You’ve probably noticed your earrings do not shine as they used to compared to when you first bought them. This is because earrings, believe it or not, get dirty, and you must clean them. If you have a special pair of earrings and have no idea how to clean earrings, do not panic because we’ll be talking about everything you need to know on the subject.
Learning how to clean earrings is like riding a bike; everyone must learn how to do it, even guys who wear them. It’s essential to clean earrings, both for your personal hygiene and the longevity of the earrings. And it makes all the sense in the world; think about it, earrings are exposed to more dirt and grime than just about any other piece of jewelry. (How to Clean Copper Jewelry).
The nature and location of earrings will mean that the earring dirt will stay inside for much longer. Contrary to what you may think, the process of how to clean earrings isn’t complicated. However, there are essential steps that you must take to do a good job. Grab pen and paper and learn how to clean earrings the right way below.
How to Clean Earrings
Cleaning diamond earrings
Tools:
- Gentle dish soap
- Soft toothbrush
- Soak your diamond earrings in gentle dish soap and water for about 30 minutes.
- When they’re finished soaking, gently brush them with a soft toothbrush.
- Rinse them with water and let them air dry, or gently dry them with a lint-free cloth.
Cleaning silver earrings
Tools:
- Baking soda
- Soft brush
- Boiling water
- Tinfoil
Steps:
- Line a glass dish with tinfoil.
- Generously coat your silver earrings with baking soda.
- Boil water and pour it over your jewelry. Use just enough to create a paste-like consistency.
- Using a soft brush like a paintbrush or soft toothbrush, gently scrub the jewelry to help loosen the dirt and oxides.
- Repeat until the silver sparkles.
- When finished, rinse with hot water and dry with a soft cotton cloth.
Cleaning gold earrings
Tools:
- Mild dish soap
- Soft toothbrush
Steps:
- Soak your gold earrings in dish soap and water for about 30 minutes.
- Gently brush them with a soft toothbrush.
- Rinse thoroughly and gently dry with a lint-free cloth.
- To lift away grime, oils, and dirt from gold earrings, you can also soak them in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes.
This works best for plain pieces, however. Avoid this method if your gold earrings use adhesive to hold stones in place. The alcohol may melt the glue.
Cleaning pearl earrings
Tools:
- Soft cotton cloth
Steps:
- Using a damp cloth, gently wipe the pearls clean.
- Using a clean, dry cloth, gently pat the earrings to get rid of leftover water.
- Let the earrings sit out to dry for about 30 minutes.
- Store them in a dry, safe place
What can you use to clean earrings?
Solimo Hydrogen Peroxide
32-fluid-ounce bottle of first aid antiseptic. First aid helps prevent the risk of infection from minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Active ingredient: 3% hydrogen peroxide (stabilized).
Solimo Hydrogen Peroxide Topical Solutions features:
- 32-fluid ounce bottle of first-aid antiseptic
- First aid to help prevent the risk of infection from minor cuts, scrapes, and burns
- Active ingredient: 3% hydrogen peroxide (stabilized)
- If you like Swan Hydrogen Peroxide, try Solimo 3% Hydrogen Peroxide First Aid Antiseptic.
- Satisfaction Guarantee.
- An Amazon brand.
Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Machine
With the powerful ultrasonic wave vibration of 50,000Hz, the stubborn dirt is split into small particles and detached from the item, and the powerful cleaning function can be achieved with water.
Designed with only one power button and LED indicator, anyone can operate it. Just fill the cleaning basin with tap water and get professional cleaning results in just 5 minutes.
The default cleaning time is 5 minutes, and if you need to stop in the middle, press the power button to stop immediately and freely decide the cleaning time.
Silver & Gold Dry Disposable Jewelry Wipes
Dry disposable wipes, perfect for cleaning gold and silver jewelry. Lightly rub jewelry with a wipe to remove dirt and tarnish from jewelry. Brings out a highly polished shine in jewelry. Dispose of the wipe after use. Easy to use and great for travel.
Features:
- Cleans gold, silver, and gemstones
- It helps prevent further build-up of tarnish
- It brings out the shine in gold and silver jewelry
- Travel friendly
- Non-Toxic
E-Cloth Stainless Steel Cleaning
The two-sided E-Cloth Stainless Steel Cloth and Glass and Polishing Cloth are all you need to keep stainless steel looking as good as its name.
Precision-engineered microfibers harness water’s cleaning power to grab grime, fingerprints, and over 99% of bacteria, using just water, then erase streaks and smudges, restoring shine for a like-new finish.
Features:
- Eco Packaging
- Cleaning & Polishing Set
- Microfiber
Better Life Sulfate-Free Dish Soap
Formulated with powerful natural cleaning agents like corn and coconut and scented with pomegranate and grapefruit extracts.
This natural, hypoallergenic dish soap puts the hurt on grease without sulfates, keeping your hands happy.
Common Questions About How To Clean Earrings
How often should you clean earrings?
You should clean your earrings as often as you feel necessary. Some people need to clean them daily, while others can go for a week or two without any problems. It all depends on how much sweat and dirt gets into the earring holes. If you notice that your ears are itchy or irritated after wearing earrings, then it’s probably a good idea to clean them more often.
What is the best way to clean earrings?
The best way to clean earrings is to use a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Gently wipe the cotton ball over the earring, being careful not to get any inside the hole. You can also use a Q-tip if you need to get into smaller crevices.
Once you’re done cleaning the earrings, rinse them off with warm water and dry them with a clean towel.
What should you do if your ears start to hurt after wearing earrings?
If your ears start to hurt after wearing earrings, it’s probably because the earrings are too tight. Try loosening the earrings or taking them out for a few minutes to see if that helps. If the pain persists, you may need to see a doctor to get your ears checked out.
Why do pierced ears smell?
There are several reasons why pierced ears might smell. One reason is that the piercing might not be clean, which can lead to bacteria growth and subsequent odor. Another reason is that sweat and oils can build up in the piercing, causing it to smell bad. In some cases, an earring back can fall out of the piercing hole and get lodged inside the ear, which can also cause odor.
If you have a pierced ear that smells bad, it’s important to clean it regularly with an antibacterial solution. You should also make sure to change your earring backs frequently. If the odor persists, you might need to see a doctor to have the piercing checked out.
Is it OK to leave earrings in all the time?
It is generally safe to leave earrings in all the time. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, if you have any piercings that are close to the earlobe, make sure not to put too much pressure on them or tug on the earrings, as this could cause the hole to close up. Second, if you have any metal allergies, be sure to choose hypoallergenic earrings or those made from materials that you know you’re not allergic to. And finally, remember to clean your earrings regularly (at least once a week) to prevent buildup of bacteria or dirt.
How do you clean smelly earring holes?
To clean smelly earring holes, use a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and hold it against the hole for a few minutes. Let the area dry before putting any earrings back in. You can also try using a mixture of water and vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and hold it against the hole for a few minutes. Let the area dry before putting any earrings back in. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to dilute the hydrogen peroxide or vinegar with water before applying it to your skin.
Can I use vinegar to clean my earrings?
Yes, you can use vinegar to clean your earrings. Pour a small amount of vinegar into a bowl and soak the earrings for a few minutes. Use a toothpick or Q-tip to remove any dirt or residue. Rinse the earrings with water and dry them with a cloth. You can also add a few drops of vinegar to a cup of water and use it to clean other jewelry, like rings or bracelets. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that will help remove any bacteria on the jewelry.
If you have sensitive skin, you may want to dilute the vinegar with water before using it.
What to soak earrings in to clean?
Suppose your earrings can handle the heat but might be damaged by rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. In that case, you can boil up some water, pour it into a heat-resistant container and soak the earrings in hot water for twenty minutes instead.
Cleaning diamond earrings, soak them in gentle dish soap and water for about 30 minutes. When they’re finished soaking, gently brush them with a soft toothbrush. Rinse them with water and let them air dry, or gently dry them with a lint-free cloth.
What is the best way to sterilize earrings?
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Using a cotton wool pad, run a little alcohol down the post of the earring
Alternatively, put some rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide in the bottom of a glass. Submerge the earrings and leave them for ten minutes. Wipe them down with a cotton pad or microfiber cloth, then rinse.
How do you clean the gunk out of earring holes?
You may avoid cleaning the gunk out of your earrings because you think it’ll be complicated; however, there’s a simple but effective way to remove the gunk, and you probably already have all you need.
Rubbing alcohol is a cleaner, a solvent (meaning it can dissolve buildup), and a disinfectant, making it a quick and easy way to remove all gunk and sanitize the metal.
How do you clean smelly earrings?
- Fill up a small container (shot glass or plastic cup) with a cleaning solution.
- Place earrings inside the container for 5 minutes
- Gently scrub the earrings with a soft toothbrush
- Wash the earrings in a warm water
- Dry the earrings
If the earrings are smelly, you can try the same process, but instead, leave the earrings submerged in the cleaning solution for 12 hours.
How do earrings get dirty?
Grease and Dirt. The natural oils, plus accumulated creams and other grease and dirt from fingers, shampoos, and soaps that we don’t rinse away properly, hair products (How to clean HairBrush), and more all surround earrings on an almost permanent basis.
Plus, the design of most earrings makes them a haven for tiny particles which build up and (literally) take the shine right off. The difference between earrings that are clean vs. unclean is usually highly pronounced.
Why is it important to clean earrings?
The important reason is to prevent bacteria and infection. It is important to remember that an earring actually goes into one part of your body and comes out at another. You can wear clip-on earrings, of course, but these are less common in modern times than they once were, with pierced ears very much the norm.
Because the earrings are touching your ears means that they are much more prone to infection. Failing to clean your earrings regularly can prove to be a harrowing and dangerous experience if the ear does become infected.
How to use Hydrogen peroxide to clean earrings?
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.
How to remove dirt from earrings?
Dirt can accumulate in the corners of cut stone earrings, making them difficult to wipe off. Use a shaved matchstick or a toothpick to pick it out instead, removing the dirt slowly and carefully.
Additional Tips on How to Clean Earrings
- Get into the habit of sterilizing your earrings at least once a week. They may not look dirty, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause problems as they may be harboring bacteria.
- Again, make sure you’re familiar with the materials your earrings are made of before you try to clean or sterilize them.
- Pearls can be damaged by rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or boiling water, so if you’re sterilizing pearl earrings, rub down the backs without touching the pearls themselves.
- Keep all stones separate. This cleaning method isn’t recommended on gems, especially not opals, pearls, or amber. They’re porous and soft, so using this method could damage them.
- If you’ve just pierced your ears, it’s probably best to clean your earrings while keeping them in your ears (for up to 6 weeks) so the holes don’t close up.
