If you’re not sure how to clean earrings, then let us teach you! Keeping your earrings and piercings nice and clean is important to avoid irritations and infections – but not many people know how.
It’s easy to forget to clean your earrings and jewellery, but that’s a big mistake that can lead to irritations, tarnished jewellery, and poor hygiene.
So, let this be your reminder to commit to regularly cleaning your earrings!
We enlisted the help of our expert team of beauticians, who explained exactly how to clean earrings for the best results.
Quick and Effective Ways to Clean Silver and Gold Earrings
The good news is that cleaning your earrings is very simple and easy! You won’t require any special equipment or tools, and it will only take a few moments.
Basic Cleaning with Soap and Water
One of the simplest and most effective methods for cleaning earrings involves two household staples – soap and water.
You could use any kind of antibacterial hand soap and a small amount of warm water. All you need to do is remove the earrings, let them soak in the soap and water for a few minutes, then scrub gently.
Try to find a super-soft bristled toothbrush so you don’t scratch or damage the earrings, but also ensure that you can loosen any visible gunk or debris.
Be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry your earrings before putting them back in, and you’re good to go!
Targeted Cleaning Solutions
But, not all earrings are created equal! If you’re looking for more specific cleaning solutions on how to clean silver earrings or how to clean gold earrings, here’s what you need to know.
Silver Earrings
Here are some expert tips on how to clean silver earrings:
- For extra-tarnished silver, place the earrings in a bowl lined with aluminium foil. Add a spoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt, then cover with hot water until the earrings are submerged. If you allow them to soak for a few minutes, a chemical reaction will occur that restores tarnished silver. Once you rinse the earrings and pat them dry, they’ll be as good as new!
- Another option is to create a paste using baking soda and white vinegar, then apply it to the earrings using a cloth. Let this sit for up to 3 hours, then rinse and dry and see how much better they look!
Gold Earrings
It’s also important to know how to clean gold earrings, which include variations like yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold.
Yellow gold is typically what your classic gold looks like, while white gold is plated with rhodium to get its signature pale look, and rose gold is mixed with copper.
It’s important to be extra careful because you could damage the gold, rhodium, or copper and affect the overall colour of the gold – which is such a shame!
That’s why when it comes to gold, it’s crucial to steer clear of abrasive materials, such as toothpaste or baking soda, as they can scratch the gold surface. You should also avoid harsh chemicals and jewellery cleaners that may contain ammonia or chlorine, which can damage the metal.
Instead, a safe option is to use a solution of mild dish soap and lukewarm water. Let your gold sit and soak for 10-15 minutes to loosen any debris, then use a cotton bud or Q-tip to gently clean the surface of the earrings.
Rinse them under cool, running water to get rid of any soap residue, then pat dry and they’ll be ready for wear!
Sterilising and Disinfecting Earrings for Safe Wear
Sterilising and disinfecting your earrings is crucial for maintaining good hygiene and preventing pesky and painful injections. Over time, earrings can accumulate a lot of dirt, bacteria, and oils from your hair, face, hands, and scalp.
Not only can this damage and tarnish the metal, but it can also lead to infections in the site around the piercing! The good news is that there are a few different methods for sterilising your earrings.
Rubbing alcohol is a great way to kill lingering bacteria for safe wear. It’s quite cheap and easy to find in the shops, and can just be applied with a cotton ball.
Or if you’d prefer a mess-free option, go for a pre-packaged alcohol wipe. Just be sure to let your earrings air-dry afterwards before popping them back in!
Hydrogen peroxide is another sterilising option and can be found in a lot of pharmacies and drugstores. Let your earrings soak in the hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water for a bacteria-busting solution.
In addition to cleaning your earrings, it’s super important to remember to sterilise and disinfect your earrings to prevent infections, irritation, and discomfort. These are all quick, inexpensive, and easy options that will keep you and your piercings safe!
Special Care for Delicate Earrings
Earrings can be made out of several different materials, some of which are more delicate than others.
Your earrings might also be very expensive, or hold a lot of sentimental value – so you want to take extra care when cleaning them.
If your earrings have particular needs like ornate designs or fragile gemstones, you’ll need to be very thorough and careful.
Try using a jewellery polishing cloth, avoid harsh or abrasive materials, and remember you can always take them to a jeweller for professional cleaning and maintenance!
Regularly washing and sanitising your earrings is important for maintaining the appearance of your beautiful jewellery, and keeping your ears safe from germs and bacteria.
If you’re looking for more cleaning, hygiene, and personal care tips, be sure to check out more of our articles.
And if you want to experience the convenience of professional beauty services at home, make sure you explore Wecasa’s unique range of offerings. You can book an expert beautician through Wecasa, to come spoil and pamper you at home. Win-win!
