Soak the diamond jewelry for at least 15 minutes to 12 hours in a solution of 50 percent boiling water and 50 percent low concentration cleanser. It is the heat of boiling water that pulls the dirt away from the jewelry. The cleanser can be ammonia or ethyl alcohol in the ratio of 2 tablespoons per 1/2 gallon of water. Thereafter, wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth. If the jewelry appears to be too dirty, use a soft toothbrush to gently remove the dirt. This method should, however, not be used for gold jewelry, as this will discolor the metal.
Prepare a solution of mild detergent and water in a ratio of 1:1. Soak the jewelry piece for at least 1 hour if the jewelry is dirty. Thereafter, rinse the jewelry with warm water until the water runs clean. Dry and wipe with a soft cloth. In cases where soft cloth is not available, tissue can be used.
Drop your jewelry in a bowl filled with vodka. Allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove it and rinse with plain water. Wipe dry with a soft cloth. This can be used for regular cleaning of diamond jewelry. However, if the diamonds are too dirty, dip a toothbrush in vodka and gently scrub the jewelry piece to remove the dirt. This will help clean the diamonds and add an extra sparkle to your jewelry.
Take 1 cup of pure apple cider vinegar and submerge the jewelry piece for 15 minutes, or use 3 teaspoons of baking soda and 1/2 liter of cold water and soak the jewelry for 4 hours. After following either of the above regimes, rinse the jewelry with clean water and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Toothpaste can be used to hand-polish your jewelry, though toothpaste is recommended for diamond jewelry, as it is abrasive and can harm the gold metal.