How do i clean my grandmother's pearls?

Answer 1

Do NOT use toothpaste--enamel on your teeth is much more durable than the nacre of a pearl.

There are cleaners available commercially for pearls, however they are somewhat difficult to find.

Instead of a commercial cleaner, wash the pearls periodically with a mild soap and a soft cloth to remove any accumulated build-up of dirt and body oils. Make certain you dry your pearls with a soft cloth and leave the pearl strand out long enough for the stringing material to air dry.

At the same time check the pearls to make certain they do not need restringing. If there is any "play" (movement) of a pearl between the knots beside it, then it is time to have the pearls restrung. In fact, pearl strands that are worn often may need restringing annually.

When storing your pearls, store them separate from other jewerly or hard objects. Pearls stored with other jewelry are often scratched and irreparably damaged.

Answer 2

Lashcar is correct. Do not use amonia or other jewelry cleaners as they damage the nacre (substance secreted by oysters that creates the pearl)

Answer 3

I agree...toothpaste ...I won't hurt your teeth so it's good for pearls and getting out glass stains on your coffee table.