Regular cleaning is crucial to preserve and enhance the beauty of your earrings. This is especially true for antique or vintage pieces, which require extra care and attention. While we always recommend professional cleaning for delicate jewelry, it's important to perform regular maintenance at home to keep your earrings sparkling between professional sessions. At Jack Weir & Sons, we use advanced tools such as ultrasonic cleaners, steamers, and specialized cleaning agents for the best results. However, cleaning your earrings at home is a great way to maintain their shine and cleanliness in between visits to a jeweler.
Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to clean your earrings, and what you can expect from the cleaning process.
What You’ll Need:
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Small bowl
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Mild dish soap
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Warm water
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Soft toothbrush
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Microfiber cloth
Getting Started:
Earrings tend to gather bacteria and dirt, making regular cleaning essential to prevent buildup of oils and grime. The method you use for cleaning will depend on the type of earrings you’re working with. Below, we’ve outlined specific cleaning instructions for various types of earrings.
1. Metal Earrings (Gold, Silver, etc.)
How to clean metal earrings:
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Mix a cleaning solution: In a small bowl, combine warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap.
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Soak the earrings: Place your earrings in the solution and let them soak for about 10-15 minutes.
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Scrub gently: Use a soft toothbrush to carefully scrub any areas that need attention, like the back of the earrings or intricate designs.
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Rinse: Rinse the earrings under warm water to remove any soap residue.
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Dry thoroughly: Pat the earrings dry with a microfiber cloth, ensuring they are completely dry before storing them.
2. Diamond & Gemstone Earrings (Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds, etc.)
How to clean diamond or gemstone earrings:
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Prepare a cleaning solution: Mix warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap in a bowl.
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Soak the earrings: Submerge the earrings in the solution for 15-20 minutes to loosen dirt and oils.
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Clean with care: Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub around the gemstones and any parts of the earrings that need extra attention.
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Rinse thoroughly: Rinse the earrings with warm water to remove all soap.
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Dry properly: Carefully dry your earrings with a microfiber cloth.
3. Pearl Earrings
Pearls require special care, as they are much more delicate than metals and gemstones. Never soak pearls as this can damage their surface.
How to clean pearl earrings:
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Prepare the solution: Mix warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap in a small bowl.
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Wipe gently: Using a soft cloth, gently wipe the pearls to clean them. Avoid soaking them in water.
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Dry immediately: Pat the pearls dry with a microfiber cloth. Be gentle to preserve their smooth, lustrous surface.
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At Jack Weir & Sons, we’ve spent the last 40 years traveling to Europe and all over the world, curating extraordinary estate jewels. JWS is where the old world meets the new world. Celebrate life, preserve history, and discover your own priceless heirloom jewel. We are extremely grateful for our clients and the ability to help people celebrate their special moments through one-of-a-kind jewelry. To share that gratitude and our strong family values, we chose to partner with Baby2Baby. So far, we've donated $125,000. A portion of every sale goes towards children living in poverty to provide them with diapers, clothing, and all the basic necessities that every child deserves.
We offer in-person and Virtual Appointments and are happy to answer any questions about your favorite jewel.
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