Queen Elizabeth's dresser uses gin to clean her diamonds and silverware
The Queen's personal dresser has revealed the surprising cleaning trick she uses to shine her majesty's silverware and diamonds — and you don't have to be of royal descent to give it a go yourself.
According to Angela Kelly, who has worked with the Queen since 1994, her Royal Highness' dressers get her jewels sparkling by simply using water and a splash of gin.
Published in her new book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, Angela says: 'A little gin and water come in handy to give the diamonds extra sparkle. Just don’t tell the jeweler!'
This royal way of cleaning is something that has been done for centuries, with previous generations even soaking their jewels in gin overnight to remove any tarnishing. In the morning, the jewelry would be rinsed, revealing a new shine.
In her book, Angela also opens up about how she gets the Queen's clothing ready for events such as weddings, christenings and public outings, giving a behind-the-scenes insight into what happens behind the closed doors at Buckingham Palace.
How does this cleaning method work?
If you want to give your jewelry a clean using this simple technique, it's easy for everyone to try with any leftover gin. If it's good enough for her majesty, it's surely good enough for us ...
1. Simply pour a small amount of gin onto a cotton pad and rub it over your jewelry. Thanks to its high level of alcohol, any grease or bacteria will be removed.
2. If you have some dirtier silverware, you can also try soaking it in gin and water for around 30 minutes.
3. Remember, if you do have something highly valuable it's always best to check with a professional cleaning service.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.
You Might Also Like
