Clean Amber Jewelry

Amber jewelry is very beautiful, but it is also delicate and fragile. Overtime, it may get coated with oil and grime, making it lose its luster. The methods outlined here will enable you to safely restore the look of amber to new without spoiling the jewelry.

Steps

Cleaning Amber with a Damp Cloth

  1. Prepare a bowl of soapy water. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and add a few drops of liquid soap into it. Stir the solution enough so that the soap and water combine but not so much that it begins to foam.
    • Use a mild liquid soap, such as hand soap or dish soap. Avoid harsh detergents as they can damage the amber.
  2. Find a soft, clean cloth. Microfiber or flannel work best. Dip the cloth into the bowl and wring it out so that there is no dripping water left. You want the cloth to be damp, not wet.
  3. Wipe the cloth over the amber jewelry to remove any dirt. Wipe the jewelry again immediately afterward with a dry cloth to dry it.[1]
    • If you are cleaning more than one piece of jewelry, clean and dry each piece separately. Do not leave the amber to dry by itself, or you risk it turning cloudy.
  4. Polish your amber with some olive oil. This not only removes grease marks, but also helps polish the amber. Apply a small amount of oil to your hands, and then rub the oil over the amber. Wipe it away immediately afterwards with a soft, dry cloth.
    • If you do not have olive oil, you can use almond oil instead.

Cleaning Amber Jewelry with a Silver Polishing Cloth

  1. Obtain a silver polishing cloth. You can find one in the beading department of an arts and crafts store, or in a jewelry supply shop. You can also purchase one online. Choose a polishing cloth that has both light and dark panels. The light panel will be used to remove any surface dirt or tarnish, and the dark panel will be used to polish the amber.
  2. Buff your jewelry with the light side of the polishing cloth. If your jewelry also contains silver, you may see dark smudges appear on the cloth. This is tarnish, and means that your jewelry is becoming clean. Keep rubbing your amber jewelry until you can no longer see any tarnish, or until it looks clean.
  3. Polish your amber with the dark panel of the polishing cloth. Rub the cloth over the amber, using quick, circular movements. Do this until the amber looks clean and shiny, and its glow is restored.[2]

Cleaning Amber Necklaces with Soapy Water

  1. Use caution with this method. There are many contradicting opinions regarding water and amber. While some jewelers recommend using soapy water to clean amber, others strongly advise against it.
    • If your piece is particularly dirty and you wish to try this method, you may consider performing a test on an inconspicuous area of the amber, or on a bead in the back of the necklace.
  2. Prepare two bowls of lukewarm water. The bowls should be large enough to fit the piece you will be cleaning. One bowl will be used to wash the amber, and the other bowl will be used to rinse it.
  3. Put a few drops of mild, liquid soap into one of the bowls. Stir the soap and water so that it is mixed, but not so much that the solution begins to froth.[3]
    • If you do not have any liquid hand soap, you can use a liquid dish soap, but avoid any harsh detergents, such as dishwasher fluid. If you would not put your hand in it, do not use it.
  4. Dip the amber necklace into the bowl with the soapy water. Gently run the necklace through your fingers to remove any dirt and grime.
    • If there is dirt between the beads, you can use a soft-bristle toothbrush to reach it. Simply run the toothbrush over any cracks and crevices until you cannot see any more dirt. Use gentle pressure and do not scrub too hard, or you may scratch your amber.[4]
    • Avoid tugging on the beads, as this can cause the string to break.
    • Avoid soaking your amber for long periods of time. Prolonged exposure to water, especially hot water, can damage amber, making it appear cloudy.
  5. Rinse the amber in the clean water. Dip your amber necklace into the bowl of clean water and move it around to remove excess soap.
  6. Dry your amber off immediately using a soft, cloth. You can use any soft cloth, such as flannel or microfiber. Again, avoid tugging on the amber necklace, or scrunching the beads together, as this may damage the beads. Do not allow your amber to sit and dry off on its own, or you risk it becoming cloudy.
  7. Polish your amber with olive oil. Do not put the olive oil on the jewelry directly. Instead, place a few drops of olive oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Then, run the amber necklace between your hands. This helps restore the amber's luster and shine. Wipe the olive oil off your amber using the soft cloth.
    • If you do not have any olive oil, another light oil may be used instead, such as an almond oil.

Tips

  • You can use olive oil or almond oil to simply polish your amber jewelry and restore its glow if it is not visibly dirty.
  • Clean your amber jewelry after wearing it to prevent oil from building up.
  • Maintain your amber jewelry and help it stay clean longer by following these rules:[5]
    • Do not swim or bathe while wearing amber jewelry.
    • Do not perform any household chores while wearing your amber jewelry (this includes cleaning, doing laundry, and washing dishes).
    • Store amber jewelry in a cloth pouch, separate from other jewelry.
    • Use hairspray and perfume before putting on amber jewelry.
    • Do not leave your amber jewelry in direct sunlight.

Warnings

  • Amber is soft, and thus easily scratched. Remove any rings and bracelets before cleaning your amber jewelry.
  • Avoid using any harsh chemicals or detergents as they can damage the surface of amber.
  • Do not use silver polish on your amber jewelry, even if it contains silver pieces.
  • Use caution when cleaning your amber in soap and water. Do not let your amber jewelry sit in water, as excess moisture can turn amber cloudy.

Things You'll Need

  • Very soft cloths, such as flannel or microfiber
  • Silver polishing cloth (optional)
  • Lukewarm, soapy water (be sure to use gentle soap)
  • Bowls for the water
  • Almond oil or olive oil for polishing

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Emporia University, Amber Care
  2. ↑ Buy Russian Gifts, How to Clean Amber Jewelry
  3. ↑ Gemological Institute of America, Amber-Care-Cleaning
  4. ↑ The Russian Store, How to Clean Your Amber Jewelry
  5. ↑ Amberman, 10 Golden Rules to Take Care of Amber
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