No one wants dirty jewelry; however, when it comes to earrings, cleanliness is not just about appearance. Your ear holes are sensitive, and you don’t want dirt or germs to become trapped there by your earrings.
Earrings can catch and accumulate grease, dirt, sweat, shampoo, and other hair and skin products. This buildup can dull the shine of your earrings and irritate the skin around them, increasing the risk of infection.
You can keep these adorable pieces of jewelry looking and feeling suitable for years to come by cleaning them on a regular basis. There are numerous quick and easy ways to disinfect and reshine your earrings.
- Hydrogen Peroxide Method
To clean your earrings with hydrogen peroxide, you must follow the following steps.
- To avoid spreading more bacteria, wash your hands. Scrub your hands thoroughly with hand soap after running them under warm water. Wash for at least 20 seconds, getting between your fingers and up above your wrists. After that, pat them dry with a clean towel.
Washing your hands thoroughly will keep the earrings from becoming even dirtier before you begin cleaning them.
- Fill a cotton ball halfway with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is excellent for killing bacteria and restoring earring shine. To use hydrogen peroxide, place a cotton ball, swab, or pad over the opening of the bottle. Then, flip the bottle upside down to completely saturate the ball.
- If your piercing has already healed, clean the earrings with gentle cleaners or alcohol wipes. Because there is no new tissue exposed inside the wound of a healed piercing, it is less likely to be irritated by mild cleaning agents.
- Dab the cotton ball all over the surface of the earring to clean it. Make sure the cotton ball gets into every nook and cranny of the earring. Please spend a few minutes on each earring, adding more hydrogen peroxide as necessary, before rinsing them in a bowl of water.
- For a deeper clean, immerse the earring in hydrogen peroxide. Cotton can become entangled in some earrings, leaving behind irritating strands of fiber. Allow your earrings to soak in a small cup of hydrogen peroxide for 5-10 minutes to avoid this, or to get a more thorough clean. After that, rinse them in a bowl of water.
- Allow them to dry for a few minutes. After cleaning your earrings, place them on a clean cloth to dry. Touch them a few times to see if they’re dry, then store or wear them when they’re done.
2. Hot Water Method
Hot water is a very simple and straightforward method to clean earrings. Here are the steps:
- Before you begin, wash your hands. Washing your hands beforehand prevents you from spreading germs while cleaning your earrings. Lather your hands with hand soap for 20 seconds after running them under warm water. Rinse them once more and pat dry with a clean towel. Wash between your fingers and all the way up to your wrists.
- Warm water can be boiled in the microwave or on the stove. When you’re short on supplies and want your jewelry to shine a little more, cleaning your earrings with hot water is ideal. To begin, heat a couple cups of water in a pot until it is just boiling.
You can also use the microwave for the same. Begin by heating it for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then check and heat it as needed. Cleaning your earrings with hot water won’t get them as clean as a solution would, but it’s a good alternative if you need more cleaning supplies.
- Soak your earrings for 20 minutes in hot water. Remove the earrings from the water and set them inside. Allow them to soak in the water for about 20 minutes to clean.
The hot water will help to kill germs and loosen dirt from your earrings’ surface. All earrings are safe in hot water. If you’re cleaning costume-style plastic earrings, let it cool for a minute before inserting them.
- Take off your earrings and scrub them clean with a toothbrush. If the water is cool enough, lift your earrings out with a spoon or your hand. Scrub them gently with an old toothbrush, one at a time, to remove any remaining dirt. When you’re finished, rinse the earrings with warm water.
- Allow the earrings to air dry on a clean towel. Allow the earrings to sit for a few minutes, or until completely dry. You can also pat them with the towel a few times to remove any excess water drops. Touch them to determine when they are dry and ready to be stored or worn.
3. Deep Cleaning Method
Cleaning earring is really important on a regular basis. But, sometimes, it must be deep cleaned. Here are the different ways to deep clean the earrings:
- To avoid discoloration, clean diamonds with dish soap and warm water. One teaspoon (5 mL) dish soap in a cup of warm water; soak diamond earrings for 3-4 minutes. Remove them with a spoon and gently rub them with a soft, bristled toothbrush. Soak them in the mixture for another 1-2 minutes and then rinse them in a bowl of cold water. Let them dry on a clean towel.
- Warm water and baking soda should be used to clean silver earrings. To begin cleaning silver earrings, line a glass baking pan with tin foil, shiny side up. Place the earrings on the tin foil and cover them with warm water until completely submerged. Sprinkle with baking soda until the earrings begin to bubble, then soak for an hour. Rinse them in clean water and pat them dry with a soft cloth. Silver earrings should be cleaned properly because they can lose their shine and appear dull and old when they become dirty. With this method, you can clean several pairs of silver earrings at once.
- To clean pearl earrings, use mild soap and water. Combine lukewarm water and a few drops of gentle dish soap. Use a soft cleaning cloth to wipe your pearl earrings gently. Allow them to air dry on a towel before storing them. When cleaning pearl earrings, avoid using harsh chemicals because they are more susceptible to damage. To keep your pearls looking clean, wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear.
- Using a toothpick, remove dirt from cut gem earrings. Dirt can build up in the corners of cut stone earrings, making them difficult to clean. Instead, pick it out with a shaved matchstick or a toothpick, removing the dirt slowly and carefully. You can also wrap the toothpick in a tissue or cloth to make it softer, but this may not be as effective in getting into tighter spaces.
Cleaning Your Earrings regularly
You’re probably nodding in agreement that it’s time to clean your earrings by now. After reading this article, you might go into a cleaning frenzy of your jewelry box, thinking you’re set for a while. But how long before the process needs to be repeated? Cleaning your earrings, significantly the posts, as often as possible is recommended by experts. If possible, gently cleanse them before or after each wear. Although it may appear daunting, we assure you that it is well worth it to avoid the need for additional cleaning and medical care in the future.
