetting will weaken the fastening.

Methods for cleaning products with stones

Some methods that are suitable for working gold and silver are not suitable for inlay. The most gentle method is dry cleaning. Suitable for all jewelry, as it is carried out without the use of chemicals, water and hard tools. Objects are simply polished with felt or suede. The fabric removes the top coating and shine appears. Special polishing sprays will help you achieve a gorgeous result. This method is suitable if the contamination is minor, and also as the final stage of general cleaning.

Under the influence of air and chemicals, a necklace with stones becomes coated and changes color. In this case, washing will help. Place the jewelry in a soap solution at a temperature of 30–40°C.

Wait a quarter of an hour, then wipe with a cotton swab or soft toothbrush. You should not soak it for too long, as water penetrates into the porous stones and spoils the structure. It also weakens the fastening. Some types of inserts are quite finicky and require more careful handling, but more on that below. After the “bath,” be sure to rinse the ring or earrings with clean water and wipe dry with a flannel cloth.

When trying to remove dirt under a stone, you cannot work with a needle, as you can loosen the nest and scratch the stone. Soak a cotton swab in glycerin, alcohol or cologne and rub the dirty area. Be careful not to drop the jewelry, because if it falls and hits a hard surface, the stone may crack and break. It is advisable to work in cotton, nitrile or latex gloves. To be on the safe side, place small items in a sieve to prevent them from accidentally slipping out of your hands.

There are professional foams and pastes on sale designed for cleaning diamond rings. The composition will not harm precious metals and inserts, as it is designed specifically for them. If you use them regularly, dirt will not accumulate, and you will not have to resort to more serious methods.

Ultrasonic bath: pros and cons

Jewelers often use this device. Ultrasonic cleaning is a high-quality and fast procedure that can remove any dirt, even in hard-to-reach places such as a clasp, the base of a socket, and small chain links. A UV bath is a container into which a special liquid is poured. An object is placed in it. The device is turned on, the generator creates electrical vibrations, which are converted into mechanical ones. Small bubbles appear. They hit the product, the dirt lags behind and settles at the bottom.

This cleaning method destroys oil films, greasy stains, traces of corrosion, and limescale. However, it is only suitable for non-porous stones. Organic, soft ultrasound is contraindicated, as it can lead to the formation of cracks. Using a UV bath is an opportunity to clean jewelry of complex shapes, with a scattering of small stones. But it cannot be used for rings with pearls, turquoise, jade, amber, opal, citrine, and emerald.

Features of cleaning certain categories of stones

Before you begin, learn about the characteristics of individual minerals. Some gems are suitable only for dry cleaning, and contact with water is extremely undesirable. If you value jewelry and want it to last as long as possible, be sure to pay attention to the “character” of each of them.

Diamond

Contrary to popular belief, the gem can be damaged. Although it is indeed the hardest natural material, it is brittle and can shatter upon impact. Be careful not to drop your diamond pendants while cleaning. The gem fades from prolonged contact with water, so soaking should be short. To enhance the effect, you can add ammonia to the soap solution at the rate of 2 drops per glass of water. Dry the stone thoroughly with a dry soft cloth.

Emerald

The expensive mineral has a porous structure, so it is quite finicky. After cutting, it is treated with oil to increase its strength. The solution penetrates microcracks, acting as a protective layer. When processing, it is important not to wash it off. The use of gasoline and ammonia is prohibited. Try dry cleaning. If this does not help, prepare a very weak solution of baby soap and immerse the product in it for 5 minutes. Rub gently with cotton or flannel.

Amethyst, citrine, jadeite

The most suitable remedy is soap, and the tools are velvet and a soft brush. Make sure that the water is never hot. Ammonia is prohibited. Although ammonia water is often used to clean gold, it will cause amethyst earrings to irrevocably lose their original appearance. This rule applies to all types of quartz.

Ruby

It is quite hard, so you can use a brush if necessary. Be sure to rinse the stone under running water to avoid whitish streaks.

Garnet

Equally intolerant of high and low temperatures. When preparing a “bath”, make sure that the water is not cold or hot. It is better not to use a brush, but use microfiber instead. You cannot dry pomegranates with a hairdryer or in the sun!

Pearl

Mother of pearl beads are quite capricious. They get dirty easily, become greasy, and darken. Necklaces made of large-sized pearls are especially fastidious in caring for, because they fade faster. You can restore the shine of mother-of-pearl by periodically wiping it with a cloth soaked in soap suds and then rinsing it. You should not soak it for a long time, as the beads will lose their charm. Olive oil will help remove stains. You can remove excess fat with potato starch.

Onyx

The stone is porous, so it absorbs moisture. Don’t wet it too much. Try to remove the dirty residue with a dry cloth and only slightly moisten it if necessary. Do not use soap or dishwashing liquid or metal polish. After cleaning, wipe the onyx dry.

Turquoise

The mineral does not like moisture. Liquid penetrates its pores and spoils the color. Alcohol and alkalis are also contraindicated. Such signets, pendants and brooches can only be cleaned dry. The layer of fat leads to the formation of a greenish coating. Wipe items with a woolen cloth after each use to prevent contamination. Turquoise is sensitive to acidic and alkali conditions. Apply wax to add shine.

Spinel

If the charms are made of gold or platinum (but not silver!), soak them in a solution of washing powder. The hardness of the stone is above 5 on the Mohs scale, so this product will not harm it. Ultrasonic treatment is allowed if there are no inclusions in the structure of the material.

Opal

Fragile as glass, it needs protection. It may crack with sudden changes in temperature and low humidity, as it contains up to 6% water. Solid opals are not affected by moisture. However, most often in jewelry there are doublets (natural stone + glued black backing) and triplets (there is a third layer of glass or quartz). They should absolutely not be immersed in water, but can be wiped with a damp cloth. Ultrasonic cleaning may cause cracks.

Amber

Organic material, fossilized resin. It scratches easily, so the use of abrasives is excluded. Wipe rings with amber with a suede cloth to remove a layer of grease and dust. Avoid contact with alcohol as this may cause white marks. If dirt gets into the holes of the beads, remove them from the thread, soak them in soapy water and scrub with a toothbrush.

Tourmaline

It is washed in a weak solution of liquid soap. Dilute a tablespoon of gel in 100 ml of water. Dampen a cotton pad and rub.

Alexandrite

It can be easily cleaned by soaking it in a shampoo solution for a few minutes. It is advisable to wash earrings with alexandrite in boiled or distilled water so that there is no limescale or stains left.

artificial stones

We are talking about lab-grown and imitating natural species. The most common of them is cubic zirconia. It is not as fussy as natural stones and can withstand cleaning along with metal. Small stains are scrubbed with soapy water and a soft brush. Severe cloudiness is eliminated by soaking for up to three hours. Cubic zirconia can be kept in water with ammonia in a ratio of 1 teaspoon per 100 ml. A solution of soda (2 tablespoons per 200 ml of water) is also suitable.

Enamel will fade when in contact with acids. Water and a couple of drops of ammonium hydroxide will help restore a pleasant gloss. When cleaning Swarovski crystals, it is important not to remove the rhodium or gold plating. As with natural stones, proceed carefully. Regular polishing with suede is sufficient. If necessary, scrub the crystals with a soapy toothbrush.

Jewelers strongly advise against experimenting, as an expensive item can irrevocably change its appearance. If you want to be sure of a positive result, use special care products. For materials that are sensitive to moisture, only dry cleaning is suitable. The rest are shown short-term “bathing”.

The nuances of cleaning different types of jewelry

Even, smooth accessories such as wide bracelets, wedding rings and conga earrings usually do not cause problems. It is enough to take felt or felt and polish the surface. A simple stationery eraser also turns out to be effective: it quickly wipes off all excess from the metal.

What to do with products of complex shapes, with engraving, overlays and curls?

You will have to try to get to all the bends and folds. It will not be possible to use an eraser, since if it gets on reliefs and weaves, it will simply crumble. Vaseline and hygienic lipstick, which are sometimes used to add shine, will also not work. The fat will get into the holes and stay there. Therefore, such funds will also have to be abandoned.

“Bathing” a chain, embossed ring or pendant in foamy water will dissolve dirt and grease, and they will be easier to clean. The same old toothbrush with soft bristles will come to the rescue. It will penetrate where it is impossible to reach with a match or a toothpick. When cleaning pearl pendants, pay attention to the inside of the cast, the teeth, the mark, and places where metals are layered. The remaining dark areas spoil the overall appearance of the accessory and need to be gotten rid of.

When is professional help needed?

Home treatment does not always give the desired effect. If stains remain on the stone after cleaning, specialized products will be required to remove them. In addition, it is not always possible to guess the method correctly; there is a high probability of causing damage to your favorite jewelry. If you’re not sure how to properly clean a necklace or bracelet, call a professional.

Although ultrasonic baths are commercially available, only a professional can evaluate all the benefits and risks of their use in a particular case. Before placing the jewelry in an ultrasonic bath, the master takes into account the hardness of the material, the possible presence of inclusions, cracks and other factors. Exposure to ultrasound also loosens the fastener, so it must be checked after treatment.

At home, it is not always possible to reach hard-to-reach places. Dirt often accumulates in the engraving, under the casting teeth, in the sample application area and in the clasp. The jewelry workshop will have tools to penetrate such places. You need to be especially careful with expensive and antique jewelry and family heirlooms. You don’t want to ruin them forever?! For preventive purposes, they should be given to professionals once a year.

How to wear jewelry with stones correctly

Jewelry is not made to be locked up. Don’t refuse to wear them simply because they might get dirty. By following some rules, you will minimize the likelihood of damage to jewelry:

When wearing earrings with amber or other stones, try to touch them as little as possible. There is oil on the skin of your fingers that will be imprinted on the inserts. This coating is harmful in itself, and it also attracts dust.
When you get home, take off your jewelry to avoid scratching it while doing various things.
Water, household chemicals, and food have a bad effect on stones. Minimize contact with chemicals. It is unacceptable to cook dinner or wash dishes with a ring on your finger.
When going to the bathhouse or swimming pool, leave your pearl earrings at home. They don’t need high humidity and temperature, sweat, chlorine and salts in water.
Avoid getting perfumes and hair styling products on beads, pendants, and earrings. Their traces are not always noticeable, but they cause harm. First, do your hair and makeup, then put on your jewelry.
Don’t take accessories to the gym. Convex inserts can get caught on clothing, equipment and exercise equipment. Materials fade when exposed to sweat. The fastenings are loose.
Remove jewelry at night. In a dream, we do not control ourselves, so the insert can accidentally be scratched on the bed or wall, or caught on the bed linen.

How to properly store jewelry with stones

This is no less important than care. The appearance and integrity of amethyst rings and similar products depends on storage conditions. Jewelry should be placed in a box lined with soft felt. Do not leave it open: prolonged exposure to sunlight will cause many minerals to tarnish. It is advisable that the accessories do not lie in bulk. The more branches, the better. Or place each item in a separate bag. This will prevent scratches and abrasions. Harder stones leave grooves on soft ones, so they should not touch.

Let the box stand in a cool place, not near a radiator or in the sun. Sudden temperature changes should not be allowed. This is especially destructive for turquoise, amber and opal. Peridot and ruby may crack if the air is too dry. Rub pendants with stones with a special product. It will create a protective film and prevent drying out.

The AURUM online store offers the widest selection of jewelry with a wide variety of stones. Thanks to convenient filters in the catalog, you can find a product for every taste: by metal, type of insert, price, design, size. Maintain your accessories in proper condition, and then they will add a “zest” to your image and give it a special charm. By caring for your products, you will not regret that they have lost their former beauty.