How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home — The Right Way, By Material
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Most people clean their jewelry the wrong way. Not because they're careless — because they treat every piece the same.
They use the same cloth on their gold plated bracelet as their sterling silver ring. They soak everything in the same solution. They scrub with the same toothbrush. And then they wonder why a piece that looked fine last month now looks dull, scratched, or worse.
The material determines the method. That's the only rule you need to remember. Here's exactly what to do for each type of jewelry in your collection.
Before You Start: What You'll Need
You don't need special products for most jewelry cleaning. Here's what covers almost every situation:
- A soft microfibre cloth or lint-free cloth
- A silver polishing cloth (for sterling silver specifically)
- A soft-bristled toothbrush — an old one, clean
- Mild dish soap — a drop, not a squeeze
- Warm water — not hot
- A small bowl
- A dry towel
That's it. Everything else — ultrasonic cleaners, commercial jewelry dips, steam cleaners — is optional and sometimes risky depending on the piece. We'll cover when those are appropriate and when they're not.
How to Clean Sterling Silver (S925) Jewelry
Sterling silver tarnishes. That's normal — it's a sign of real silver, not a sign of poor quality. The good news is that tarnish is completely reversible and easy to remove at home.
For light tarnish (dullness, slight yellowing):
Use a silver polishing cloth. These are treated with a mild polishing compound and anti-tarnish agents. Rub gently in straight lines — not circles — and the tarnish lifts in seconds. This is the method you should use most often. It's fast, safe, and effective for routine maintenance.
For moderate tarnish:
Mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water in a bowl. Soak the piece for 2–3 minutes. Gently scrub with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to crevices and settings. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water. Dry completely with a soft cloth before storing.
Important: Do not use this method on sterling silver pieces with porous stones (pearls, opals, turquoise, coral). These stones absorb water and soap and can be permanently damaged. For stone-set pieces, use the polishing cloth only on the metal parts.
For heavy tarnish (dark grey or black):
Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water. Apply to the piece with a soft cloth or your fingertip. Rub gently, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely. This is more abrasive than the soap method — use it only when needed, not as routine cleaning.
Alternatively: line a bowl with aluminium foil, add hot water and a tablespoon of baking soda, and place the silver piece in the bowl so it touches the foil. The tarnish transfers to the foil through a chemical reaction. This works well for heavily tarnished pieces and requires no scrubbing.
What to avoid with sterling silver:
- Toothpaste — it's too abrasive and will scratch the surface
- Bleach or ammonia-based cleaners — they damage silver
- Rubber gloves while cleaning — rubber accelerates tarnishing on contact
- Paper towels — they're rougher than they look and can scratch
- Leaving it wet — always dry completely before storing
How to Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry
Stainless steel is the easiest jewelry material to clean. It doesn't tarnish, it doesn't corrode, and it tolerates water without issue. Routine cleaning is simple.
For everyday cleaning:
Wipe with a soft microfibre cloth after wearing. This removes fingerprints, skin oils, and surface dust. For most stainless steel pieces worn daily, this is all you need to do regularly.
For deeper cleaning:
Mix a drop of mild dish soap with warm water. Soak the piece for a few minutes. Scrub gently with a soft toothbrush — stainless steel can handle slightly more pressure than silver, but gentle is still better. Rinse under warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
For fingerprints and smudges on polished steel:
A small amount of rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth removes fingerprints and oils from polished stainless steel surfaces without leaving residue. Wipe in the direction of the grain if the piece has a brushed finish.
What to avoid with stainless steel:
- Steel wool or abrasive scrubbers — they scratch the surface permanently
- Bleach — it can damage the chromium oxide layer that makes steel corrosion-resistant
- Leaving it in standing water for extended periods — brief water contact is fine, prolonged soaking is unnecessary
One note on PVD-plated stainless steel (our gold and rose gold finished steel pieces): clean these the same way as regular stainless steel — soft cloth, mild soap, warm water. Avoid abrasive materials on the plated surface. The PVD coating is durable but not indestructible.
How to Clean Gold Plated Jewelry
Gold plated jewelry requires the most careful cleaning because the gold layer is thin and can be worn away by abrasion or harsh chemicals. The goal is to clean the piece without accelerating the wear of the plating.
Routine cleaning:
Wipe gently with a soft, dry microfibre cloth after every wear. This removes sweat, oils, and product residue before they have a chance to break down the plating. This single habit extends the life of gold plated jewelry more than anything else.
For deeper cleaning:
Mix a tiny amount of mild dish soap with lukewarm water — not warm, not hot. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and gently wipe the piece. Do not soak gold plated jewelry — prolonged water exposure weakens the bond between the plating and the base metal. Rinse by wiping with a clean damp cloth, then dry immediately and completely.
What to absolutely avoid with gold plated jewelry:
- Soaking in any liquid — even plain water
- Ultrasonic cleaners — the vibrations can lift the plating
- Silver polishing cloths — the polishing compound is abrasive and removes plating
- Toothpaste, baking soda, or any abrasive — they strip the gold layer
- Rubbing alcohol — it can dull the finish
- Hot water — heat weakens the plating bond
If your gold plated piece has already started to fade or show the base metal, cleaning won't restore it. At that point, the piece can be re-plated by a jeweler, or it's time to replace it.
How to Clean Copper Jewelry
Copper develops a patina over time — a darkening or greenish surface layer that's the result of oxidation. Some people love the aged look. Others prefer to keep copper bright. Both are valid.
To restore brightness:
The most effective home method: cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and rub it gently over the copper surface. The citric acid dissolves the oxidation and the salt provides mild abrasion. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. The piece will look significantly brighter immediately.
Alternatively: a paste of equal parts salt, flour, and white vinegar applied with a soft cloth, left for a minute, then rinsed off works well for heavier oxidation.
To maintain the patina:
Simply wipe with a dry cloth after wearing. Don't use acidic cleaners. The patina will deepen naturally over time.
What to avoid with copper:
- Harsh chemical cleaners — they can pit the surface
- Steel wool or abrasive pads — they scratch
- Leaving it wet — moisture accelerates oxidation
How to Clean Jewelry with Stones
Stones require extra care because different stones have different vulnerabilities. The metal can handle more than the stone in most cases.
Hard stones (cubic zirconia, moissanite, crystal, glass):
These are durable and can be cleaned with the mild soap and warm water method. Use a soft toothbrush to gently clean around the setting and under the stone where dirt accumulates. Rinse and dry thoroughly. These stones are not damaged by water or mild soap.
Soft and porous stones (pearls, opals, turquoise, coral, malachite):
These stones absorb liquids and can be permanently damaged by water, soap, and chemicals. Clean the metal parts only with a polishing cloth, keeping the cloth away from the stone. For the stone itself, wipe gently with a barely damp cloth — no soap — and dry immediately. Never soak these pieces.
Pearls specifically: wipe with a soft dry cloth after every wear. Pearls are organic and sensitive to acids, perfume, hairspray, and sweat. Put pearl jewelry on last and take it off first. Store flat, not hanging — hanging can stretch the silk thread over time.
Resin and enamel pieces:
Wipe with a soft damp cloth only. No soaking, no chemicals, no ultrasonic cleaners. Resin and enamel can crack or cloud with harsh treatment.
How Often Should You Clean Your Jewelry?
The honest answer: more often than most people do, but less dramatically than most people think.
After every wear: Wipe with a soft dry cloth. This takes ten seconds and prevents buildup that requires deeper cleaning later. Make it a habit — take off the piece, wipe it, put it away. That's it.
Once a month: A deeper clean with mild soap and water for pieces you wear regularly. Check settings on stone pieces — if a stone feels loose, stop wearing the piece and take it to a jeweler before the stone falls out.
When you notice tarnish or dullness: Address it immediately rather than letting it build. Light tarnish takes seconds to remove. Heavy tarnish takes significantly more effort.
Storage: The Cleaning Step Most People Skip
How you store jewelry affects how often you need to clean it. Proper storage slows tarnishing, prevents scratches, and keeps pieces looking better between wears.
Store pieces separately. Metal-on-metal contact causes scratches. Keep each piece in its own pouch, compartment, or small zip-lock bag. This is especially important for sterling silver and gold plated pieces.
Limit air exposure for silver. Tarnish is caused by sulfur compounds in the air. Storing sterling silver in an airtight pouch or zip-lock bag significantly slows tarnishing. Anti-tarnish strips in your jewelry box help too.
Keep away from humidity. Bathrooms are the worst place to store jewelry. The daily humidity from showers accelerates tarnishing and can damage certain stones. Store jewelry in a bedroom or dressing area instead.
Hang necklaces. Chains tangle when stored flat together. A simple hook or necklace stand keeps chains separate and tangle-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use toothpaste to clean jewelry?
No — despite what you may have read. Toothpaste is abrasive. It will scratch soft metals, strip gold plating, and dull polished surfaces. The only exception some jewelers make is for very heavy tarnish on solid sterling silver with no stones — but even then, baking soda is a safer alternative.
Can I clean jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner?
Ultrasonic cleaners work well for solid metal pieces without stones — stainless steel, solid sterling silver, solid gold. Do not use them on gold plated jewelry (the vibrations lift the plating), pieces with soft or porous stones (pearls, opals, turquoise), or pieces with glued settings. When in doubt, skip the ultrasonic cleaner.
My silver jewelry turned black. Is it ruined?
No. Black tarnish on sterling silver is heavy oxidation — it looks alarming but it's completely reversible. Use the aluminium foil and baking soda method described above, or a commercial silver dip (follow the instructions carefully). The piece will come back to bright silver.
Can I clean jewelry with hand sanitiser?
No. The alcohol content in hand sanitiser is harsh on gold plating and can dull the finish on other metals. Remove rings and bracelets before using hand sanitiser — don't clean with it.
How do I clean jewelry I bought second-hand?
Start with the mild soap and warm water method appropriate for the material. For sterling silver, follow with a polishing cloth. If the piece has unknown stones, err on the side of caution — wipe with a barely damp cloth only until you can identify the stone type.
Quick Reference: Cleaning by Material
| Material | Routine Care | Deeper Clean | Never Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Silver | Polishing cloth | Soap + warm water, baking soda paste | Toothpaste, bleach, rubber |
| Stainless Steel | Microfibre cloth | Soap + warm water | Steel wool, bleach |
| Gold Plated | Soft dry cloth only | Damp cloth with tiny drop of soap | Soaking, abrasives, ultrasonic, alcohol |
| Copper | Dry cloth | Lemon + salt, or vinegar paste | Harsh chemicals, abrasive pads |
| Pearls | Soft dry cloth after every wear | Barely damp cloth, no soap | Water, soap, chemicals, ultrasonic |
| CZ / Moissanite | Soft cloth | Soap + warm water, soft toothbrush | Abrasives, harsh chemicals |
The Bottom Line
Clean jewelry is not about spending money on products or spending time on elaborate routines. It's about matching the method to the material and doing a little bit consistently rather than a lot occasionally.
Wipe after wearing. Store properly. Address tarnish when you see it. Know which methods work for which materials. That's the entire system.
For more detail on the specific materials used in Strovlin jewelry and how to care for each, visit our Jewelry Care page. If you have a question about a specific piece, contact us — we'll tell you exactly how to care for it.