Sort Your Life Out star Dilly Carter has revealed an unusual method for cleaning jewellery: soaking it in vodka. The professional organiser, who joined the popular ITV show in 2021, shared the tip on the Sort Your Life Out Unpacked podcast with Janette Manrara.
Dilly's Vodka Soak Method
While discussing jewellery cleaning techniques, Dilly explained her indulgent approach. She said: "I pour myself a vodka and tonic and then I pour a vodka for the jewellery. Then I put my jewellery, all my diamonds and everything into the glass of vodka and it comes out sparkling."
The star, who boasts 450,000 Instagram followers, regularly uses social media to help fans declutter their homes. On the podcast, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Janette Manrara revealed she relies on a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean her accessories.
Other Expert Tips
Iwan Carrington, the show's cleaner, endorsed Janette's technique as "perfect" but noted that methods vary by material. He explained: "Gold doesn't tend to tarnish so we can actually get away with a little bit of washing up liquid in a tub of warm water. Give it a little dunk and give it a wash."
He added: "A soft toothbrush for jewellery is perfect and I think a little bit of toothpaste you can't go amiss with. It's actually very good to use toothpaste on your silver as well because silver does tarnish and so a bit of toothpaste on silver, you can really bring that shine up."
Clutter Aftermath
Dilly also addressed concerns about where decluttered items end up. After TV presenter Adrian Chiles questioned whether any items go to landfill, Dilly assured listeners that nothing from the show ends up in landfill. She said: "Do you know what? It doesn't because we are very careful with what we recycle. Everything nowadays can be recycled, even when we go to our local refuse centres, there are sections for absolutely everything and it does take thought, it does take consideration and it does take time."
She emphasised that planning and research are key to decluttering, urging people not to be put off. Dilly recommends "emptying completely" any space and laying items out in the "largest space you have", stressing the importance of "always start with a blank space" to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
