Do you know how to clean jewelry? Guess what, for a long time, neither did I! We often prioritize washing our dishes, putting our clothes in the laundry, and wiping down the floors, but it’s easy to forget to make time for the smaller items.

 

I actually don’t wear much jewelry but recently noticed that my wedding ring is REALLY dirty! I set out to find the best way to clean it. I figured I would do some research and find the best ways to clean all types of jewelry so that I could share it with you. 

 

When you keep your jewelry beautiful and clean, it not only looks amazing, but it keeps it in good shape, too. You also have an opportunity to look it over to make sure that there aren’t any parts that are damaged or broken.

 

Even if your jewelry isn’t all comprised of 24 karat gold or diamonds, it’s likely important, sentimental, or valuable. If it’s none of those things, it is likely that they should not be held on to and you should consider donating them.

 

Since cleaning jewelry is a very different process than a standard item such as a sink or a carpet, I am going to share a few tricks and tips on how to clean jewelry in a safe way with appropriate products.

 

 

How To Clean Jewelry

 

It’s important to note that when you are cleaning jewelry, you don’t need (or want) to use harsh chemicals. There are many non-toxic products you can use that will make your rings, earrings, and necklaces sparkle and shine without nasty chemicals.

 

If I could only give you one tip, it would be to always be gentle when it comes to cleaning jewelry. Never use anything that’s abrasive, or it may damage the finish. Instead, use a soft rag or toothbrush.

 

For best results, clean jewelry that’s worn frequently every other week. (Oops! I definitely haven’t been doing that.)

 

If you clean your jewelry near the sink, make sure to plug it up. 😉

 

Next, I will be sharing some of my tips and hacks to clean some pieces of jewelry that are most frequently worn.

 

How To Clean A Diamond Ring

 

To clean a diamond ring, you should use a little bit of dish soap with some really warm water. You don’t want the water to be too hot, just warm.

 

Here’s how to clean a ring:

 

1. Place the warm water in a bowl with a drop or two of dish soap.
2. Place the ring inside the bowl and allow it to sit for around 30 minutes. This gives it time to really soak thoroughly.
3. After the diamond ring has soaked, then use a very soft cloth or toothbrush to lightly clean around the diamond.
4. Rinse it with water, and if it looks good, you’re done.
5. If not, repeat the process all over again until it looks dazzling.

 

Cleaning Tip: Baby toothbrushes work well because they are extra soft and won’t scuff the ring or diamond when cleaning.

 

How To Clean Earrings

 

Soaking the earrings in dish soap can be too harsh on your sensitive ears. Instead, you will want to use hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide will clean the earrings thoroughly and kill whatever germs that may be on them.

 

Here’s the quick way to clean earrings: 

 

1. Pour a little bit of peroxide in a bowl and let the earrings sit within for 10-15 minutes.
2. Then using a cotton ball, cotton swap, or toothbrush, lightly brush the earring posts and jewels.

 

You can repeat this step as many times as you need to until they are very clean. Typically one round should do it.

 

How To Clean Glasses

 

Some people consider their glasses as part of their jewelry, while others do not. Either way, if you wear glasses, you already know how important it is to keep them clean. There is nothing worse than trying to read when all you can see is a big smudge on the lens.

 

Plus, your glasses are always touching your head, above your ears, and sides of your face. Your skin naturally has oils that can cause damage to the glasses if they aren’t cleaned properly.

 

Here is how you should clean glasses:

 

1. Using warm water and a little bit of dish soap, use your fingers to lightly clean the glasses. You never want to use anything that could cause scratches or other damage, so your fingers are best.
2. Once everything has been wiped down with soap and water, rinse them and dry with a clean cloth that’s made for glasses.

 

Keeping your glasses clean on a regular basis is very important, but most people don’t even think about it. This will cut down on cloudiness and other areas that can hinder your vision.

 

How To Clean Pearls

 

When it comes to cleaning pearls, forget what I told you about soaking your jewelry in the water! If you do this with a strand of pearls, the string isn’t going to be able to hold up and could fall apart or break.

 

Here are a couple of safety hacks to use when cleaning pearls: 

 

1. Use a soft makeup brush or cotton ball instead of your fingers.
2. Never use hot water when cleaning pearls. They can lose their finish, and you definitely don’t want that. Instead, use warm water mixed with a drop of shampoo. Most shampoos are gentle enough to prevent damage, and you can wipe each pearl one at a time.
3. Rinse the pearls with a damp sponge, and allow them to air dry on a flat surface.

 

How To Clean Costume Jewelry

 

Costume jewelry can be a lovely addition to most of your outfits, but it’s not usually great quality. If you keep it clean and fresh, it will last even longer than expected.

 

Here are some quick tips to clean your costume jewelry: 

1. Due to the finish on most of the costume jewelry, it will become damaged by soaking it, so never do that.
2. Always wet a soft washcloth or cotton ball then wipe the surface with water and baby shampoo. You could also use a toothbrush that has really soft bristles too.
3. Make sure once you are done, you rinse it and dry it really good. No standing water should be left, or it could get damaged.
4. When storing your costume jewelry always keep it away from heat, steam, or sunlight. All of these can quickly damage the surface of the jewelry.

 

Look Over Your Jewelry When Cleaning

 

If you notice that the stones in your jewelry setting are loose or a clasp won’t close properly, your best bet is to take in the piece and have a jeweler look it over. They have access to special magnifying glasses and can see things that you didn’t or couldn’t even notice before. This can help prevent bigger problems later down the line.

 

Remember, your jewelry is an investment (financially, emotionally or otherwise), and it’s important to be a good steward of these items. Learning how to clean jewelry is the first step to doing so!

 

Need More Cleaning Tips?

 

Writing about cleaning jewelry is a little out of the norm for me, but writing about cleaning is not! It’s kind of my thing. I love helping women find systems and routines that make homemaking easier. So if you are new here and need some tips on cleaning in the most simple ways possible… check out more of those tips here. 

 

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Thanks for stopping by. Come back any time. 🙂