How to clean topaz at home, why topaz becomes cloudy

Jewelry with topaz looks very beautiful, which is why it is very popular among jewelry lovers. But, unfortunately, the beauty of these stones begins to fade over time due to many reasons that the unlucky owners may not be aware of until they have to deal with the deterioration of the appearance of the stone. It may fade, losing its former shine, become cloudy or fade. If you have jewelry with this mineral, it will be very useful to learn how to clean topaz at home. In most cases, this helps restore it to its former attractiveness and beauty. About the origin, use and colors of topaz →

Why does a stone lose its appearance?

The main reasons why a stone stops shining are bright sunlight and ordinary running water. Also, temperature changes contribute to the deterioration of the appearance of the mineral. It should be noted that London topaz should be especially protected from these factors, because its wonderful color is created artificially.

It is precisely because sunlight is destructive to topaz that it is recommended to wear jewelry with it in the evening. Owners often ask why the stone has become cloudy. The answer is simple: as a result of a sharp temperature change (for example, when leaving a warm car into a cold one), microscopic cracks can form in it, disrupting its structure, so it becomes cloudy.

By the way, ordinary running water, in which inexperienced people most often wash jewelry, is not harmless. It contains a number of chemical compounds and substances that negatively affect the condition of topaz.

CORRECT CARE

Caring for topaz is not as difficult as it might seem: the main thing is to follow all the recommendations and be careful with your jewelry:

To ensure that the mineral retains its color, we protect it from direct sunlight.
Store separately in a bag or box.
We minimize contact with water.
Do not wear in rooms with high humidity.
We clean it monthly.
Not recommended for daily wear.

If you handle your jewelry with care, you will enjoy it for a long time.

How not to clean topaz

Before you clean topaz at home, you should know what you should never do with topaz:

It is not allowed to use cleaning products that contain abrasives to avoid scratching the stone.
Do not try to return topaz to its original color by exposing it to high temperatures and ultrasound.
If the stone in the jewelry is attached with glue , do not allow water to get into the product.
If the cleaning product contains chlorine , do not use it for cleaning because chlorine atoms tend to change the color of the mineral.
When washing products, it is recommended to use distilled or filtered water , because ordinary water also contains chlorine.

What to do if the stone is set on glue

If the mineral is on an adhesive base, it is better not to use solutions - even gentle home remedies can harm the stone. Even use distilled water with caution.

To prevent damage to the jewelry, it is recommended to clean it with a cotton swab. Use alcohol, high-quality vodka, and first aid as a cleaning agent. An alternative to alcohol-containing liquids is toothpaste.

It is recommended to complete the process by polishing - using a soft cloth. You can use a special fabric for jewelry - it will help restore the shine.

How to clean topaz in a silver setting

Cleaning topaz in a silver setting is not particularly difficult. As already mentioned, do not use products that may contain high concentrations of chemicals that are harmful to the mineral.

Toothpaste

The first and most popular way to easily remove small traces of dirt and “revive” dull stones is to use regular toothpaste. First you need to wet the jewelry with cold water and then clean it with a small amount of paste. It is better to use an old and soft brush.

The procedure should last several minutes. After this, the decoration is washed again in water. It is important that the time during which the stone is in contact with water is minimal.

Vinegar

The second way to clean topaz set in silver is to prepare a solution of wine vinegar. Remember that you cannot use other types of vinegar essence.

Prepare a solution by filling a small container with warm water and adding five to eight drops of wine vinegar per 250 ml of water. Immerse the item in it for 30 minutes, and then quickly rinse with the same warm water and polish the topaz using a piece of soft cloth. Lightly wet the fabric with alcohol.

Special means

The third method is the simplest option, but the most costly in financial terms, unlike the first two. This is the use of special pastes for cleaning jewelry. Such remedies are not cheap, so the tried and tested home methods mentioned earlier can be safely used, and the effect will be the same.

A couple of general principles about cleaning jewelry

If topaz becomes cloudy, you should not immediately put the jewelry in a far corner and remember it with grief. It is not only possible, but also necessary to revive the accessory. Jewelry that is in constant contact with the body gets dirty the fastest:

bracelets;
earrings;
rings.

There are several basic tips that will help you restore your favorite jewelry to its original appearance:

Jewelry can be easily cleaned in a small container: a glass, a saucepan. To clean the bracelet, it is better to use larger dishes, this will allow you to thoroughly remove all accumulated dirt particles.
Pay special attention to the junction of the stone and the frame on the earrings, on the ring - this is where the most dust accumulates.
Use an old toothbrush to clean. Its fibers are no longer as hard as those of a new one, so there will be no harm to the stone, and dirt can be effectively removed.
Cleaning the frame should be very careful. If you decide to do all this at home and prepare the composition yourself, make sure that it does not get on the stone itself. Otherwise, the mineral may become cloudy quite quickly, and you will not be able to correct the situation.
For cleaning, use spring, filtered, but not tap water. Boiling water is also prohibited; the temperature must be comfortable.
Do not use hard brushes or abrasives during work. All this can leave unpleasant marks on the surface of the precious insert. Work carefully with a wooden stick or a thin toothpick.
Topazes must not be cleaned with aggressive chemicals. If you see a home remedy containing mercury, iodine or sulfur, discard it immediately. These substances will leave dark marks on the surface of the stone. You should also not clean the surface with a product containing manganese or a concentrated solution of vinegar.
Only those jewelry where the stone is mechanically fixed in the setting can be cleaned in water. If you have any doubts about this, it is better to regularly wipe the accessory with damp wipes or soft cloths soaked in detergent.
After cleaning, the jewelry should be completely dry, then they can be stored in a special bag or box with soft upholstery inside.

All of these tips are suitable for cleaning not only topaz jewelry, but also all accessories with precious stones.

How to clean topaz in a gold setting

How to clean gold? Fill the container with warm water and make a solution by adding a little liquid soap (a few drops will be enough). It is better if the soap is for children, because its chemical composition is less aggressive than others.

Add a little ammonia to the solution and immerse the jewelry in it for an hour or a little less, maybe 40 minutes. After this, you will need to quickly rinse it in clean water and dry it with a soft piece of cloth.

Symbol of calm and peace.

Blue Topaz promotes harmony and relaxation, and can be especially helpful in healing resentment and calming frayed nerves.

In the past, it was used to calm fears and protect against nightmares, for a restful and restful sleep.

Ancient civilizations believed it had cooling properties.

They used stones to relieve the pain of burns.

These properties also extended to the emotional and spiritual world, linking topaz with preventing anger and cooling raging passions.

Is it possible to restore the color of topaz yourself?

It happens that the owner of a piece of jewelry suddenly discovers that the appearance of the stone has changed dramatically. It not only faded, but became so cloudy that its color became dirty and dull. As you know, topazes of virtually any color can be purchased on the jewelry market, and many of them have undergone artificial processing before sale. For example, bright red or bright green topaz, which is very shiny and immediately catches the eye, is definitely a synthetic product that will become cloudy and dull over time.

Unfortunately, there is no way to correct the defect of a clouded stone, which not so long ago attracted the buyer’s eye with its bright color and artificial beauty. Therefore, you should think in advance that you should not buy topazes that are too bright. It is no longer possible to restore their former color, and they lose it very quickly.

If natural blue topaz is regularly exposed to sunlight, it may also fade and cannot be restored to its original color.

However, when signs of cloudiness begin to appear on a stone that has rich shades of blue or blue, color restoration is possible here by a professional jeweler. In the same way, owners of minerals of pink, tea and yellow colors are lucky: they can be restored by repeated irradiation.

Prohibited

Despite its strength, topaz is a very sensitive stone.
Jewelers do not recommend wearing jewelry with this stone in the pool or in the bathhouse. Jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones is “afraid” of elevated temperatures and chemical exposure. It is not advisable to wear jewelry when you take a shower, bath, or perform standard household chores. It is forbidden to store topaz in the open sun, as active sunlight destroys the stone and contributes to the loss of color of the jewelry. It is not recommended to wear perfume when wearing jewelry with stones. Also, contact of topaz with alcohol, nail polish remover containing acetone and other aggressive substances can lead to its damage.

How to restore shine?

When topazes shine brightly, they always bring joy to their owners, but the shine of the stone can also be lost. Fortunately, this is not fatal and can be corrected by applying simple methods.

The first recipe for restoring the shine of a mineral: simply boil three small potatoes, after peeling them and chopping them into cubes. Leave for twenty minutes, and then place the product with topaz in this liquid and keep there for an hour. After this, rinse with water, dry and polish with a piece of soft cloth. You can also dip the decoration in the onion solution using fresh onion juice. After “holding” for 40 minutes, also rinse the product in water and dry.

For those who cannot tolerate onion juice and do not really trust potato broth, you can offer a mixture of 10 milliliters of ammonia and a level teaspoon of salt in a ratio of one-third of a glass of purified or distilled water. The decoration should be immersed in water only after the salt crystals have completely dissolved. After this, you should quickly rinse it in clean water and dry it.

Review of professional products

If you don’t want to risk your jewelry using traditional cleaning methods, you should take a closer look at special cleaning products designed for jewelry.

Similar products are represented by online stores, jewelry workshops, and departments of specialized household chemicals. When working with such products, hands should be protected with rubber gloves.

Talisman

The Talisman brand can be found in a jewelry store. The composition is rich in inorganic acids, nonionic surfactants, thiocarbamide. Release form: solution 100 ml and 150 ml. The product comes with a small brush that helps clean hard-to-reach areas.

The manufacturer warns that Talisman is intended for stones of natural origin. It is not recommended to use the mixture for products with artificial topaz. The color of the solution is transparent, the smell is pungent, with chemical fragrances.

The product is easy to use:

earrings, ring, pendant, brooch with topaz are placed in a glass container;
pour a small amount of solution;
after 3 minutes, the products are washed, dried, and polished with napkins.

It is recommended to clean jewelry with glued topazes with Talisman napkins. They simultaneously clean and polish the stones.

How to care for topaz and wear it correctly

Unfortunately, some of the effects that topazes may undergo are irreversible. Therefore, when purchasing jewelry with them, you should know how to properly care for topaz.

Caring for a stone is very simple, the main thing is to follow a few simple recommendations, while being attentive and careful:

To prevent the stone from losing color, do not leave it in places where it may be exposed to direct sunlight .
After wearing, topaz should be put away in a tight bag or placed in a jewelry box. It's better if it's separate.
Do not allow cosmetics or medications with your jewelry .
Always remove products during water procedures .
Do not leave topazes for a long time in places with high humidity . For example, in the bathroom. It is better to remove the decoration from there immediately.
Once a month, clean your jewelry yourself using any known method.
Do not wear the product every day. Excessive light harms it. It is better to wear it in the evenings, in honor of some event. In addition, in soft evening lighting the stone looks much more advantageous.
Remember to remove your jewelry before cooking or cleaning .
Once every six months , try to visit a workshop for professional cleaning of stones .

Topaz is a stone that needs careful handling and good care. If you treat it with due attention, following all the necessary recommendations, it will delight the owner with its unique beauty for a long time. Of course, in order to avoid something irreparable in the form of the stone losing its color and purity, you will have to sacrifice the desire to wear it constantly. But what could be better than a product that lifts your spirits with its pristine beauty year after year? There is always an opportunity to preserve it, and at home too. True, sometimes you will have to work hard for this, but in response to care, the stone will always look beautiful.

Read also: how to clean a diamond at home →

Useful tips

To ensure that the stones in your jewelry always delight you with their brilliance, it is important to properly care for them:

Your jewelry requires careful care.
Dirt and grease quickly accumulate on the surface of gold jewelry with diamonds. Clean them monthly.
Diamonds and topazes quickly lose their shine and tarnish when exposed to too much heat and strong sunlight.
Diamonds are not meant to be shown off to girlfriends at the gym. They are worn for an evening out. The beauty and brilliance of gems will be emphasized by soft lighting. These stones should not be worn constantly.
Before doing household chores, remove rings with stones.
The stone can be damaged or destroyed by abrasive materials. Therefore, their use is not recommended.
There is no need to wash your hands in chlorinated water while wearing diamond or topaz rings. Chlorine can dull the stone and deteriorate the metal.
Any chemicals have a bad effect on jewelry. Complex stains are formed from contact with iodine, sulfur, and mercury. The same can be said about hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, and vinegar.
Jewelry with diamonds must be stored in a box upholstered with soft fabric. It is advisable that it be a dry and dark place. They should also be kept separate from other decorations. This is because hard stones can leave scratches when rubbed.
It is forbidden to boil jewelry. This cleaning method using detergents is suitable for platinum and gold, but not for delicate stones.
High humidity also damages jewelry. So never leave them in the bath. In addition, there is a high risk that your earring or ring will fall into the sink.
Sometimes, at least once every six months, take items with stones to a jeweler for professional polishing, cleaning and checking the strength of the setting. A specialist can also tell you what products you can use and how to properly care for your jewelry.

Our simple tips will help you clean topaz and return it to its natural purity and shine. Take care of your jewelry, take care of it and you will admire the beauty of the products for many years.