TOP 10 tools and methods to clean amber at home
To find out how to effectively clean amber, it is necessary to study the characteristics of this material. Preliminarily determine the reason for the appearance of various contaminants. Only after that they begin to process the surface with the permitted means and methods. The composition is easy to do yourself. In the process of work, you must follow a number of important rules. In order for the stone to delight for a long time with its brilliance and purity, it must be properly cared for.
Hardware Features
Amber is a semi-precious mineral. It is the softest gem, so care should be gentle and gentle. If you do not follow some of the recommendations, you can easily damage the surface. There are a large number of varieties of amber. Each species has an unusual shape and color. There are stones of milky, olive, yellowish, orange shades.The stone should not be scratched, dropped, treated with products with abrasive components. Under the influence of adverse factors, amber quickly tarnishes and becomes cloudy.
Reasons for obfuscation
If the stone has become dull, lost its original luster and color, you need to find a reason to choose another course of action. Use only approved surface cleaning methods.
Fracturing
Scratches and cracks on the surface of the stone cause the surface to appear dull and dull. Most often, damage appears due to improper care of jewelry. To prevent the problem from appearing, you must take into account the following recommendations:
- the product must be stored in a box whose interior is lined with a soft cloth;
- the mineral must be protected from the proximity of other decorations, especially those with sharp corners;
- it is not recommended to store jewelry in a bag, as the stones will rub against each other, forming scratches;
- the box should be away from heating appliances;
- cracks also form when falling, so wear and store jewelry with care.
Stains and discoloration
If spots appear on the surface of the stone, it has faded and lost its luster, there may be several reasons:
- contact with household chemicals;
- cosmetics shot;
- touch with dirty hands.
Amber jewelry should only be worn after applying cosmetics. It is best to remove jewelry during homework.
How to clean at home
If the amber in your favorite jewelry has darkened and faded, it needs to be cleaned. There are many ways to restore a semi-precious stone to its original appearance.
from dust
Light dirt is washed off with clear water:
- Water is poured into a small container.
- Immerse the ornament with the stone.
- Dip a few ice cubes.
- The product is left for 4.5 hours.
- Then the decoration is wiped with a soft, dry cloth.
Thanks to this cleaning method, the surface is polished and the accumulated dust is removed from all corners.
To increase the efficiency of the cleaning work, the product is pre-immersed in a soapy solution, only after which it is immersed in ice water.
Another easy way to get rid of dusty deposits on the surface of the Sun Mineral is to rinse it off in the shower:
- The amber is washed under clean running water.
- Then wipe the surface of the stone with a damp flannel cloth.
- Wipe the amber with a cloth soaked in olive oil.
- The remaining oil is removed with a dry paper towel.
Pollution
In case of severe contamination, the amber will have to be polished. Take a small flannel or velor cloth and treat the entire surface. This cleaning method is suitable for small jewelry.
Butter
After completing the polishing procedure, you can rub the amber with a little oil. Olive oil works best. The entire surface of the stone is treated with it. After the work is completed, make sure that no oil remains in the grooves and grooves.
If this is not done, product residue will attract even more dust.
Salt
Common salt will help get rid of any kind of dirt:
- 220 ml of warm water is poured into the container;
- dissolve a little salt (28 g);
- immerse the products with a stone and leave overnight;
- after that, the decoration is taken out of the water and put on a dry towel until completely dry;
- treat the surface with olive oil;
- polish with a piece of woolen cloth.
paraffin powder
If the stone has a smooth round surface, it is permissible to use a mixture of toothpowder and paraffin:
- Paraffin is ground with a grater and mixed with toothpowder.
- The finished mixture is used to process the stone.
- Then the surface should be polished.
- The remnants of the composition are removed with a dry towel.
After working on the stone, there should be no particles of powder and paraffin. When the composition gets inside the scratch, the color changes (it acquires a greenish tint).
Washing powder
If a cloudy tint appears, cleaning with washing powder will help. Choose a detergent without harsh ingredients like chlorine, bleach or active oxygen:
- A little powder is poured on the toothbrush.
- Then, with careful circular movements, they clean the entire surface, trying to avoid cracks and grooves, if any, on the amber.
- The composition is washed off with clean water.
- Wipe off the mineral with a soft, dry cloth.
Soap
For work, it is better to choose liquid baby soap, without dyes and abrasive particles. If solid soap is selected, grind it on a grater. The progress of the work includes the following stages:
- a liter of warm water is poured into the container;
- dissolve liquid soap or soap shavings;
- the decor is immersed in the prepared solution for 6 minutes;
- wipe all cavities with a soft, damp cloth;
- at the last stage, the product should be wiped with a soft cloth.
Ammonia
In the event of severe contamination, an ammonia solution allows:
- 210 ml of warm water is poured into the container;
- add 11 drops of ammonia;
- the product is immersed in the solution for 6 minutes;
- then the composition is washed with clean water;
- the product is wiped with a clean, soft cloth.
General rules for the care of amber products
By following the general rules for caring for a semi-precious stone, it will be possible to retain its shine and beauty for a long time.
clean hands
The surface of amber quickly absorbs dirt and loses its attractive appearance. Before taking a product with amber, you need to wash your hands. Dirty hands leave stains on the surface of the mineral, which over time lead to darkening and the appearance of plaque. Touching with greasy hands is particularly dangerous.
The temperature difference
The mineral does not tolerate temperature extremes. Do not leave jewelry with amber near heating devices or on a cold surface.
Fragility
Amber belongs to fragile semi-precious stones, so it must be protected from falling. Do not throw products on a hard surface. Even a small knock can cause chips and cracks.
Household chemicals and perfumes
Prolonged contact with household chemicals leads to dullness of the stone and the appearance of cracks on its surface. It is necessary to remove items with amber during cleaning. Contact with cosmetics and perfumes will cause discoloration and staining. The adornment is put on only after applying cosmetics or spraying perfume.
sunlight
Amber jewelry should be protected from the sun. The sun negatively affects the structure of the stone. It becomes brittle and discolored.
What cannot be used
Amber is easy to damage, so you need to know what the surface should not be treated with and what methods are better not to use.
Strong Household Chemicals
It is contraindicated to process the semi-precious mineral with household chemicals. It contains components that damage the surface and lead to discoloration.
Alcohol
You should never use alcohol solutions to clean amber. After processing, turbidity and whitish bloom appear, which cannot be eliminated.
Pastes for cleaning other stones
Do not use pastes intended for cleaning other precious metals or stones. As a result, the composition of the mineral changes, it becomes dark, loses its luster, and plaque appears.
Hot water
Use only lukewarm or cold water during the care process. Do not wash or rinse the stone with hot water.
Steam generator or steam kettle
It is forbidden to clean the jewelry with an amber steam generator or hot steam. The steam destroys the structure of the stone and cracks appear.
Ultrasound
It is unacceptable to carry out the processing of the material with ultrasound. As a result of this effect, cracks form on the surface of the stone.
Toothpaste
It is permissible to use toothpaste if the amber surface is smooth, without the slightest damage. In the presence of cracks, the amber color becomes greenish.
Polishing
Polishing helps restore the stone to its original shine and luster. For quality work, you need to take a small piece of flannel or velor fabric.
Simple
Take a flannel or velor cloth and rub in the sunscreen mineral with gentle circular motions. At the last stage, oil treatment should be carried out. A few drops of olive oil are applied to the fabric, after which the stone is wiped off.
Soaked in a salt bath
If simple polishing did not help, a salt bath is done for amber products:
- Water at room temperature is poured into the container. One liter is enough.
- Dissolve 100 g of salt in the water.
- The decoration is placed in the prepared solution for 7.5 hours.
- The product is washed off with clean running water.
- Place the product on a dry surface and let stand for 35 minutes.
- At the last stage, it remains only to polish with a piece of wool or flannel.
How to maintain and maintain
In order for pearls and other jewelry containing a mineral to always look like new, you must follow a few rules:
- after each wearing, it is recommended to wipe the amber with a soft cloth;
- do not wear jewelry with amber when going to the sauna or public baths;
- to clean hard-to-reach places, use only brushes or cotton swabs;
- if the stone is cloudy and covered with a white coating, it is not recommended to use alcohol solutions;
- store items with amber separately from jewelry with sharp protrusions;
- a box with a velvet interior is considered an ideal storage place;
- when using perfumery, you should avoid applying cosmetics to the mineral;
- you can not leave the stone for a long time in the sun, in the cold, and also near heating devices;
- prolonged contact with household chemicals is unacceptable;
- it is better to take jewelry only with clean hands;
- you need to protect the product with a semi-precious stone from falling.
If you follow these simple rules, you can keep your favorite stone products in perfect condition for a long time.