How to Keep Your Jewelry Shiny

NEW YORK — The sentimental value of most fine jewelry or precious gems can vastly increase their worth to the owner, making the care of old and new heirlooms a doubly important task.

The American Gemety, a national nonprofit organization of retail jewelers, recommends professional cleaning for your fine jewelry, or this home-made solution:

1 tablespoon liquid detergent (such as Mr. Clean or equivalent)

1 tablespoon pharmaceutical ammonia

1/2 cup warm water

Dip the jewelry in this solution and let it soak for five minutes.

Then gently brush clean with a soft toothbrush. After cleaning, jewelry should be dried on a lint-free towel.

Some notes of caution: Be sure to use pharmaceutical ammonia; household ammonia leaves a film. Do not use the solution on porous gemstones that might lose their color, such as lapis lazuli, coral and pearls.