Ketchup works like a charm

Frustrated with the commercial jewelry and metal cleaners available on the market, Isabel and I spent one summer afternoon a couple years ago experimenting various common household items to find the cheapest and most effective solution.

We tried old lipstick, toothpaste, ketchup, and vinegar.

To our amazement, the ketchup provided the easiest and quickest clean for wire and glass jewelry.

Behold, a highly oxidized copper and art glass necklace:

Add some watered down ketchup:

Gently rub the jewelry piece in the ketchup and rinse in clean water:

Lay jewelry piece on a cotton towel (something with no "fuzz") and roll gently to remove most of the water, let air dry to complete the process.

And voila! Clean, sparkling jewelry once more!

Note!

I do not recommend ketchup as a cleaner for jewelry with soft, semi-precious stones in it, as the acid in the ketchup can (and will!) etch the stone and/or cause it to become unstable and crumble.