How to Clean Your Jewelry (and Make It Dazzle Again!)

We’ll admit it: we’re a little obsessed with jewelry. Gold, silver, diamonds, even costume pieces—we love them all. And while we’re not jewelry designers (at least not in this life), we are passionate about making sure every piece in your collection looks as brilliant as the day you got it.

That’s why we put together this guide to cleaning your jewelry the right way. Because when jewelry is properly cared for, it doesn’t just sparkle—it turns heads, lasts longer, and makes you feel a little more glamorous every time you put it on.

The best part? You don’t need expensive gadgets or professional equipment. With a few simple tools you probably already have at home, you can safely clean gold, silver, diamonds, and costume jewelry. Here’s how.

What You Need to Know Before Cleaning Jewelry

When cleaning jewelry, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Products – How will the cleaning solution react with your jewelry’s metals and materials?

2. Tools – Are the brushes or cloths you’re using gentle enough to avoid scratching?

3. Maintenance – How often do your pieces need cleaning?

As for frequency, that’s up to you. Do you want your jewelry dazzling all the time, or are you happy with a little less shine if it means less effort?

Here’s the good news: you don’t need fancy ultrasonic cleaners or jewelry pens. Everything you need is already in your home:

• A soft toothbrush (children’s toothbrushes are perfect)

• Dish soap

• Aluminum foil

• Baking soda

• Hot water

• Rubbing alcohol (sometimes)

• A flat-weave microfiber cloth

How to Clean Gold

Gold is, well, the gold standard of jewelry. Pure 24-karat gold is rare; most pieces are 10–18 karats, meaning they’re mixed with other metals. That mix makes it tricky—you don’t always know how those metals will react to harsh cleaners. That’s why we stick to something gentle and safe: dish soap and water.

1. Fill a bowl with warm water.

2. Add about half a teaspoon of dish soap.

3. Soak your gold jewelry for 10–15 minutes.

4. Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub nooks and crannies.

5. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a flat-weave cloth.

Done. Your gold will look brighter, cleaner, and shinier without risk of damage.

Pro tip: once a month is usually enough. If you’re fancy enough to have a butler, maybe ask them to do it weekly.

How to Clean Diamonds

Diamonds may be forever, but they’re also magnets for grime. Sunscreen, lotion, hand cream, hair products, even dead skin cells—all of it builds up and dulls the sparkle. Why block the dazzle?

Luckily, diamonds can be cleaned the same way as gold: soap and water.

• Soak your rings or diamond pieces in a bowl of warm water with dish soap.

• After 30 minutes, gently scrub with your toothbrush.

• Rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth.

This method is safe for natural, lab-created, and even fracture-filled diamonds.

⚠️ Safety tip: Always clean your jewelry in a bowl, not over an open sink. And if you must clean over a sink, plug the drain.

Bonus: Cleaning time is also inspection time. Check your diamond settings to make sure they’re secure—because no one wants to file an insurance claim for a lost stone.

How to Clean Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry is fun, but it’s fragile. It’s made from mixed metals, beads, and faux gems, all of which may react differently to water or cleaning products.

• Always check the care tag. If it says “wipe with a cloth,” then stick to that.

• For pieces with buildup, use a dry microfiber cloth.

• If you need to clean backings, a tiny spritz of rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad works.

Never soak costume jewelry in water or cleaning solutions—trust us, it’ll ruin the finish.

And here’s the hard truth: over time, costume jewelry will fade. Even with the best care, it just doesn’t last like gold or silver. The best way to extend its life is to keep it dry—take it off before showering, swimming, or working out.

How to Clean Silver

Silver has a party trick: baking soda and aluminum foil.

1. Line a bowl with aluminum foil.

2. Add a tablespoon of baking soda.

3. Place your silver jewelry in the bowl.

4. Pour in boiling water and watch the fizzing chemical reaction work its magic.

In minutes, tarnish disappears. Dry with a premium microfiber cleaning cloth and your silver will shine again.

Remember: tarnishing is normal. Silver naturally oxidizes when exposed to air and moisture. It’s not a sign of neglect—it’s just part of owning silver.