Hydroalcoholic gels have become our new must-have. We use it every day: at home, at work, in the shops…
It’s normal to have doubts about how these gels affect your new routine, for example, if they can damage your gold jewelry with gemstones.
¿Does antibacterial gel damage your jewelry?
Hydro-alcoholic gels do NOT damage your rose gold or yellow gold jewelry, nor do they affect hard gemstones like diamonds.
However, the frequency with which these gels are used and their prolongation over time can damage your white gold rings and jewelry or some more porous gems.
Alcohol wears away the layer of rhodium that all white gold jewelry is made of so that it can shine with the mirror effect we love so much.
I don't recommend using this type of gel if you have gold jewelry with pearls. Pearl mother-of-pearl is an organic matter that ages and needs to be cared for in order to prolong its life. Pearls are sensitive to acids, perfumes, lacquer,… and also alcohol, so try to prevent them from coming into contact with antibacterial gels, okay?
Does antibacterial gel damage your engagement ring or wedding rings?
Yes, if they are in white gold for the reasons I explained above. Alcohol will make the rhodium bath that surrounds the rings disappear and over time you will see them less bright.
Does antibacterial gel soil your jewelry?
Yes. Antibacterial gels, as well as soaps, moisturizers, sunscreens and cosmetics, soil your jewelry. But don't worry, in most cases it is possible to remove the antibacterial gel and creams with an easy and homemade trick that I will explain right now. But before curing… better prevent, right?
The best advice
Antibacterial gels perform the same function as soap and water, that is, they keep your hands clean, disinfect them and thus help prevent possible infections.
The best advice I can give you about jewelry and disinfectant gels is to prioritize washing your hands with soap and water before doing so with liquids.
You can use gels in cases where you are away from home and have no better choice.
I also recommend that you take off your jewelry before applying gels of any kind or creams, and that you wait a few minutes until your skin absorbs them. Then you can put them back on without the risk of them getting dirty or damaging the rhodium bath in the white gold rings.
Also think that hydroalcoholic gels dry out your hands, nails and mucous membranes. This is also another point to value from soap and water to keep your hands and skin glowing.
Home maintenance of your jewelry at home
Surely you already found this homemade trick in a previous article on how to take care of your jewelry. But if you don't know it yet, I repeat it here because it is very easy and practical and you will surely use it.
To remove the remnants of hydroalcoholic gels from your gold jewelry with diamonds or precious stones, prepare a pot with water and bring it to a boil.
Then boil your jewelry for 5 to 10 minutes. After this time, pass them through cold water and dry them very carefully, little by little, with a cotton cloth (without rubbing them).
Ready. If you do this maintenance once a month, you will be able to wear your jewelry as it deserves (and you deserve it!).
If you want to know more text me at jordi@roosik.com or read this article:
You will see that I have prepared a downloadable for you with the daily uses and elements that can affect the brilliance of your jewelry. I hope you find it useful, you'll tell me!