Earrings sit close to the skin and come into contact with skin oils, soap residue, hair products and perfume every single day. Over time, a film builds up on the metal and around the setting, causing the piece to lose its shine and appear dull. Cleaning is about both keeping the earrings looking nice and removing what otherwise collects right where the jewellery touches the ear. Most earrings can be kept clean with quite simple means you already have at home, but the method depends on which metal and which stones the piece is made of.

How to clean earrings with lukewarm water and mild soap

The gentlest method suits almost all earrings and is at the same time the one you can use most often. Mix a little lukewarm water with a few drops of mild, unscented dish soap in a small bowl. Let the earrings soak for a few minutes so the greasy layer loosens. Then you can gently brush around the setting and the back of the piece with a soft toothbrush, where dirt typically collects. Rinse thoroughly in clean water afterwards so no soap residue is left behind, and pat the earrings completely dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

It is important to let the piece dry completely before putting it away or back in the ear, since moisture that stays around the clasp or the back of the post can cause an unpleasant smell. Avoid very hot water and hard brushes, and keep earrings with stones away from prolonged soaking if the setting is glued rather than set in metal.

How do you clean gold earrings?

Real gold does not tarnish the way silver does, but the surface still becomes dull from skin oils and product residue. For earrings in 14K gold, the lukewarm soapy water method works well: let them soak, brush gently around the post and clasp, and rinse afterwards. A soft polishing cloth for gold can be used afterwards to bring back the shine, while you should stay away from abrasive polishes and toothpaste, which can scratch the soft metal.

The same routine suits gold jewellery without stones, such as a pair of tiny huggies or a single pair of stud 14K gold. With huggies and other hoops, it is especially the hinge and the closure that collect dirt, so a soft brush that can get into the crevices makes a difference. Always dry the piece completely afterwards so no moisture is left in the mechanism.

How do you clean silver earrings?

Sterling silver behaves differently from gold, because it tarnishes and over time takes on a greyish or black tint. For daily maintenance, lukewarm soapy water and a soft cloth work fine, but when the silver has darkened, a proper silver polishing cloth is the gentlest tool. It is treated so that it removes tarnish with light rubbing without wearing on the metal. Rub calmly across the surface until the shine returns, and rinse afterwards if a wet product has been used.

Silver is best stored dry and preferably in a closed bag or box between uses, since air and moisture accelerate tarnishing. If the silver piece has a set stone, such as a square signet ring black agate, you should work carefully around the setting and avoid getting polish into the edge where the stone sits.

How to clean earrings with diamonds

Diamond studs collect grease on the underside of the stone, precisely where the light should otherwise pass through, which is why they can quickly look dull. Diamond is the hardest material there is and sits at the top of the Mohs scale with a value of 10, so the stone itself tolerates cleaning well. It is the metal setting and any prongs you need to be careful with. Place the piece in lukewarm soapy water, and gently brush from behind with a soft toothbrush so you reach under the stone, where the film settles.

The method is the same whether the diamond is lab-grown or natural, since the two stone types have the same hardness and chemical composition, and you cannot tell the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds with the naked eye. A pair of set studs like a set of bezel diamond stud has the stone enclosed by metal and is a little easier to clean than an open prong setting, while a pair of prong stud requires you to brush carefully between the prongs. With dangling models like a pair of dangling bezel stud, you should support the piece while cleaning so the joint is not strained.

What can you clean earrings with at home?

Most earrings manage with lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap, a soft toothbrush and a lint-free cloth. For gold and silver there are also proper polishing cloths that are easy to keep on hand. You should, on the other hand, stay away from abrasive products, toothpaste, large amounts of rubbing alcohol and aggressive cleaning agents that can attack both metal and setting. Ultrasonic cleaners, which some use for jewellery, are not always suitable for earrings with glued stones or delicate joints, so when in doubt, gentle hand cleaning is the safe choice.

A fixed routine makes a big difference: a quick wipe with a soft cloth after use removes most skin oils before they have a chance to settle, and a more thorough cleaning at regular intervals keeps both the shine and the hygiene in place. Store the earrings dry and separate so they do not scratch each other.

How do you clean new earrings in a fresh piercing?

Cleaning the piece itself and caring for a recently made piercing are two different things. While the piercing heals, the earring typically must not be changed or taken out for the recommended period, and the cleaning is therefore done around the piece while it sits in the ear. Here you use the saline or wound-cleaning solution recommended by whoever made the piercing, not soap or polishes intended for the metal. Wash your hands first, drip or dab the solution onto the front and back, and avoid turning the piece unnecessarily.

Once the piercing has healed and the earring may be changed, the piece can be cleaned thoroughly according to the methods that suit the metal before putting it back in. Here it is an advantage to choose a pair of simple studs in 14K gold for the first period, because smooth, set metal is easy to keep clean and has few places where dirt can collect. A pair of prong stud or small, close-fitting tiny huggies are practical because they are easy to wipe off and do not get caught in hair and clothing while the ear is still sensitive.