Australians are hard on their accessories. Beach days, outdoor barbecues, sweaty summers — your glasses and jewelry take a beating year round. Most people clean their accessories occasionally and call it done. But occasional cleaning isn't enough to maintain shine, clarity and hygiene over time.
This guide covers everything you need to know about keeping your jewelry and glasses in perfect condition — the right way.
The Most Common Cleaning Mistakes People Make
Before we get into solutions, let's talk about what most people get wrong:
- Using paper towels or tissues on glasses — these scratch lenses over time even though they feel soft
- Using toothpaste on jewelry — too abrasive, damages delicate metals and gemstones
- Using hot water — can loosen settings on rings and damage lens coatings
- Skipping the crevices — most bacteria and buildup hides in places you can't see or reach
- Cleaning too rarely — glasses should ideally be cleaned daily, jewelry weekly
Traditional Cleaning Methods — Pros & Cons
Microfibre cloth
- ✅ Good for quick surface smudges
- ❌ Doesn't clean hinges, nose pads or stone settings
- ❌ Spreads oils around rather than removing them
Soap and warm water
- ✅ Removes surface dirt effectively
- ❌ Time consuming
- ❌ Still can't reach tight crevices
- ❌ Leaves water spots if not dried properly
Chemical jewelry cleaner
- ✅ Works well on certain metals
- ❌ Can damage gemstones, pearls and plated jewelry
- ❌ Harsh chemicals aren't great for daily use
- ❌ Strong smell
Jewelry cleaning brush
- ✅ Gets into some crevices
- ❌ Requires effort and time
- ❌ Bristles wear out quickly
- ❌ Easy to scratch delicate surfaces
The Better Way — Ultrasonic Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaners work differently to every method above. Instead of physically scrubbing or applying chemicals, they use high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic bubbles that implode on contact with your items — blasting away dirt, oils and bacteria from every surface and crevice simultaneously.
The results speak for themselves:
- Deep cleans in 3-5 minutes
- Reaches places no brush or cloth can
- Safe for glasses, jewelry, watches and more
- Zero effort required
- No harsh chemicals needed
How Often Should You Clean Your Accessories?
| Item | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Glasses | Every 1-2 days |
| Rings | Once a week |
| Necklaces & bracelets | Once a week |
| Earrings | After every wear |
| Watches | Once a fortnight |
| Sunglasses | Every 2-3 days |
Following this schedule with an ultrasonic cleaner takes less than 5 minutes per session — making it completely realistic to maintain.
What to Avoid Putting in an Ultrasonic Cleaner
While ultrasonic cleaners are incredibly versatile, there are a few things to avoid:
- Pearls and soft gemstones like opals and emeralds
- Heavily cracked or damaged items
- Items with loose settings
- Anything with glued components
When in doubt, check with your jeweler first.
The Modern Sonic Bath — Built for Australian Life
The Modern Sonic Bath is a compact portable ultrasonic cleaner designed for everyday use at home. It's powerful enough to deep clean your most prized accessories yet small enough to sit on your bathroom shelf or pack in your travel bag.
No complicated setup. No harsh chemicals. Just drop your items in, add water, press the button and let it do the work.
Conclusion:
Keeping your glasses and jewelry clean isn't just about appearances — it's about hygiene, longevity and getting the most out of accessories you've invested in. The right cleaning routine, done consistently, keeps everything looking brand new for years.
Stop wiping your glasses on your shirt and start cleaning them properly.