Your earrings will always get dirty if not maintained well and done frequently. They might look great from a distance but with a closer look, you will be able to see layers of dirt and grime. This buildup is usually due to factors such as body oils, makeup, sunscreen, lotions, hair products, dirt, and pollutants in the air; and these are only a few of the ones that we could think of. Because there are so many factors that could lead to your earrings becoming tarnished, cleaning and maintaining your jewelry is crucial for its longevity. Moreover, do you seriously want all that dirt and gunk settling around your ears and onto your skin? Even if you've owned and worn a certain piece of jewelry for multiple years without any problems, there still could be a chance that it will give you infections if not cleaned regularly.
On the brighter side, taking care of your earrings is an easy task. If you haven't been cleaning your earrings because you didn't want to damage them, then you've come to the right place! As you read more, you will learn how to maintain and clean your earrings, while also being careful enough so you don't ruin them during the process.
Wipe Your Ears Every Use
It is recommended that you clean your earrings every time you remove them. This is to prevent years and years of built-up grime that you wouldn't want to have to deal with later. Just like with any good habit, it's only difficult in the beginning but gets easier with time.
Before you wipe, however, you should consider what type of jewelry and material you're working with. Since most precious metals are relatively soft, constant care and maintenance are crucial to avoid any future damage. For example, you wouldn't use a scratchy paper towel on a gold chain as it would surely make some marks on the piece.
Therefore, whenever you take off your earrings, gently wipe them with a soft, dry cloth. The best option would be to use a microfiber cloth as it'll clean the earrings without damaging them at all. When wiping, make sure to do it with long strokes as opposed to a small circular motion. If you polish the earrings in a circular motion, it could make all the tiny scratches and markings on the piece much more noticeable.
If your earrings still seem dirty after wiping them with a cloth, then using water and mild dish soap might be the next step.
Clean With Dish Soap and Water
If you notice that your earrings still need more cleaning, then this method should be of use to you. Fortunately, you do not need to go to any store or buy anything online. All you need is some water, mild dish soap, and a soft bristle toothbrush.
First, you want to make the dish soap solution, and you can do that by mixing a couple of drops of dish soap into a bowl of warm (not hot) water. Then you can grab your dirty earrings and let them soak in the solution for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will loosen the grime and dirt that is built up inside which will make it easier for them to come off. Once you take them out, use the soft-bristled toothbrush and start brushing gently around the tough areas. To finish the cleaning process, just rinse with water thoroughly and pat dry with a clean cloth.
Sometimes this process will not get every piece of dirt and grime on the first try. So, make sure you inspect your jewelry one more time. If you can still see some dirty areas, you can repeat the process above.
Closing Out
In conclusion, it's important to keep your jewelry maintained and cleaned, both for the jewelry and for yourself. However, it's also very important to know about what jewelry or precious stone you're working with. For example, pearl earrings cannot put be together with any harsh chemicals as they will deteriorate. On the other hand, many of the precious stones that are relatively soft are made with fluoride or apatite, which gives them their soft and delicate attributes. This means that those precious stones should never be put in cleaning machines or ultrasonic cleaners.
As a general rule of thumb, it's always best to keep it simple. There are lots and lots of jewelry cleaning products out there. However, when it comes to avoiding accidental damage from cleaning, the soap and water method works best. If that method does not work for you, it's always recommended that you consult an expert first before doing anything else.