How to Clean Earrings at Home: Gold, Silver, Diamonds & More
Short Answer
Use warm water and dish soap with a toothbrush. It works on most types of earrings. If your earrings are gold or have diamonds you can just let them soak. Silver will take a little more work if they are really tarnished. Do not soak fashion or plated earrings in anything; just use a dry cloth. Pearls should never come into contact with water.
Key Takeaways
- You can clean gold earrings by using warm soapy water and a toothbrush. Rinse and dry.
- Silver can also be cleaned with soapy water. If they are very tarnished use baking soda and aluminum foil.
- Diamonds can be soaked in warm soapy water. Brush around the diamond.
- Do not soak fashion or plated earrings. Only wipe them down. No alcohol or toothbrush either.
- Pearls can only be wiped with a slightly wet cloth. Keep chemicals away from them.
- Remember to clean the backs of your earrings as well. People always forget to do this.
- You can sanitize your earrings with rubbing alcohol by wiping down the posts.
- Do not use toothpaste, bleach or hot water on any type of earring.
People tend to forget about their earrings. They are constantly sitting on your skin and picking up dirt. Just like any piece of jewelry you should clean your earrings. Since your earrings sit on your body they gather bacteria and buildup around the post as well.
When your earrings get dirty they can look dull and dirty around your piercings. It's important to know how to clean your earrings at home. It takes no time at all once you learn how to clean your earrings at home. Here is the best way to clean your earrings at home.
What You Need
You don't need to buy anything special. Here's what covers almost every method:
- A small bowl and lukewarm water
- Mild dish soap or fragrance-free baby shampoo
- A soft-bristle toothbrush (keep one just for this)
- A microfibre or lint-free cloth
- Cotton swabs
- A silver polishing cloth (for silver only)
- Aluminum foil and baking soda (for heavy silver tarnish)
- Rubbing alcohol (for disinfecting posts)
How to Clean Gold Earrings at Home
Gold doesn't tarnish and handles mild soap well. The method changes slightly depending on whether yours are solid gold or gold-plated.
Solid Gold (14K, 18K, 22K)
This works for gold studs, hoops, drops, and jhumkas without soft or porous stones.
- Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water. Add two to three drops of mild dish soap.
- Drop your earrings in and let them soak for 10 to 15 minutes. This loosens buildup before any scrubbing.
- Use a soft toothbrush to clean around settings, under stones, and along the post. These spots hide the most residue.
- Rinse under lukewarm running water. Hold them over a cloth rather than the drain.
- Pat dry with a lint-free cloth right away. Letting gold air-dry leaves water spots.
- Buff gently with the cloth in small circles for extra shine.
One note on 22K gold: it's softer than 14K or 18K, so go extra gentle with the brush.
Gold-Plated Earrings
The gold layer on plated earrings is very thin. Aggressive cleaning strips it faster than regular wear.
- Dip a cotton swab or soft cloth into mildly soapy water.
- Wipe the surface gently. No scrubbing.
- Dry completely right away with a lint-free cloth.
No soaking. No toothbrush. No alcohol. All three damage plating quickly.
How to Clean Silver Earrings at Home
Silver tarnishes faster than any other metal because it reacts with air and moisture. The good news is that tarnish comes off easily at home with the right approach.
Light Tarnish: Soapy Water
For silver that looks dull but hasn't turned dark yet:
- Mix mild dish soap in a bowl of lukewarm water.
- Soak the earrings for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, especially around crevices.
- Rinse well and dry completely with a lint-free cloth.
- Finish with a silver polishing cloth to bring the brightness back.
Heavy Tarnish: Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil
This is the best way to remove tarnish from earrings that have gone dark or nearly black. An electrochemical reaction pulls the tarnish off the silver and transfers it to the foil.
- Line a small bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
- Place the earrings on the foil so they touch it.
- Sprinkle one teaspoon of baking soda over the earrings.
- Pour hot (not boiling) water over everything until the earrings are covered. You'll see light fizzing. That's the reaction working.
- Leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove, brush gently with a soft toothbrush.
- Rinse well and dry completely.
Don't use this method on silver earrings with pearls, opals, turquoise, or other soft stones. The heat can cause real damage.
How to Clean Diamond Earrings at Home
Diamonds are the hardest stone, but the metal setting around them still needs gentle care. This method is close to solid gold cleaning, with extra focus on the area directly around the stone.
- Soak in mild soapy lukewarm water for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Use a soft toothbrush to clean under the diamond and around the prongs. Skin oils collect there most.
- Rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
- Hold the earring up to light after cleaning. If still cloudy, repeat the soak.
If cloudiness doesn't clear after two rounds, take them to a professional jeweler. Don't use ultrasonic machines on diamonds with visible cracks.
How to Clean Pearl Earrings
Pearls are porous and soft. Chemicals absorb into them and scratches happen easily. There's really only one safe method here.
After every wear, wipe pearls with a clean dry cloth. For deeper cleaning, dampen a soft cloth with plain water only. No soap. Wipe gently. Pat dry right away. Never let pearls sit damp.
What to keep away from pearls: dish soap, alcohol, ammonia, baking soda, and ultrasonic cleaners. All of these damage the outer coating that gives pearls their characteristic glow. Once that coating is gone, no home method can restore it.
How to Clean Fashion and Plated Earrings
Fashion earrings are the most fragile to clean. The base metal underneath is reactive and the coating on top is thin. Water, alcohol, and soaking are quick ways to ruin them.
Safe method only:
- Wipe with a dry microfibre cloth after every wear. This removes oils before they build up.
- For slight dullness, use a barely damp cloth, wipe quickly, and dry right away.
- For the post and back, use a dry cotton swab.
Never soak them in any liquid. Never use alcohol. Never scrub with a toothbrush. Never store while damp.
How to Clean Earring Backs
This is the part most people skip entirely. Earring backs and posts make direct contact with the inside of your piercing channel. That makes them the most bacteria-laden surface of any earring you own.
Here's how to disinfect earrings at home, starting with the backs:
- Remove the back from the post and set it aside.
- Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol.
- Wipe the post from front to back. The residue on the swab is exactly what was inside your piercing.
- Wipe the back the same way.
- Let both air dry for 30 seconds before reinserting.
Do this weekly for daily-wear earrings. Do it before and after any pair that's been stored away for a while.
For fashion or plated posts, use a barely damp swab rather than alcohol to avoid discoloring the metal.
What to Never Use on Earrings
| What to Avoid | Why It's Bad |
|---|---|
| Toothpaste | Abrasive particles scratch metal, including gold |
| Bleach | Destroys metal finishes and weakens settings |
| Boiling water | Loosens stone settings and cracks porous stones |
| Alcohol on plated earrings | Strips plating and discolors the base metal |
| Ammonia-based cleaners | Corrodes certain metals and destroys pearls |
| Baking soda on pearls | Scratches and dulls the outer coating permanently |
| Paper towels or tissues | Micro-fibers scratch polished metal surfaces |
| Soaking lac-set earrings | Softens the resin base and loosens the stones |
How Often Should You Clean?
How to clean dirty earrings depends on how often you wear them:
| Earring Type | How Often |
|---|---|
| Daily-wear gold or silver | Once a week |
| Daily-wear fashion or plated | Wipe after every wear |
| Occasional-wear earrings | Before and after each use |
| Posts and backs | Weekly for daily-wear earrings |
| Pearl earrings | Wipe after every wear |
| Diamond earrings | Every two to three weeks |
Storage Tips That Keep Earrings Cleaner
Cleaning removes what's already there. Storage decides how fast it comes back.
- Keep silver earrings in airtight pouches. Air is the main cause of tarnish.
- Store each pair in its own compartment. Metal against metal creates scratches.
- Never store earrings while damp.
- Put earrings on last when getting ready, after perfume and moisturizer. These products cause most of the buildup.
Conclusion
Just make sure you know what metal your earrings are made out of and follow these steps. If they are solid gold or silver use soapy water and a toothbrush. If they are fashion or have a coating on them just use a dry cloth. Make sure pearls stay dry at all times. Use rubbing alcohol on your earring posts and backs once a week.
Its as simple as knowing what your earrings are made of. Use the least harmful method possible to clean your earrings. If your earrings still aren't clean after trying these steps try again. Don't try any stronger chemicals on your earrings.
Here at Mystic Dews our handcrafted earrings are made with quality materials that will stay clean using these tips. Check out our earring collection today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you clean gold earrings at home?
Use mild soap and warm water. Allow your gold earrings to soak in the mixture for 10-15 minutes. Use a soft toothbrush to gently clean your earrings. Rinse with water and dry off with a clean cloth.
What's the best way to clean silver earrings at home?
Similar to gold, you can use mild soap and water with a toothbrush. If your silver has more tarnish, then use the baking soda and aluminum foil method. Place your earrings in a bowl lined with aluminum foil. Sprinkle baking soda on top and pour hot water over your earrings. Allow them to sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse and dry your earrings.
How do you clean diamond earrings at home?
Use mild soap and water. Let your diamond earrings soak for 15-20 minutes. Use a soft toothbrush to get under your diamond. Rinse with water and dry off. If your diamond isn't sparkling after this process, repeat the steps.
How can I disinfect my earrings at home?
Take a q-tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Rub your earring post and back with the q-tip. Allow your earrings to dry for about 30 seconds. You should do this once a week if you wear your earrings every day. For plated earrings, use a slightly damp q-tip instead.
How do I clean my earring backs?
Take the back off your earring. Dip a q-tip in rubbing alcohol and rub your post and back. Allow to dry for about 30 seconds. Use a slightly damp q-tip for your fashion earrings.
Can you damage your earrings by cleaning them?
Yes, if you don't know what your earrings are made of. Clean your gold and silver earrings with soap and water and a toothbrush. Wipe your fashion earrings down with a dry cloth. Only use a slightly damp cloth on your pearls. Never clean your earrings with toothpaste, bleach, boiling water or anything with a rough texture.
About the Author
Mystic Dews Writing Team writes about all things jewelry, from how to keep your jewelry clean to how to style your jewelry. We want your jewelry to last as long as your memories!
