What NOT to steam clean?

[BWise]

I recently received a Jewelry steamer as a gift, and have been excited to use it. Yet I know that certain types of color stones are not suitable for steam cleaning. Experts, can we start putting together a NO-Steam list?

 

[cellentani]

Apatite, emerald, and opal, for starters. Some people don't even steam tourmaline.

 

[jstarfireb]

Would I be threadjacking too much if I asked for a list of which stones not to put in an ultrasonic cleaner?

 

[soberguy]

add jadeite

 

[Arkteia]

Demantoid? Not a 100% sure, I would definitely not steam clean mine!

 

[chrono]

To make the list short and simple, do NOT steam clean any gemstones except corundum (unless it has been filled or oiled), spinel and chrysoberyl. I would never dare steam clean anything else.

 

[T L]

Can you return it or use it to clean your carpet? Honestly, I think steam cleaners and US cleaners are a waste of money. There's nothing better than proper maintenance with a soft toothbrush and some soap, and rinsing with hot water. If you keep your jewelry clean on a regular basis, which I'm sure you do Yingh, I think a steam cleaner is a waste. I'm sorry.

Maybe you can regift it for someone else.

 

[Roger Dery]

Here's a list our firm put together for the trade which has been widely distributed over the years. I've made some minor adjustments to adapt to colored gems only. This is not as comprehensive as I would like, but is a good start for now. I hope this is helpful.

Gem Type //Hardness/Toughness / Ultrasonic / Steam //Special Considerations
Chrysoberyl 8½, Excellent / Excellent /Excellent //Caution setting flawed stones, otherwise very safe
Amethyst/Citrine 7, Good / Good /Fair //Heat/sunlight can fade stone, facet junctions chip easily
Apatite 5, Poor /Avoid /Avoid //Avoid heat, chemicals, use of tweezers. Abrades easily
Aquamarine/Beryl 8½-8, Good /Good /Good //Avoid thermal shock, may fracture stone if inclusions are present
Chrome Diopside 5½, Poor /Fair /Avoid //Avoid heat, use of tweezers. Abrades easily
Emerald 7½-8, Poor /Avoid /Avoid //Avoid immersion in most chemicals, avoid thermal shock
Garnet (all varieties) 6½-7½, Fair /Good /Poor //Protect from thermal shock
Iolite 7-7½, Fair /Poor /Poor //Avoid thermal shock, and hard blows due to cleavage
Kunzite 6½-7, Poor /Avoid /Avoid //Sunlight may diminish color. Protect from thermal shock
Opal 5-6½, Poor /Avoid /Avoid //Protect from thermal shock and most chemicals
Pearl 2½-4½, Poor /Avoid /Avoid //Avoid heat, strong light, cosmetics or household chemicals
Peridot 6½, Fair /Avoid /Poor //Avoid heat, chemicals, pickle; facet junctions abrade easily
Ruby/Sapphire 9, Excellent /Good /Good //only for filled stones, heat may alter color/clarity
Spinel 8, Good /Good /Good //Generally safe
Tanzanite 6½, Poor /Avoid /Avoid //Avoid thermal shock and hard blows, facet junctions abrade easily
Topaz 8, Poor /Poor /Poor //Has cleavage. Irradiated/heated stones abrade easily
Tourmaline 7-7½, Fair /Fair /Fair //Multi-colored stones break easily at the color zone
Zircon 6½-7½, Fair /Fair /Fair //Un-heated stones exhibit greater durability

 

[chrono]

Roger,
While the list is very comprehensive and a great resource, it gets cumbersome for those who have a variety of gemstones and more of a challenge trying keep track of which one is safe enough for ultrasonics and steamers. I envision the gemstone owner staring at the long bathroom wall list of dos and don’ts for each gemstone type before cleaning each ring/pendant/earrings.

 

[BWise]

cellentani, soberguy , crasru, thanks for contributing to the list!

jstarfireb , no worries about threadjacking. Glad we got the answer from Roger Dery.

TL, since it was a gift I will just keep it for carpet cleaning.

Roger Dery, thanks for the list, very helpful information!

Chrono, you are too funny about the list

For now, I will keep all my color stones away from that steamer!

 

[T L]

OMG, that list Roger produced reminds me of why I don't care for steam and US cleaners.

 

[LD]

For all the reasons above, the ONLY gemstones I put in a steam cleaner are diamonds. I know that Rubies/Sapphires/Alexandrite etc., would probably be safe but I'd never want to risk it.

It is good for sunglasses, glasses, CDs, watches (water proof of course)!

 

[Roger Dery]

Roger,
While the list is very comprehensive and a great resource, it gets cumbersome for those who have a variety of gemstones and more of a challenge trying keep track of which one is safe enough for ultrasonics and steamers. I envision the gemstone owner staring at the long bathroom wall list of dos and don’ts for each gemstone type before cleaning each ring/pendant/earrings.

Hi Chrono,
In the early 90's when we first published our Durability and Characteristics Guide, we sent the 'table of info' off to our printer to publish and then laminate. Then we mailed it to all the accounts we worked with. The intention being they would hang it over, or behind the Steamer and/or Ultrasonic. In most retail stores it isn't the top bench person cleaning the jewelry, it would usually be sales staff. And, unfortunately, they were generally not the best informed as to which gem can, or cannot be used with either instrument.

Our hope at the time, was to save some poor soul from having to go out to the front of the store and explain to a customer that they had just damaged their heirloom piece due to an oversight.

***Note: the form I posted previously did not keep its formatting. It was neatly lined up for easy info retrieval.

 

[StonieGrl]

I threw away the steam cleaner and ultrasonic cleaner a well-meaning person gave me.

I use warm water and a soft paintbrush. I might add a mild detergent if needed.

 

[jstarfireb]

Thanks, Roger! I love how clean my ultrasonic gets my engagement ring; now I know it's ok for my quartz and garnets too (of which I'm amassing quite the collection. How well does benitoite hold up in an ultrasonic...not very well (like tanzanite), I presume?

 

[Roger Dery]

Thanks, Roger! I love how clean my ultrasonic gets my engagement ring; now I know it's ok for my quartz and garnets too (of which I'm amassing quite the collection. How well does benitoite hold up in an ultrasonic...not very well (like tanzanite), I presume?

Hi, I've not had reports good - or bad regarding Benitoite and its durability. But I think it best err on the side of caution whenever there isn't enough info to validate its condition after coming under the Steamer or placed into an Ultrasonic tank.

 

[Michael_E]

Part of using these cleaning tools is in HOW you use them. The biggest problem with using them is is the thermal shock in hitting a cold stone with steam or dropping it into a hot ultrasonic cleaner. I have broken stones with both processes and I still use both on many more stones than are indicated here. When I clean a sensitive stone in the ultrasound I always soak it overnight in the cleaner and only use it in a cool to lukewarm ultrasonic cleaner and have never had a problem using it this way. I only use the steam cleaner after having cleaned everything with the ultrasonic and then just keep sensitive stones far enough away from the nozzle so that it is more a blast of warm air than a shot of hot steam. If the stones are exceptionally sensitive I usually soak them and squirt them with one of those big hypodermic syringes used for applying glue in cabinet making, drying with a soft towel.

 

[T L]

What about fracture filled stones like emeralds though, the filler can come out in a US cleaner. I have also heard that they tend to make fractures grow larger.

 

[chrono]

Jstarfireb,
I would never dare use it for certain garnets as you may not know which one contains liquid within the inclusions. If it does, you run the risk of fracturing the gemstone as the ultrasonic wave action will also affect the liquid filled inclusions.

 

[Michael_E]

What about fracture filled stones like emeralds though, the filler can come out in a US cleaner. I have also heard that they tend to make fractures grow larger.

Well, an US will suck the oil right out of a fracture filled emerald. I just don't put emeralds in their unless they are filled with the more modern more hardened fillers. I suppose that it could make a fracture grow larger, but then I wouldn't want that stone in anything that I was wearing since it would probably break up and fall out with a little bump. You need to remember that an US uses high frequency sound waves which have very small areas in which they affect the surface of anything. Stick your hand in there when it's cold and see what you think. It's like thousands of little light pin pricks and it's not like the stone is getting pommeled by a hammer or anything. I think that most of the warnings that are given about ultrasounds are based on the fact that they get pretty hot and the thermal shock of dunking a cold stone into that hot fluid is what breaks things.

 

[T L]

Michael,
My dentist uses an ultrasonic plaque remover on my teeth. I would hate to be the poor little gemstone sitting in a US cleaner. Ouch!!

 

[jstarfireb]

Thanks, all! Chrono, which garnets would you avoid putting in an ultrasonic? I have some tsavorite, Merelani mint, Mali, demantoid, pyrope, and pyrospessartite/malaya, all of which could use a bath...

 

[T L]

I wouldn't put any garnets in an US cleaner.

 

[movie zombie]

i would never put my spess in such a cleaner.

mz