Jewelry Care Guide
Jewelry is made to be worn, enjoyed, and remembered. With a few simple habits, you can help protect its color, shine, and finish for years to come.
This jewelry care guide explains how to clean, wear, and store everyday jewelry, plated jewelry, sterling silver, gold jewelry, and gemstone pieces. Because materials and craftsmanship vary, always follow the care instructions included with your specific piece.
Reviewed/Updated: August 1, 2026
Everyday Jewelry Care
Small daily habits can make a meaningful difference in how long your jewelry keeps its finish and shine.
- Put jewelry on after perfume, lotion, sunscreen, hairspray, and cosmetics have dried.
- Remove jewelry before showering, swimming, exercising, sleeping, or doing household cleaning.
- Avoid prolonged contact with water, sweat, chlorine, salt water, and cleaning chemicals.
- Take off rings and bracelets before lifting heavy objects or doing manual work.
- After wearing, gently wipe each piece with a clean, soft, dry cloth.
- Store pieces separately to reduce scratching, tangling, and friction.
How to Clean Jewelry Safely
For routine jewelry cleaning, use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently remove skin oils, moisture, and surface residue.
If deeper cleaning is appropriate for the material, use lukewarm water with a small amount of mild soap. Clean gently, rinse carefully, and dry the piece completely before storing it.
Avoid abrasive cloths, toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, alcohol, and strong commercial cleaners unless the product instructions specifically confirm they are safe. These substances may scratch surfaces, damage plating, or affect certain stones.
How to Store Jewelry
Store jewelry in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity. A lined jewelry box, soft pouch, or individual compartment helps protect the surface.
Keep necklaces fastened and laid flat or hung separately to prevent knots. Store softer gemstones, pearls, and plated pieces away from harder metals or stones that may scratch them. For sterling silver jewelry, an airtight pouch and anti-tarnish strip can help slow oxidation.
Jewelry Care by Material
Plated Jewelry Care
Plated jewelry has a thin decorative metal layer over a base material. Friction, moisture, and chemicals can gradually wear this layer. Keep plated pieces dry, avoid aggressive polishing, and store them separately. Clean only with a soft, dry cloth unless the product care instructions say otherwise.
Sterling Silver Care
Sterling silver may naturally tarnish when exposed to air, humidity, skin oils, and certain chemicals. This normal surface reaction does not necessarily mean the jewelry is damaged. Use a silver polishing cloth with gentle pressure, and store silver in a dry, airtight pouch. Avoid chlorine, bleach, and abrasive household cleaners.
Gold Jewelry Care
Solid gold can usually be cleaned gently with mild soap, lukewarm water, and a soft cloth or very soft brush. Gold-plated and gold-vermeil jewelry require gentler care because repeated polishing can wear the outer layer. Check the product description if you are unsure whether a piece is solid gold, vermeil, or plated.
Gemstone Jewelry Care
Gemstones vary in hardness, porosity, and sensitivity. A cleaning method that is safe for one stone may damage another. Use a soft cloth for regular cleaning and avoid soaking gemstone jewelry unless its care instructions confirm it is safe. Pearls, opals, turquoise, and other delicate or porous materials need especially gentle treatment.
Jewelry Care FAQs
Can I wear my jewelry in the shower?
We recommend removing jewelry before showering. Soap, shampoo, heat, and repeated water exposure can leave residue or shorten the life of plated finishes. Removing jewelry first is the safest habit for most pieces.
Can I swim while wearing jewelry?
It is best to remove jewelry before entering a pool, hot tub, ocean, or lake. Chlorine and salt water may discolor metals, damage finishes, and affect some gemstones.
Can I wear jewelry while exercising?
We recommend taking it off before exercising. Sweat, friction, and pressure from equipment can affect the finish, scratch the surface, or bend delicate components.
Should I put jewelry on before or after perfume and lotion?
Put jewelry on last, after perfume, lotion, sunscreen, and cosmetics have dried. Remove it first when getting undressed. This reduces chemical contact and helps prevent snagging.
How often should I clean my jewelry?
Lightly wipe frequently worn pieces after each use. A more thorough cleaning can be done when you notice visible residue or reduced shine, provided the cleaning method is suitable for the material.
Why does jewelry tarnish?
Tarnish is a surface reaction caused by exposure to air, humidity, skin oils, and chemicals. It is especially common with sterling silver and some base metals. Proper cleaning and dry storage can slow the process.
How can I prevent jewelry from tarnishing?
Keep jewelry clean and dry, store it in an airtight pouch or closed jewelry box, and keep it away from bathroom humidity. Anti-tarnish strips can be useful for sterling silver.
Can tarnished jewelry be restored?
Many tarnished metal pieces can be improved with an appropriate polishing cloth or professional cleaning. Plated jewelry should not be polished aggressively because this may remove the plating.
Why is my plated jewelry changing color?
Plating naturally wears over time. Water, sweat, perfume, skin products, and friction may speed up the process. Keeping plated jewelry dry and storing it separately can help extend its finish.
Is it safe to use toothpaste or baking soda to clean jewelry?
We do not recommend them. Toothpaste and baking soda can be abrasive and may scratch metal, damage plating, or affect softer gemstones.
Can I use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner?
Not for every piece. Ultrasonic cleaners may damage loose settings, plated finishes, pearls, opals, turquoise, and some treated gemstones. Use one only when a jeweler or the product instructions confirm it is safe.
How should I store necklaces so they do not tangle?
Fasten each necklace before storing it, then place it flat in an individual pouch or hang it separately. Avoid keeping several fine chains loose in the same compartment.
What should I do if a stone becomes loose?
Stop wearing the piece and do not try to push the stone back into place. Keep it in a safe container and contact a qualified jeweler or our customer care team for guidance.
When should jewelry be professionally inspected?
Consider professional inspection if you notice loose stones, bent prongs, damaged clasps, broken links, or unusual movement. Frequently worn fine jewelry may benefit from periodic inspection.
Still Have Questions?
Not sure how to care for a particular piece? Contact us with the product name, order number, and a clear photo. We will help you identify the safest care method for its materials and finish.