Your jewelry is made to be worn, and the pieces you wear most need a little care to keep their glow. The good news: you do not need a jeweler or special kit. Knowing how to clean jewelry at home takes five minutes, a bowl of warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth, as long as you match the method to the metal.

Here is the simple routine, how to adjust it for gold plated pieces, sterling silver, stainless steel and delicate details, how to handle tarnish, and the habits that keep jewelry shining between cleans.

Step 01How to clean jewelry at home: the five-minute method

Use warm (not hot) water, a few drops of mild dish soap, a very soft brush and a lint-free cloth. Clean gently, rinse, and dry completely before you store anything.

• Mix: a small bowl of warm water with two or three drops of mild, fragrance-free dish soap.
• Clean: dip a soft cloth or a very soft brush (a baby toothbrush is ideal) and work gently over the surface and around links and settings. Solid sterling silver and stainless steel can take a short dip; gold plated pieces should be wiped, not soaked.
• Rinse: wipe with a second cloth dampened in clean water, or rinse sturdy pieces briefly over a closed sink or a bowl so nothing slips down the drain.
• Dry: pat dry with a soft cloth and let pieces air-dry fully on a towel before they go back in their pouch.

Step 02How to clean gold plated jewelry without wearing it down

Wipe gold plated jewelry with a soft cloth dampened in mild soapy water, then dry it right away. Never soak, scrub or polish hard, because friction is what wears gold plating.

Most of our gold pieces are gold plated over a solid base. Plot Twist, the chunky twisted hoop, is 18K gold plated over S925 sterling silver; Fancy That - Necklace, the cut-out bar link chain, is 18K gold plated over brass; Golden Hour and Big Hugs are 18K gold plated over stainless steel. Treat the gold surface like a fine finish: a damp cloth, a soft touch and a dry cloth to finish. Keep plated pieces away from perfume, lotion and chlorine, which are harder on the finish than everyday wear.

Step 03How to clean sterling silver jewelry at home

Wash solid sterling silver briefly in warm soapy water, dry it thoroughly, then buff with a silver polishing cloth to bring back the shine.

Sterling silver darkens when it meets air and moisture, so it loves to be worn and wiped. Pieces like Fair and Square, a princess-cut tennis bracelet in S925 sterling silver, and Raise the Stakes, a full eternity band in S925 sterling silver, clean beautifully with soap, water and a soft brush around the settings. Dry the stones and the gallery underneath so no water sits in the setting. Read our guide to stainless steel vs sterling silver jewelry for how the two metals behave.

Step 04How to clean tarnished jewelry

On sterling silver, tarnish lifts away with a silver polishing cloth used in straight strokes. On gold plated pieces, wipe gently and dry; if the base metal is showing, cleaning will not bring the gold back.

Work on one small area at a time and use the cloth in straight lines rather than circles, which keeps the finish even. After polishing, wash the piece briefly in soapy water to remove any residue and dry it well. To slow tarnish down, store silver in a closed pouch, away from humidity and bathroom steam, and wear it often: skin contact and gentle wiping keep it bright.

Step 05Stones, pearls, enamel and shell: wipe, don't soak

Pieces with pearls, enamel, shell inlay or glass stones should only be wiped with a barely damp cloth and dried at once. Keep them out of soapy water and away from chemicals.

Pearl Theory pairs cultured freshwater seed pearls with 18K gold plated over sterling silver, and Rise & Shine sets a shell inlay medallion in 18K gold plated over S925 sterling silver: both are wipe-only pieces. Enamel, like the glossy color on Heart on My Sleeve in 18K gold plated over titanium steel, keeps its shine with a soft dry cloth after wear.

Step 06Everyday habits that keep jewelry clean longer

Put jewelry on last and take it off first, wipe it after wearing, and store each piece on its own. These habits do more for shine than any deep clean.

• Last on, first off. Put jewelry on after lotion, fragrance, makeup, sunscreen and hair products have dried, and remove it before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering or using cleaning products.
• Wipe after wear. A soft, dry cloth removes skin oils before they build up.
• Store separately. Keep each piece in its Boss Up pouch or box, away from sunlight and humidity, so chains do not tangle and surfaces do not rub. Our guide to how to store jewelry at home covers drawers, trays and travel rolls.
• Handle with care. Open clasps gently, avoid pulling chains, and put pieces on over a soft surface. Packing for a trip? Read how to pack jewelry for travel.

For material details on every piece, see our Materials & Good to Know care notes.

How to clean jewelry at home: quick answers

What is the best home remedy to clean jewelry?

Warm water with a few drops of mild, fragrance-free dish soap, a very soft brush and a soft lint-free cloth. Wash solid sterling silver and stainless steel briefly in the solution; for gold plated pieces, use a cloth dampened in it rather than soaking, then dry everything straight away.

Is hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol better for cleaning jewelry?

Neither is needed for everyday cleaning, and both can dull plating, enamel, pearls and shell. Mild soap and warm water clean just as well on most pieces. If you want to freshen solid sterling silver or stainless steel, a brief wipe of rubbing alcohol followed by rinsing and drying is gentler than hydrogen peroxide.

What should you not clean jewelry with?

Skip toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, vinegar, chlorine, abrasive cloths and paper towels, and keep gold plated or stone-set pieces out of ultrasonic cleaners. These can scratch surfaces, wear away plating or loosen stones.

What makes jewelry shiny again?

A gentle clean to remove skin oils and product residue, a thorough dry, then a light buff with a soft cloth. For sterling silver, a silver polishing cloth lifts tarnish; for gold plated pieces, buff very lightly so you never rub through the gold layer.

How do you clean tarnished jewelry at home?

For sterling silver, rub tarnish away with a silver polishing cloth, working in straight strokes, then wash briefly in soapy water and dry. Gold plated pieces should not be scrubbed: wipe them with a damp soapy cloth and dry. If the base metal is showing through, cleaning will not restore it.

How often should you clean your jewelry?

Wipe everyday pieces with a soft, dry cloth after each wear, and give them a gentle soap-and-water clean about once a month, or whenever they look cloudy.

Every piece carries part of your story. A little care keeps it ready for the next chapter. Strength has elegance. Ambition has style. She wears her story.

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