Nobody wants dirty looking jewelry, but when it comes to earrings, cleanliness goes far beyond the appearance. Pierced ears are sensitive and earrings can trap dirt and bacteria in them. By cleaning them regularly, you will ensure that they keep their beauty for years to come.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Disinfect the Earrings with Hydrogen Peroxide
Step 1. Wash your hands to prevent bacteria from spreading
Hold them under running hot water and then scrub them well with soap. Don't neglect the area between your fingers and wrists and continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Afterward, dry your hands with a clean towel.
Washing your hands thoroughly is to prevent the earrings from getting further dirty before starting cleaning
Step 2. Soak a cotton ball (or pad) in hydrogen peroxide
It is a disinfectant capable of killing bacteria and restoring their original shine to the earrings. Press the swab against the bottle opening and then tilt it so that the hydrogen peroxide saturates the cotton.
Step 3. Rub the cotton on the earrings to clean and disinfect them
Make sure you reach the crevices and hidden corners as well. Spend a couple of minutes on each earring, re-soaking the cotton with hydrogen peroxide if necessary. When finished, dip the jewelry into a bowl filled with water to rinse it off.
Suggestion:
use a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide to reach even the smallest details.
Step 4. Immerse the earrings in hydrogen peroxide for a more thorough cleaning
Cotton may get caught in corners or crevices, leaving behind small fibers that are difficult to remove. To avoid this or simply to clean the earrings even more thoroughly, you can soak them in hydrogen peroxide for 5-10 minutes. Next, transfer them to a bowl filled with water to rinse them off.
Step 5. Let them air dry for a few minutes
After cleaning and disinfecting them, place them on a cloth to dry. From time to time, touch them to check if they are dry, then put them back in the jewelry box or put them on again.
Method 2 of 3: Clean the Earrings with Warm Water
Step 1. Wash your hands before starting
Having clean hands will avoid spreading other germs on the earrings while you wash them. Hold your hands under running warm water and then scrub them well with soap for at least 20 seconds. Rinse them again, then dry them with a clean cloth.
Don't neglect the area between your fingers and wrists
Step 2. Boil the water on the stove or in the microwave
Cleaning the earrings with hot water is a perfect solution if you don't have any other products available or if you just want them to come back shiny. To start, pour half a liter of water into a saucepan and heat it until it boils.
- If you want, you can heat the water in the microwave in a cup. Start by heating it for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then check and continue heating it if necessary.
- Hot water isn't as effective as hydrogen peroxide or soap, but it's a good remedy if you don't have anything else available.
Step 3. Soak the earrings in hot water for 20 minutes
Remove the pot from the heat and dip the earrings into the water. Leave them to soak for about twenty minutes to make sure they are clean.
- Hot water will dissolve dirt and kill germs.
- You can use hot water to clean any type of earrings. However, if they are made of plastic, it is best to let them cool for a couple of minutes before soaking them.
Step 4. Remove the earrings from the water and scrub them with a toothbrush
Take them out of the water with a spoon or with your fingers if it's cold enough. Gently scrub them, one at a time, using a toothbrush to remove any remaining dirt. Finally, rinse the earrings with warm water.
Suggestion:
moisten the bristles of your toothbrush with hot water before you start scrubbing.
Step 5. Place the earrings to dry on a clean towel
Let them air dry completely. If you want, you can gently pat them with a towel to absorb the drops of water and speed up the time. Touch them to make sure they are completely dry before putting them on or storing them in the jewelry box.
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning Precious Stones and Metals
Step 1. Clean the diamonds with hot water and dish soap to avoid damaging them
Dissolve one teaspoon (5ml) of dish soap in 250ml of hot water, then let the diamond earrings soak for 3-4 minutes. Take them out of the water using a spoon and then scrub them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Soak them again in the soapy water for a couple of minutes, then transfer them to a bowl filled with cold water to rinse them off. Let them dry on a clean towel.
Did you know that?
Diamonds are durable, but some cleaning products can stain them. That's why it's best to use a mild, unscented, transparent dish soap.
Step 2. Wash the silver earrings with hot water and baking soda
To clean silver earrings, first line a glass dish with aluminum foil, with the shiny side facing up. Arrange the earrings on the tinfoil and then fill the dish with hot water, so that they are submerged. At this point, sprinkle the baking soda into the water until you notice bubbles forming around the earrings. Leave them to soak for an hour, then transfer them to a bowl full of clean water to rinse them off, and then dry them with a soft cloth.
- It is important to clean silver earrings properly, otherwise they may lose their original luster and become dark and dull when dirty.
- Do not clean more than one pair of earrings at a time.
Step 3. Use mild soap and water to clean pearl earrings
Dissolve a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water. Dip a soft cloth in the soapy water and use it to scrub the earrings very gently. Place them on a clean towel and let them air dry before storing them in the jewelry box.
- Chemicals in harsher detergents can ruin pearls, so use a product with a mild formulation.
- Whenever you take off your earrings, you should rub the pearls with a soft cloth to keep them shiny and clean.
Step 4. Use a toothpick to remove dirt from the gemstone earrings
Dirt tends to accumulate along the frame surrounding the stones and removing it is complicated. Use a toothpick to gently remove it little by little.
You can wrap the tip of the toothpick with a clean rag to make it less sharp, but this may make it difficult to reach tight spaces
Advice
- You can prevent earrings from getting dirty quickly by taking them off every time you shower or go swimming and every night before bed.
- You can buy a device online that cleans earrings using ultrasound.
