QuestionHello my question is can you clean gems and minerals with rubbing alcohol and if not do you recomend anything
AnswerHello, Albert. Thanks for the question.
Albert, almost all gemstones are tolerant of alcohol and a wipe with rubbing alcohol is useful in cleaning oils and that sort of material from the gems. The most useful initial cleaning is simply a mild dish detergent(non-ammonia) mixed in water and gently rubbed or brushed to remove soil on surface and from behind mounted gemstones. Cleaning also provides an ideal opportunity to check jewelry stones for security and tightness in the settings. I suggest stones be checked prior to cleaning and then afterwards. Only soft brushes are recommended and soft cloths. Sometimes a soak in detergent solution will loosen debris for easier removal.
Solid faceted gems such as sapphire, topaz, opal and others are perfectly fine with alcohol.
Keep in mind that I said "almost all" are tolerant of alcohol. A few lower grade gems might be dyes with substances affected by alcohol. Turquoise and lapis lazuli are examples. Lower grade gems may be dyed in alcohol soluble dyes. Most turquoise on the market and in silver jewelry is ok with alcohol because the stone is impregnated with a plastic resin. Alcohol should bed ok but acetone is not safe to use as it might start to dissolve the plastic. The trick is to take a white cloth wet with the alcohol and gently rub a portion of the back side of the stone. One quick rub is unlikely to cause any real damage even if dyed. Look for tell tale color on the cloth. If there is no sign of dye color, go ahead and wipe the gem off with the alcohol. Start with the detergent wash and that might be sufficient, no alcohol follow-up needed.
Again, almost all the minerals are safe with rubbing alcohol. Start as with gemstones with a detergent wash. An exception is selenite, a sodium salt mineral formed in the desert and sold as a metaphysical mineral. Selenite is slowly soluble in water, the liquid from which it formed. While alcohol of a pure form is safe on most water soluble minerals, rubbing alcohol contains water and should be only lightly applied. Think of minerals forming in caves and from water when considering using water to clean. A gentle wash is ok most of the time but a soak is not. My suggestion for minerals is to check each one as you go by looking up gemological information including solubility on the Internet. Obviously, hard and solid materials such as agates, flint, quartz crystals and similar items are safe. Any of the stone you see tumble polished are safe for water or alcohol.
I wrote this answer more in a precautionary approach. In reality, you will come across very few gems or minerals which will be damaged by either water/detergent or alcohol cleaning. Always try a small "hidden" spot first if in doubt.
I do hope this helps. The abundance of different minerals, mineral combinations and gemstones makes the question beyond a simple yes or no answer. There is a wealth of minerals in or near your area. For example, Thunder Bay amethyst is safe to clean and in fact mild acid soaks and thorough rinsing are commonly used to clean clay and rust stains from quartz crystal formations in general, clear or colored specimens.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
