How to Clean Earrings

Co-authored by Kennon Young

Last Updated: January 17, 2024 Fact Checked

No one wants jewelry that looks dirty, but when it comes to earrings, cleanliness is about more than just the look. The holes in your ears are sensitive, and you don’t want dirt or germs to get trapped there by your earrings. By regularly cleaning these cute pieces of jewelry, you can ensure that they look and feel good for years to come.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Sanitizing with Hydrogen Peroxide

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1
Soak a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is great for killing bacteria and returning the shine to your earrings. To use it, place a cotton ball, swab, or pad over the opening of your hydrogen peroxide bottle. Then, tip the bottle over to saturate the ball. ^{[1]
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Research source}
- If your ear piercing has already healed, use mild cleaners or alcohol wipes to cleanse the earrings. A healed piercing doesn't have fresh tissue exposed inside the wound and is less likely to be irritated by gentle cleaning agents. ^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Stephanie Anders
  Piercing Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.}
Make sure to get the cotton ball into any nooks, crannies, or corners of the earring. Spend a couple of minutes on each earring, adding more hydrogen peroxide if needed, then rinse them in a bowl of water. ^{[3]
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Tip: Using hydrogen peroxide with cotton pads or balls is great for earrings with lots of small details.

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Cotton can get caught on some earrings, leaving behind annoying strands of fiber. To avoid this, or to simply get a more thorough clean, let your earrings soak in a small cup of hydrogen peroxide for 5-10 minutes. Rinse them clean in a bowl of water afterwards.
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When you’re done cleaning your earrings, set them on a clean cloth to dry. Touch them a few times to test whether they’re dry, then put them away or wear them when they’re ready. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Earrings with Hot Water

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1
Wash your hands before you start. Washing your hands beforehand ensures that you won’t spread more germs when you’re cleaning your earrings. Run your hands under warm water, then lather them up with hand soap for 20 seconds. Rinse them again and dry with a clean towel. ^{[5]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- Make sure to wash between your fingers and up to your wrists.
2
Boil hot water in the microwave or on the stove. Cleaning your earrings with hot water is perfect for when you’re short on supplies and just need your jewelry a little shinier. To start, pour a couple cups of water into a pot on the stove and heat it until it’s just boiling.
- You can also heat the water in a mug in the microwave. Start by heating it for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then check and continue heating it as necessary.
- Cleaning with hot water won’t get your earrings quite as clean as a solution would, but it’s a good method for when you’re low on cleaning supplies.
3
Soak your earrings in the hot water for 20 minutes. Remove the water from the heat and drop the earrings inside. Let them sit in the water for about 20 minutes to get clean.
- The hot water will kill germs and loosen dirt from the surface of your earrings.
- Hot water is safe for all earrings. If you’re cleaning costume-style plastic earrings, you can wait a minute or so for it to cool before placing the earrings in.
Lift your earrings out with a spoon or with your hand, if the water is cool enough. Gently scrub them with an old toothbrush, going one at a time to brush free any remaining dirt. Rinse the earrings with warm water when you’re done.

Tip: Wet the toothbrush with warm water before you scrub the earrings for extra cleansing power.
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Let the earrings sit for a few minutes, or until they’re dry. You can also pat them a couple of times with the towel to get rid of any excess water drops. Touch them to see when they’re dry and ready to be put away or worn.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Deep-Cleaning Gold, Silver, and Stones

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^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Kennon Young
Certified Jeweler

Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.} Mix 1 tsp (5 mL) of dish soap with a cup of warm water, then let soak your diamond earrings for 3-4 minutes. Remove them with a spoon, then rub them gently with a soft toothbrush. Place them in the mixture for another 1-2 minutes, then transfer them to a bowl of cold water to rinse them off. Let them dry on a clean towel.

Did you know? Diamonds are strong, but sensitive to cleaning products because they can get discolored. Use only non-perfumed, uncolored dish soap and water to clean them.
2
Wash silver earrings with warm water and baking soda. To clean silver earrings, first line a glass baking pan with tin foil, shiny side facing up. Place the earrings on the tin foil and fill the pan with warm water until the earrings are immersed. Sprinkle in baking soda until you can see the earrings start to bubble, then let them soak for an hour. Rinse them in a bowl of clean water and dry them with a soft cloth. ^{[7]
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Research source}
- It’s important to clean silver earrings properly, since they can lose their shine and look dull and old when they get dirty.
- You can clean a few pairs of silver earrings at a time with this method.
3
Use mild soap and water to clean pearl earrings. Mix lukewarm water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Dip in a soft cleaning cloth and use it to gently wipe your pearl earrings. Let them air dry on a towel before putting them away. ^{[8]
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Research source}
- Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean pearl earrings, since they’re typically more sensitive to damage.
- Wipe your pearls with a soft cloth after every wear to keep them looking clean.
4
Remove dirt from cut gem earrings with a toothpick. Dirt can accumulate in the corners of cut stone earrings, making it difficult to wipe off. Use a shaved matchstick or a toothpick to pick it out instead, removing the dirt slowly and carefully. ^{[9]
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Research source}
- You can also try wrapping the toothpick in a tissue or cloth to create a softer tip, but it may not be as effective in getting into tighter spaces.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you clean diamond earrings?

Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.

Kennon Young

Master Gemologist Appraiser

Expert Answer

For most diamonds, the easiest way to clean them is with a baby's toothbrush, which is just a small bristle toothbrush, a bowl of warm water, and a drop of dish soap. In order to prevent excessive build-up, I would recommend cleaning them at least once a month.

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Tips

Keep your earrings clean by removing them before you go to bed, take a shower, or go swimming.

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You can also buy a jewelry cleaner machine for a low-effort way to thoroughly clean your earrings.

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Wash your hands before cleaning your earrings to avoid spreading more bacteria. Run your hands under warm water, then scrub them well with hand soap. Make sure to get between your fingers and up above your wrists, washing for at least 20 seconds. Dry them off with a clean towel afterwards.

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Warnings

Avoid cleaning your earrings over the sink, which puts you in danger of dropping and losing them down the drain. Instead, clean them in a bowl or mug.

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Things You’ll Need

Using a Sanitizing Solution

Hydrogen peroxide
Cotton ball, swab, or pad
Bowl
Towel

Washing Earrings with Hot Water

Small pot or mug
Water
Soft toothbrush
Towel

Cleaning Specialty Earrings

Bowl
Warm water
Soft cloth or towel
Non-colored, non-perfumed mild dish soap (for diamonds and pearls)
Soft toothbrush (for diamonds)
Glass baking pan (for silver earrings)
Tin foil (for silver earrings)
Baking soda (for silver earrings)

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[1]

[2]

Expert Source

Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist

[3]

[4]

[5]

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[6]

Kennon Young
Certified Jeweler

[7]

[8]

[9]

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How to Clean Earrings

Steps

Sanitizing with Hydrogen Peroxide

Washing Earrings with Hot Water

Deep-Cleaning Gold, Silver, and Stones

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

Things You’ll Need

Using a Sanitizing Solution

Washing Earrings with Hot Water

Cleaning Specialty Earrings

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References

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