How to Clean Jewelry: A Step-by-Step Guide for All Types of Materials​

Best way to clean & care for gold jewelry:

Clean:

1. Soak the jewelry for a few minutes in a mixture of warm water and mild soap.
2. Scrub the jewelry gently with a soft brush to get rid of any dirt or grime.
3. Rinse it under running water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.
4. Don’t use rough materials that could scratch the gold’s surface.

Care:

1. Keep it away from harsh chemicals.
2. Remove your jewels while applying personal care products, when showering, and also during intense workouts.
3. Make sure that the soft cloth is chemical-free.
4. Avoid jewelry cleaners and antibacterial soaps.
5. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

Best way to clean & care for silver jewelry:

Clean:

1. Use a silver polishing cloth to remove the tarnish and restore the shine.
2. Soak the jewelry in a silver cleaning solution, rinse, and dry.
3. Combine baking soda and water into a paste and gently scrub the jewelry. Rinse with water, then use a soft cloth to dry.
4. Don’t use harsh chemicals or rough materials on the silver because they can damage it.

Care:

1. Keep silver jewelry away from sunlight, oxygen, and moisture to avoid tarnishing.
2. Keep silver jewelry away from chemicals in perspiration, personal care products, pools, and hot tubs.

Best way to clean oxidized sterling silver jewelry:

Clean:

1. Do not use detergents such as chemicals, baking soda, toothpaste, powder, etc. All of these can ruin the oxidized parts of your piece.
2. Wipe the jewelry with a special cloth or a soft paper towel periodically.
3. You can also use water and a little soap to get rid of the dirt.
4. Do not use ultrasonic cleaning.

Care:

1. It is necessary to remove the jewelry during sports and any physical activity.
2. Do not shower or wash dishes while wearing your rings.
3. Store the jewelry in a box with soft walls.
4. Do not expose the jewelry to hard mechanical abuse.
5. Avoid bathing in chlorinated and saltwater, as not all parts of the product are coated with oxide.

Best way to clean & care for gold plated jewelry:

Clean:

1. Use a cotton ball or a very soft cloth to remove the dirt and dust that inevitably builds up over time.
2. You may also use warm, soapy water for a more thorough cleaning.
3. Simply soak the jewelry in the water for a few minutes and then clean it with a soft brush, drying it immediately afterward.

Care:

1. Keep it away from harsh chemicals.
2. Remove your jewels while applying personal care products, when showering, and also during intense workouts.
3. Make sure that the soft cloth is chemical-free (avoid jewelry polishing cloths, which have chemicals that strip the plating).
4. Avoid jewelry cleaners and antibacterial soaps – the chemicals kill the plating on your jewelry fast.

Best way to clean & care for silver plated jewelry:

Clean:

1. Cover the inside of a bowl with aluminum foil.
2. Pour 1 tbsp baking soda and 1 tbsp salt into a bowl.
3. Fill the bowl half full of hot water and stir.
4. Place jewelry in the solution for 10 mins.
5. Remove and wipe dry with a lint-free cloth.

Care:

1. Avoid wearing silver-plated jewelry when exposed to chemicals.
2. Avoid Abrasives. Always choose a mild cleaner and soft cloths, as silver plating is quite delicate.
3. Toothpaste has good cleaning properties but it is not recommended for use on silver plating.

Best way to clean & care for pearl jewelry:

Clean:

1. Make a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap.
2. Dip a small cleaning cloth into the solution and brush the pearl.
3. Use a damp cloth to wipe clean.

Care:

1. Keep away from extreme light.
2. Never soak pearls.

Best way to clean titanium jewelry:

1. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water, and add some mild dishwashing liquid.
2. Soak your titanium jewelry in the solution for about 5 minutes, and then gently rub the dirt off the pieces with a soft cloth.
3. After your jewelry is clean, rinse it with water and dry it with a clean towel (leaving titanium pieces to air dry may cause them to spot).

Best way to clean & care for stainless steel jewelry:

Clean:

1. Warm water and mild soap or washing powder can be used to clean it.
2. Scrub the jewelry with a gentle cloth or toothbrush, rinse, and dry.
3. A polishing cloth or stainless steel cleanser can restore its gloss.

Care:

1. Regularly clean stainless steel jewelry.
2. Avoid harsh chemicals.
3. Avoid bleach, ammonia, and other chemicals on stainless steel jewelry.
4. Avoid using steel wool or strong brushes that can harm the steel.
5. Keep stainless steel jewelry dry.
6. A jewelry box or anti-tarnish plastic bag can hold it.
7. Polish it occasionally.
8. Moisture can tarnish stainless steel, so remove your jewelry before swimming, bathing, or doing any water activity.

Best way to clean & care for brass/copper jewelry:

Clean:

1. Put the jewelry in a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water for a few minutes.
2. Or mix equal parts of lemon juice and baking soda to make a paste.
3. Rinse it under running water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.

Care:

1. Cleaning copper jewelry periodically prevents tarnishing.
2. Copper jewelry should be kept dry. A jewelry box or anti-tarnish plastic bag can hold it.
3. Keep it dry: Copper tarnishes quickly in water, so take it off before swimming, bathing, or doing anything else.
4. Avoid perfumes, hairspray, and other harsh chemicals since copper is sensitive.
5. Avoid strong brushes and steel wool that can harm copper.
6. Seal copper jewelry to avoid tarnishing.
7. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for a copper-specific sealant.