Steel is a durable metal that is often used to make men's jewelry such as bangle bracelets, chains or even rings (sometimes wedding bands). How do you clean steel jewelry? This article explains how to take either of this metal which has its specificities.
Cleaning a steel jewel: instructions
For the informative minute, steel is an alloy composed of iron and chromium. After being treated against oxidation, it resists rust. This metal is very durable and does not tarnish. However, for your steel jewelry to retain all its shininess, it should be maintained and cleaned regularly. And even if it should lose its luster a little, a few simple procedures will allow you to restore its former shine. Here are our tips for cleaning your steel jewelry.
A little soap and water
For regular maintenance, a little water and soap is enough to clean a steel bracelet, for example. Choose a mild liquid soap. In a container, pour hot water and add a little soap. Let your steel jewelry soak in the mixture for a few minutes.
Using a soft cloth, then rub your steel jewellery. If it's a ring with deep patterns or ribbing, or a steel necklace, you'll probably need an extra accessory, like a cotton ball. - swab or a soft brush, to extract any dirt that may have become embedded.
When the cleaning operation is finished, all you have to do is rinse the jewel with water. Then dry it with a piece of soft, dry cloth.
Baking soda
If soap is not enough, you can use baking soda. Put the powder in a container and add a little water to form a consistent paste. You will then use this paste to clean your steel jewelry using a toothbrush.
Toothpaste
For convenience, some people use toothpaste to clean their jewelry. Not a bad idea, as long as the toothpaste is right! Many pastes today contain bleaching agents which are abrasive, attacking metal. It is therefore better to use an ordinary cheap toothpaste, although there is no guarantee that there is not something among the ingredients which may damage your steel jewellery. If in doubt, test on a very small, non-visible area.
Polish for steel
With the polish for steel your jewelry is safe as the product has been specially designed for this purpose. The use of a special jewelry duster is also indicated in order to restore and maintain the luster of your pieces. As with cleaning, always follow "metal sense" when polishing steel jewelry.
Ultrasonic cleaner
If you have an ultrasonic cleaner at home, useful for reaching the smallest gaps, you can use it to clean your steel jewelry. If these contain stones, it is preferable to abstain since such cleaning generates many vibrations, which could damage or dislodge them.
A steel jewel with scratches?
If you have accidentally caused scratches to one of your men's jewellery, it is possible to erase them by taking it to a jewelery store, where it will be subject to professional polishing. Given the price of steel necklaces, rings and bracelets, however, it is unlikely that the operation will be economically relevant. It will probably be cheaper to buy a new piece of jewelry…as long as it's still on sale, if you really want to find the same one.
Last tips: beware of chemicals
We all know that steel is an industrial metal, so you would think it could withstand anything. But as the paragraph on toothpaste proves, this is not the case: steel can be attacked by chemicals. Care must therefore be taken when handling cleaning products, in particular containing chlorine, bleach, etc. It also means taking off your men's steel jewelry when you go swimming in the pool.
If you're using a polish made specifically for jewelry, make sure it's suitable for steel. Indeed, products designed for gold, silver, brass or copper are not suitable for steel jewelry, they may damage it.