How to clean your earrings yourself?

To keep your antique earrings shiny and in good condition, you need to give them your full attention. To do this, you must first understand why your earrings, stud earrings, hoop earrings, ear clips and single earrings get dirty and black. The answer is simple: it's because they don't cope well with your daily life! Yes, wearing your earrings every day causes them a lot of torment. Products in the shower, hands in the dishes, perfume on the skin, pollution in the city and at night under the covers; not to mention sports and aquatic activities such as swimming, the pool and sweat while working out on your treadmill. All these moments of everyday life have an impact on your antique or second-hand jewelry. Here are our tips and best solutions:

Cleaning earrings according to the material

It is important to know what material your earrings are made of in order to know the right cleaning solution. Is it gold? Is it silver? Is it metal? For gold and silver, a hallmark tells you what it is: an eagle's head for gold and a boar for silver. For fake and costume earrings, you will find a square hallmark. If in doubt, you should ask a professional.

How to clean gold earrings

If it is a gold jewel without precious stones, you just need to bathe your earrings in hot or warm water with a dab of dishwashing liquid. Leave it to act overnight. The next day, take a toothbrush soaked in water with soft bristles and brush the dirty parts (at the ear stud, the clasp of the earring and the back of the earring). Also brush the parts that do not appear dirty. Rinse your jewel, then dry it gently with a soft cloth. Finally, if you have a small soft cloth (a microfiber cloth or a chamois leather), do not hesitate to gently rub your earring to revive the original shine of the gold. There you have it, your earrings are disinfected, clean and shiny!

Ingredients: warm/hot water + dishwashing liquid + soft-bristled toothbrush + soft cloth or chamois leather

How to clean silver earrings

Regarding your silver earrings, two solutions are possible: either your jewelry is old and you want to keep a nice patina, or your jewelry is second-hand and you want it to look like new with a very shiny appearance.

Clean your antique silver earrings, without precious stones, while preserving their patina:

• Simply put a small amount of toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush the jewel evenly. Brushing can be light to vigorous depending on the desired result while preserving the old patina. You will see the black oxidation typical of silver diminish over time.
• Instead of toothpaste, you can use a dab of dishwashing liquid and brush in the same way.
• Rinse your earrings and dry them gently with a clean cloth.
• If your jewelry has any dents, let it dry on the cloth all day so that the cloth drips.
• Finally, silver jewelry oxidizes quickly. If you are not wearing it, keep it in a jewelry box or in the original cases.

Ingredients: warm/hot water + toothpaste or dishwashing liquid + soft-bristled toothbrush + clean cloth + original cases

Clean your second-hand silver earrings without precious stones to have a new effect:

• Get some baking soda. This cleaner is known for cleaning oxidized silver jewelry.
• Put some baking soda on your damp toothbrush and patiently brush your earrings. The oxidation will gradually disappear and you can find your jewelry as new with its original shine.
• Rinse them with water and take care to dry them with a soft, clean cloth.

Ingredients: baking soda + water + clean cloth

Cleaning costume earrings

As for your "faux" pair of earrings, avoid using water to clean them. We advise you to rub your jewelry vigorously with a cloth to remove the black and green stains that have appeared. If the stains are stubborn, prepare a solution of lukewarm water and white vinegar (a capful will be enough) in a bowl, soak your cloth in it and then vigorously rub your costume earrings.

Ingredients : white vinegar + warm water + clean cloth

Cleaning Earrings by Gemstone

For effective cleaning, you need to pay attention to the gemstones that adorn your antique and second-hand earrings. Indeed, some organic stones are capricious. You must therefore proceed with caution.

Cleaning earrings with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and other precious stones

To clean your diamond, sapphire and ruby-set jewellery, use a small toothbrush (with soft bristles) previously dipped in water with a dash of dishwashing liquid. Brush your jewellery completely as indicated above. Then clean the gemstone: at the setting, brush the back of the gem (lightly to vigorously) from left to right, from top to bottom and vice versa. Rinse and repeat the operation two or three times. Dry your earrings and remove the last drops of water by suction with the corner of a tissue or a cotton swab. Lightly rub the front of the stone with a soft cloth or chamois leather. That's it, your pair of earrings has regained its former shine!

Ingredients: toothbrush + warm water + dishwashing liquid + clean cloth + tissue or cotton swab

Cleaning Emerald Earrings

Emerald is a special gem that does not tolerate thermal shocks and strong vibrations. To clean the jewel, simply immerse it in water for a whole day. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, gently brush the emerald, especially the setting on the back of the stone, to remove soap residue and other everyday products. Rinse and repeat the operation two or three times delicately. Last step, let your earrings, decorated with emeralds, air dry.

Ingredients: soft bristle toothbrush + water + dishwashing liquid

In summary, to clean your emeralds: no more hot water, ultrasound or hair dryer!

Cleaning Earrings with Coral, Turquoise and Pearls

If your antique earrings are set with coral, turquoise or pearls, you need to take precautions and here are our best solutions:

Coral: Place three hazelnuts of sweet almond oil on a soft cloth, then gently wipe the cloth over your coral cabochon. The oil will revive the color and shades of your stone. You can repeat this operation several times a year.

Ingredients: sweet almond oil + soft cloth

Turquoise: soak your turquoise earring in a bath of warm water with a dab of dishwashing liquid. Brush it with a soft toothbrush, repeating the operation several times if necessary. Rinse and dry your jewelry gently. Avoid contact of your turquoise with acidic products such as: perfume, cosmetics, perspiration and grease. These products have the effect of slowly changing the color of your turquoise, changing from blue to green. If you do not wear your turquoise earrings, keep them in their original box.

Ingredients: warm water + dishwashing liquid + soft toothbrush + soft cloth

Pearls: wipe your pearls with a very soft cloth to restore their original luster. If you don't wear them often, wear them from time to time so that they keep their luster for as long as possible. You should avoid daily contact of your pearls with water (shower, bath, swimming pool, swimming), alcohol (perfumes, cosmetics) and exposure to heat; avoid keeping them in their original case for too long. Wear them from time to time so that they keep their luster for as long as possible.

Ingredients: soft cloth

In short, some gemstones require more attention than others. If your antique earrings are set with them and you don't dare to start cleaning them, ask our advice. We will be happy to advise you on these issues.

You may also be interested in our article “ How to clean silver jewelry ”.