Cleaning jewelry
How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home (Safe Methods for Gold, Silver, and Plated Pie
Published: Nov 5, 2026
How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home (Safe Methods for Gold, Silver, and Plated Pieces)
Keeping jewelry looking bright doesn’t require a professional every time. Most everyday pieces can be cleaned safely at home with simple tools you already have.
What you’ll need
Mild dish soap (Dawn works well)
Warm water
Soft-bristle toothbrush (reserved only for jewelry)
Soft lint-free cloth
Optional: jewelry polishing cloth for silver
Step-by-step for solid gold and hard gemstones
Mix a drop of dish soap in a bowl of warm water.
Let the piece soak for 10–20 minutes.
Gently brush under settings and around stones where oils collect.
Rinse thoroughly under warm running water.
Pat dry and buff with a soft cloth.
Silver
Use a polishing cloth first for light tarnish. For heavier tarnish, a short soapy soak followed by gentle brushing works. Avoid harsh dips on pieces with oxidized details or soft stones.
Plated or gold-filled pieces
Skip soaking. Wipe with a barely damp soft cloth and a tiny bit of soap, then dry immediately. Prolonged water exposure can shorten the life of plating.
What to avoid
Toothpaste (too abrasive), chlorine, bleach, ultrasonic cleaners on delicate stones or plated pieces, and paper towels (they can scratch).
A quick weekly wipe after wearing plus proper storage will keep most pieces looking new for years. Browse our gold and silver collections if you’re ready to add pieces that are easy to care for.
Keeping jewelry looking bright doesn’t require a professional every time. Most everyday pieces can be cleaned safely at home with simple tools you already have.
What you’ll need
Mild dish soap (Dawn works well)
Warm water
Soft-bristle toothbrush (reserved only for jewelry)
Soft lint-free cloth
Optional: jewelry polishing cloth for silver
Step-by-step for solid gold and hard gemstones
Mix a drop of dish soap in a bowl of warm water.
Let the piece soak for 10–20 minutes.
Gently brush under settings and around stones where oils collect.
Rinse thoroughly under warm running water.
Pat dry and buff with a soft cloth.
Silver
Use a polishing cloth first for light tarnish. For heavier tarnish, a short soapy soak followed by gentle brushing works. Avoid harsh dips on pieces with oxidized details or soft stones.
Plated or gold-filled pieces
Skip soaking. Wipe with a barely damp soft cloth and a tiny bit of soap, then dry immediately. Prolonged water exposure can shorten the life of plating.
What to avoid
Toothpaste (too abrasive), chlorine, bleach, ultrasonic cleaners on delicate stones or plated pieces, and paper towels (they can scratch).
A quick weekly wipe after wearing plus proper storage will keep most pieces looking new for years. Browse our gold and silver collections if you’re ready to add pieces that are easy to care for.