The right way to clean jewelry depends entirely on what it's made of — a method that's perfectly safe for stainless steel can damage gold plating, and a technique fine for solid silver can be too harsh for a delicate vintage piece. This guide breaks down safe cleaning methods by material, so you can find your exact piece below rather than following generic one-size-fits-all advice. For a deeper dive specifically on gold-plated fashion jewelry (what most of our jewelry is made from), see the dedicated gold-plated care guide linked further down this page.
General Principles: How to Clean Jewelry at Home
Regardless of material, a few habits apply broadly: wipe jewelry with a soft, dry cloth after each wear to remove oils and residue before they build up, store pieces individually rather than piled together to prevent scratching, and always dry jewelry thoroughly after any wet cleaning method — lingering moisture causes more long-term damage than almost anything else. When in doubt about a specific piece, the gentlest method that gets the job done is always the safer choice over a more aggressive one.
How to Clean Gold Jewelry (Solid, White Gold & Gold-Filled)
Solid gold, white gold, and gold-filled jewelry can generally be cleaned with warm water, a few drops of mild dish soap, and a soft-bristle brush (an old, clean toothbrush works well) to gently loosen dirt from crevices and settings. Rinse thoroughly and dry immediately with a soft cloth. White gold specifically often has a rhodium plating layer, so avoid abrasive scrubbing that could wear through that finish faster than normal.
How to Clean Gold-Plated Jewelry
Gold-plated jewelry needs gentler handling than solid gold, since the gold layer is a thin coating rather than solid material all the way through. Wipe with a soft dry cloth after wear, and for deeper cleaning use only a very mild soap and lukewarm water — never soak — followed by immediate, thorough drying. We cover this in much more detail, including storage tips and how to tell when plating is wearing thin, in our full gold-plated jewelry care guide.
How to Clean Silver Jewelry (Sterling, Plated & Tarnished)
For sterling silver, a gentle silver polishing cloth or a mild soap-and-water clean handles most everyday tarnish. For more stubborn tarnished jewelry, a baking soda paste (see the dedicated section below) can help, though a dedicated silver polish is gentler and more reliable for valuable pieces. Silver-plated jewelry should be treated more like gold-plated jewelry — soft cloth wiping and mild soap only, never abrasive polish, since plating is thin and can wear through with aggressive cleaning.
How to Clean Jewelry With Baking Soda (Read This First)
Baking soda paste (mixed with a small amount of water) is a popular home remedy for tarnished silver specifically, and can work well there. However, it's genuinely not safe for every material — baking soda is mildly abrasive and can scratch softer stones like pearls and opals, dull cubic zirconia's polish over repeated use, and strip thin plating from gold-plated or silver-plated fashion jewelry faster than normal wear would. Reserve baking soda specifically for solid, unplated silver, and use a gentler method (mild soap and water) for plated pieces, stone-set jewelry, and fashion jewelry generally.
How to Clean Stainless Steel & Titanium Jewelry
Stainless steel and titanium are among the most durable and low-maintenance jewelry metals — both can be cleaned with warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth, and both tolerate slightly more vigorous cleaning than plated or delicate pieces without damage. This makes them common choices for piercing jewelry specifically, where frequent, thorough cleaning matters for hygiene as much as appearance.
How to Clean Piercing Jewelry
Piercing jewelry, especially in a healing piercing, has hygiene requirements beyond standard jewelry cleaning — follow your piercer's specific aftercare instructions, which typically involve saline solution rather than soap. Once a piercing is fully healed, standard cleaning for the jewelry's specific material (steel, titanium, gold, etc.) applies as usual.
How to Clean Copper, Brass & Bronze Jewelry
Copper, brass, and bronze all develop a greenish or darkened patina over time from oxidation — a mixture of lemon juice and salt, or a vinegar-and-salt solution, applied briefly with a soft cloth and rinsed thoroughly, is a common home method for restoring shine to these reactive metals. Dry immediately and thoroughly afterward, since these metals are particularly prone to tarnishing again quickly if left damp.
How to Clean Costume, Fake & Cheap Jewelry
Costume, fake, and budget-friendly fashion jewelry — the category most of our own earrings and jewelry sets fall into — should be cleaned the same gentle way as plated jewelry: soft dry cloth after wear, mild soap and water for deeper cleaning, never soaked, never scrubbed with anything abrasive. This category is more delicate than solid fine jewelry, not less, since it typically combines a thin metal plating with glued or prong-set stones that can loosen with rough handling.
How to Clean Diamond & Platinum Jewelry
Genuine diamond jewelry can typically handle a slightly firmer clean than most other categories — warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush to reach under the stone where oils collect, followed by thorough drying. Platinum is similarly durable and can be cleaned the same way; both are more forgiving of routine care than plated fashion jewelry, though professional cleaning is still worth considering periodically for valuable pieces.
How to Clean Old & Vintage Jewelry
Vintage and old jewelry deserves the gentlest approach regardless of material, since age can weaken settings, glue, and fragile plating in ways that aren't always visible. Start with the softest method possible — a dry cloth wipe — and only escalate to a damp clean if genuinely necessary, testing on a small, less visible area first. For anything with real sentimental or monetary value, a professional jeweler's opinion before attempting any cleaning is worth the consultation.
Quick Reference: Cleaning Method by Material
• Solid gold, white gold, gold-filled: mild soap, water, soft brush
• Gold-plated / silver-plated / costume: soft cloth, mild soap only, never soak
• Sterling silver (unplated): silver polish or gentle baking soda paste
• Stainless steel, titanium: warm water and mild soap, more durable overall
• Copper, brass, bronze: lemon-and-salt or vinegar-and-salt solution
• Diamond, platinum: mild soap, water, soft brush — more forgiving of routine care
• Vintage, old, or sentimental pieces: gentlest method first, professional opinion if valuable
Frequently Asked Questions
Is baking soda safe for all jewelry?
No — it's best reserved for solid, unplated silver. It can scratch soft stones like pearls, dull cubic zirconia over repeated use, and strip thin plating from gold-plated or silver-plated jewelry.
How often should I clean my jewelry?
A quick dry-cloth wipe after each wear, plus a deeper clean every 2-4 weeks depending on how often a piece is worn, keeps most jewelry looking its best without over-cleaning.
Can I use jewelry cleaning solution from the store on any jewelry type?
Not always — check that the product is labeled safe for your specific material, since solutions formulated for solid gold or diamond can be too harsh for plated fashion jewelry.
Do you ship jewelry across the USA?
Yes, we ship to all 50 states. See our Shipping Policy page for delivery timelines.
