How to clean amber?

Amber is a favorite stone of many, which was purchased not only as a component of decorative relationships, but also as a talisman for good luck. For a long time, people believed in the miraculous properties of amber, took care of it, carefully cleaned and looked after. We will talk about how to properly keep the stone in perfect condition in our article.

Most often, amber is cleaned at home. People try to restore the shine of the stone, polish it, grind it. However, it should not be forgotten that there are general rules, without which it will not be possible to give an ideal appearance. Let's talk about them in more detail.

For work, you will need an exceptionally soft cloth to protect the amber from scratches. Too strong pressure is not needed, it is enough to lightly rub the material over the product. A cotton swab or small soft brush is great for cleaning hard-to-reach items.

The container in which the stone is washed should be voluminous and spacious. Amber cannot lie in several layers. In addition, we must not forget that being in water or solutions has clear time limits. It should also be borne in mind that the gem must be thoroughly wiped off immediately after water procedures, otherwise it will become cloudy.

Amber is not really a stone. It is a mineral of organic origin and is therefore quite fragile. Therefore, the use of cleaning agents and standard care methods can be harmful.For example, ultrasonic exposure leads to cracking, while cleaning with a steam generator threatens to crack the resin. If it was decided to stop using soap, you need to take only baby or household soap.

If the stone is exposed to alkali and acid, which are found in most cleaning products, it will darken and lose its natural shine. Contact with alcohol and alcohol-containing products leads to the appearance of a white coating. Also, we must not forget that hard sponges may well scratch the delicate surface of the mineral during the cleaning process.

If a piece of jewelry or stone does not look its best, this is not a reason to panic. The thing can be cleaned, but how this is done depends on the complexity of the problem.

If the stone is slightly dirty, for example, covered with dust, it must be washed. To do this, the gem is placed in a container with water for 2-3 hours. If amber is part of an expensive piece of jewelry, wipe the item in a slightly warmed, weak solution of a delicate gel.

If the stone is sufficient, but not critically contaminated, you can use special compounds. For example, soapy water. Baby or laundry soap is shaved off, a small amount or 25 milliliters of liquid soap is diluted with warm water, in which amber is placed for a couple of minutes. After the procedure, the gem must be rinsed under running cold water. You can also use a strong saline solution instead of a soap solution, in which case the holding time in it increases to 15-20 minutes.

If the contamination is very severe, several additional methods may be required. A mixture of tooth powder and paraffin is very helpful. It can be made in two ways. Firstly, the fabric is rubbed with paraffin, and powder is sprinkled on top, which is rubbed. Secondly, paraffin can be grated and then mixed with tooth powder to get a homogeneous mass. It should be borne in mind that you cannot use toothpaste, it leads to a change in the color of amber, as it clogs even the smallest cracks.

Ammonia is a great way to cleanse amber. It is necessary to prepare a very weak, literally from a few drops, solution, and place the product there for 10 minutes. After the procedure, you should rinse the little thing with warm water.

Amber frames are usually made of precious metals such as silver and gold. They also require cleaning, for which special formulations are most often used. However, you must act carefully so as not to touch the stone itself. If difficulties arise with this, it is necessary to look for other options.

The entire decoration can be placed in a mild soapy solution. Also, the product is well cleaned with glycerin, which is applied with a cotton swab. For silver, you can purchase a special cloth. Its plus is that it does not harm the setting and the stone, it can both clean and polish the jewelry. This is very convenient, since the use of polish when working with silver is prohibited.

The stones come into contact with the body, come into contact with the environment, and this leads to a gradual loss of their radiance. Polishing the amber will help restore its shine. There are various ways to remove plaque, but cleaning should always precede the procedure.

When it comes to light cloudiness of the stone, ice will help well. It is lowered into a container of water, amber is placed there, and after a couple of hours it is removed and wiped off. If the gem is too cloudy, it will need cleaning. You can apply grated paraffin wax with tooth powder. The method is similar to the one mentioned above.

For minor scratches, almond oil or olive oil can help. It should be applied in moderation, rubbing in very gently.If fluid leaks under the frames, dirt will accumulate more quickly in these areas. The procedure is recommended to be carried out every time after cleaning the products.

The more carefully amber is stored, the better its appearance will be. There are certain recommendations on how to prolong the life of the stone.

It is best to keep amber jewelry separate. An excellent option would be a box with a soft inner upholstery. In this capacity, you can also use an ordinary cardboard box. The pouch, even if it is made of natural material, will not be able to ensure the safety of the gems, they will start to wear out.

The stone should not be stored with other jewelry. The proximity to products made of precious metals can also harm, since due to contact with them, the stone can become cloudy. Not the best option is to place the box near heaters, air conditioners or in the cold. The temperature difference has a very bad effect on the gem, it becomes cloudy, and cracks appear on the surface. This also happens when exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.

As for the use of amber jewelry, there are also some nuances here. They should be worn when the image is already formed, cosmetics and perfume are applied. You need to touch stones with clean hands. When the product is removed, it should be wiped thoroughly immediately. This will rid the gem of sweat, dust, or cosmetics that has fallen on it. Also, do not do household chores when the hostess is wearing amber.

It is believed that the stone is capable of absorbing negative energy, therefore, it is worth getting rid of it periodically. Rinsing under running water will help. It will be especially important to carry out the procedure in the final 3 days of the lunar month. The waning moon, the light of which falls on amber, can also purify it.

You will learn about the methods of cleaning amber in the next video.