How to Clean Earrings?

Cleaning earrings keeps both the jewelry and your piercings healthy. The method depends slightly on the material, but warm soapy water works for most.

For gold, silver, platinum, and most solid metals:

1. Mix warm water with a drop of mild dish soap.
2. Soak the earrings for 10–20 minutes to loosen dirt and oils.
3. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to crevices and settings.
4. Rinse in clean water (hold them or use a strainer so nothing goes down the drain).
5. Dry and polish with a soft lint-free cloth. A jewelry polishing cloth restores shine to silver.

Disinfecting the posts/backs: Wipe the earring posts and backs with a cotton pad dipped in rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide before wearing — this is especially important for pierced ears.

Special cases:

• Pearls and opals: don't soak. Wipe gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth only — soaps and soaking can damage them.
• Gold-plated or costume jewelry: avoid long soaking and harsh scrubbing, which wear off the plating. Wipe with a barely damp cloth and dry immediately.
• Gemstones: most are fine with mild soapy water, but some (like emeralds) are fragile — check before soaking.

Avoid: Toothpaste, bleach, and abrasive cleaners, which can scratch metal and damage stones.