I can’t imagine that TSP would be safe for pearls. The purpose of
TSP commercially is to make painted surfaces dull, like a fine
sanding, so a new coat of paint will stick better. Certainly that is
not what anyone would want to happen with a pearl.
I’ve not attempted it, but then I’ve never wanted dull pearls.
Susan
Sun Country Gems
www.suncountrygems.com
I can't imagine that TSP would be safe for pearls. The purpose of TSP commercially is to make painted surfaces dull, like a fine sanding, so a new coat of paint will stick better. Certainly that is not what anyone would want to happen with a pearl.
That portion of a paint’s binder that TSP affects is quite different
from pearls. TSP is a strong alkali and a detergent/surfactant.
That makes it a powerful cleaner and degreaser, and it does indeed
give points a better “tooth” for a new paint coat. But the fact
that it does this to paint is not an indication that it will do it to
any surface. it’s not like a physical abrasive. I’ve used it as
a cleaning agent in place of stronger stuff (lye) in a “boil out pot”
use, for difficult cleaning jobs, or where the ultrasonic isn’t
appropriate. I’ve never seen it damage a cultured pearl, and we’re
using it at a slow simmer, just below boiling. Of course, I suppose
there’s a first for everything. Don’t, of course, use it on strung
pearls. It might damage the thread they’re strung on…
Peter