How to Clean Jewelry Like a Professional: Tips & Maintenance

Whether it’s an heirloom or a custom piece, understanding how to clean your jewelry is a key step in maintaining your keepsakes for years to come. We generally recommend cleaning your jewelry at least once a month, though the actual frequency will depend on how often you wear your items and your maintenance routine. Use our guide to follow easy jewelry cleaning tips from our seasoned jewelry care experts!

In need of a deep clean? Forsythe offers professional jewelry cleaning (recommended every six months) to keep your sentimental pieces sparkling! Book an appointment or walk into our store, today.

Basic At-Home Jewelry Cleaning Steps

Jewelry can easily accumulate oils and grime through daily wear. You know it’s time to clean your jewelry when the surface metal is discolored, the gemstones are cloudy, and there are dark spots in the grooves and finer details. 

The good news is that you likely have the materials to tackle basic jewelry cleaning at home! You’ll need: 

• Gentle dish soap (we recommend Dawn or Ajax)

• A soft toothbrush

• A microfiber cloth

• A polishing cloth for tarnishes (optional)

You can follow these steps for most jewelry pieces, including items featuring diamonds and quartz stones like amethyst. But be mindful if your jewelry has specific care instructions. When in doubt, consult a professional at Forsythe who can recommend cleaning techniques and suggest jewelry cleaning products (only available in-store).

1. Use a Gentle Mix of Dish Soap and Warm Water

Dish soap is perfect for removing oils, hand lotion residue, and more. Fill a small bowl with about 1 cup of warm water and mix in a few drops of gentle dish soap. Soak your jewelry in the water for about 5 minutes.

NOTE: Avoid submerging jewelry pieces with porous gemstones in water. Instead, spot clean with a moist cloth before quickly drying to avoid damage. See the section below for a list of gems with special care.

2. Use a Clean, Soft Toothbrush to Scrub Your Jewelry

Remove grime using a soft toothbrush to gently scrub your jewelry. The brush’s flexible bristles are ideal for tackling dirt stuck in channels, bezels, prongs, and other settings. Remember to use a light hand to avoid damaging any details or dislodging your gemstone.

NOTE: Take extra care when cleaning gold-plated or vermeil jewelry. Both have a metallic core covered with a thin layer of gold, which can get damaged with aggressive scrubbing. The core might also react poorly to water. Use a non-abrasive sponge instead or avoid scrubbing.

3. Tackle Tarnished Metals With a Polishing Cloth

Silver and brass may tarnish over time as the metals react chemically with the oxygen, sulfur, and humidity in the air. Tarnished metals can be restored through polishing, though the process will gradually remove the top layer of the precious metal over time or create an uneven surface. Do not polish more than 1–2 times per year.

To properly polish silver and brass jewelry, you should use a polishing cloth—a reusable cloth that contains a jewelry-grade light polishing compound (e.g., polishing rouge). Do not use polishing cloths on gemstones.

NOTE: You may have heard that toothpaste and baking soda can remove tarnishes. While they can be effective with a gentle hand, we don’t recommend this without a professional consultation since both are abrasive and can scratch your jewelry over time.

4. Pat Dry With a Microfiber & Store Properly

After rinsing your jewelry in clean water, gently but thoroughly pat your pieces with a microfiber cloth to remove moisture. Jewelry should be stored in a cool setting away from direct sunlight, which can damage certain gemstones due to excessive UV light. Avoid laying pieces on top of each other to minimize scratching.

Finally, most jewelry can be stored with a desiccant packet to reduce moisture exposure. However, softer gemstones need a bit of humidity to stay in top shape. See our section on gemstone care below.

Common Jewelry Cleaning Mistakes

Following a basic jewelry cleaning process can help maintain your cherished items and extend their lifespan. However, we often see clients who’ve cleaned their jewelry at home using unvetted online advice, which can damage their pieces. Here are the top 4 mistakes people make when cleaning their jewelry.

1. Ignoring Gemstone Care Instructions

Most precious gemstones can withstand standard cleaning procedures, but some require specialized care. Porous materials shouldn’t be exposed to excessive moisture, and softer materials are susceptible to scratching. 

Some notable examples include: 

• Amber

• Carnelian

• Coral

• Emerald

• Malachite

• Opal

• Pearl

• Turquoise

For a full list of gemstone care instructions, refer to the International Gem Society’s chart or schedule a consultation with a Forsythe Expert for detailed advice. Our team inspects each jewelry piece before cleaning, allowing us to catch problems that might not be visible to the average eye. The most common gemstone issues are internal inclusions or cracks in gemstones that need to be cleaned with care to avoid further damage.

Along with treatments to enhance gemstones, we also examine the jewelry to determine if the setting has the appropriate wear or if work needs to be done to maximize the piece’s lifespan. Most often, we assess prong longevity and can help clients tell if they need to re-tip or replace the metal securing their gemstones.

2. Cleaning Jewelry With Boiling Water

Boiling water (and extreme temperature fluctuations, in general!) can cause the metal in your jewelry to expand and contract, affecting the setting for your gemstones. Additionally, excessive heat can cause some gemstones to crack. Always use warm water or a damp cloth to clean. 

3. Using an Abrasive Cleaner

Abrasive chemical cleaners are useful for removing tarnishes, but they aren’t appropriate for basic cleaning. Using abrasive cleaners can cause scratches, strip away metal over time, or create an uneven surface. Some DIY cleaners like toothpaste have teeth-whitening additives that can blemish your jewelry. And, it goes without saying, you should avoid abrasive materials such as steel wool when scrubbing your pieces.

4. Using Harsh Chemical Cleaners

Harsh chemical cleaners are not designed to work on jewelry. That includes store-bought cleaning solutions as well as homemade ones. These solutions can corrode certain metals and damage porous or softer gemstones. 

Never soak your jewelry in: 

• Bleach

• Vinegar

• Lemon juice

• Rubbing alcohol

• Vodka

When to Use a Professional Jewelry Cleaner

When in doubt, don’t take risks with your cherished pieces! We always recommend taking your jewelry to a reputable jewelry store. Professionals know how to clean jewelry with care and can offer additional services. 

As a multi-generational jeweler in Pittsford, NY, we follow a thorough cleaning process for all jewelry pieces, from antique heirlooms to custom pieces. Each jewelry cleaning appointment includes a complimentary inspection to check settings and overall health. We also have access to professional tools, using high-powered steam or vibrations to thoroughly clean jewelry.

Schedule a consultation with Forsythe today, to clean or restore any jewelry items!