Sterling silver will usually have a tiny stamp somewhere on the item that identifies it as being silver rather than just plated with silver. Use a blow dryer to dry the clean earrings. Pat the jewelry dry with a soft cloth. It may seem incredibly obvious to say this, but wash your hands both before you start and before putting them back in. Tip out onto tissue. Diamonds are strong, but sensitive to cleaning products because they can get discolored. Schedule an appointment at our New York City showroom. He is passionate about vintage jewelry and vintage diamonds. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Make sure to get between your fingers and up above your wrists, washing for at least 20 seconds. However, unlike other types of jewels, such as ultra-hard diamonds, pearls are incredibly delicate and easily damaged, both by not cleaning them enough and by cleaning them improperly. % of people told us that this article helped them. Your supplies. Apply it to the front and back of the piercing with a clean cotton ball, and then twist the earring a couple times while it is wet. NO. Is it okay if I just put my earrings in alcohol and nothing else? For the vast majority of earring styles, the weekly cleaning method will be more than enough to keep your jewelry nice and clean but, if you have earrings with lots of small stones, intricate filigree or fine millegrain, or you haven’t cleaned your earrings in a while, it may require a slightly different approach. Just be sure to scrub them a bit to get in all places. To learn how to deep clean gold and silver earrings, scroll down! Avoid cleaning your earrings over the sink, which puts you in danger of dropping and losing them down the drain. Do NOT put those in your ears! The best method is to store jewelry made of similar materials together, as chucking gold-plated pieces in with silver ones can make your entire collection tarnish more quickly. If the unthinkable should happen and you drop one or more of your earrings down the drain, call your local Mr. Rooter for fast, reliable plumbing services to retrieve it. There are different methods to clean silver plated jewelry or other items than real silver. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. How do I clean my earrings using homemade methods? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You can also pat the earrings on the towel, which will make it quick for the earrings to get dry. I recommend Provon Medicated Lotion Soap with chloroxylenol. Clean the Other Earrings. Spraying or squirting the pierced area directly will ensure the piercing site is soaked properly, but you may also saturate a cotton swab (Q-tip) to clean the piercing site around the earring. This article was co-authored by Stephanie Anders. Choose a mild soap, and avoid any cleansers with perfumes, which can irritate your sensitive skin. You can also buy a jewelry cleaner machine for a low-effort way to thoroughly clean your earrings. Make sure to wash between your fingers and up to your wrists. By far the simplest cleaning agents that are easily available are rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. He received his gemological degrees from both GIA and GUBELIN. 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. Jewelry stores will typically use ultrasonic cleaners or steam machines. If hydrogen peroxide doesn't help, visit your doctor, the infection may require antibiotics. If you have any other earrings you plan to wear, wipe them down too. The actual cleaning method is very simple, regardless of your chosen solvent. Can I clean silver earrings in just baking powder or Coca-Cola? 4 December 2019. Expert Interview. 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