We think that your jewellery is more than just an accessory. It's a reflection of your personal style, a symbol of meaningful memories, and an investment in quality and craftsmanship. That's why we want to share the best ways to keep your jewellery looking as beautiful as the day you got it, including how to clean each metal, remove tarnish, and keep it shining like new.
Different jewellery materials need different care. In this blog, we'll guide you through cleaning and caring for stainless steel, gold filled, sterling silver and solid gold jewellery, as well as your cubic zirconia pieces.
What's the Best Way to Care for Your Jewellery?
Whether it's solid gold or stainless steel, all jewellery needs a little care to make it last. The daily habits worth adopting are:
- Last on, first off: put your jewellery on after perfume, lotion and hairspray, and take it off first at the end of the day.
- Wipe after wearing to remove sweat and skin oils.
- Store pieces separately so they don't scratch or tangle.
How to Clean Your Jewellery at Home
For most jewellery, all you need is warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft toothbrush. Here's how to care for each material.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a popular choice for jewellery because it's durable and low maintenance. To clean it, simply wipe it down with a soft cloth to remove any dirt or oils. For a deeper clean, use warm water and mild soap, and gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Store your stainless steel jewellery in a soft cloth pouch to prevent scratches. Find out why it's so durable in our guide to waterproof stainless steel jewellery.
Gold Filled
Gold filled jewellery is made by bonding a layer of 14k gold to a base metal, such as brass or copper. It's a great option if you love the look of gold but want a more affordable, long-lasting alternative. To clean it, wipe it down with a soft cloth to remove any dirt or oils. For a deeper clean, use warm water and mild soap, and gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Store your gold filled jewellery in a soft cloth pouch to prevent scratches.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is a classic, versatile material, but it does tarnish over time. That's because it's mixed with a small amount of copper, which reacts with the air and moisture. Some people find their silver tarnishes faster because of their skin chemistry, but the most common cause is perfume and strong chemicals, even a harsh shampoo. To keep your sterling silver looking its best, clean it regularly with a silver polishing cloth, or gently with warm water and a little baking soda. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Store it in a soft cloth pouch to slow down tarnishing.
Solid Gold
Solid gold jewellery is a valuable investment and a timeless beauty, and it deserves proper care to keep it shining. To clean it, use warm water and mild soap, and gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Store your solid gold jewellery in a soft cloth pouch to prevent scratches.
Cubic Zirconia and Crystal Pieces
Cubic zirconias are man-made stones, created in controlled environments under intense heat. "Cubic" comes from the symmetry of its crystals, and "zirconia" refers to its chemical makeup. Cubic zirconias score around 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning they're highly durable. For comparison, diamonds sit at 10. The stones themselves won't ever tarnish, so if yours start to look a bit cloudy, clean them with water and a little dishwashing liquid. Gently brush behind the stones, then buff with a polishing cloth to bring back their original sparkle.
How to Remove Tarnish From Jewellery
First, it helps to understand why pieces tarnish. It's usually a combination of air, moisture and skin oils reacting with silver and copper-based metals. For sterling silver, a silver polishing cloth is the safest way to remove tarnish. Anything plated needs a softer touch, because polishing too hard can remove the plating. And stainless steel doesn't tarnish at all!
What Should You Not Clean Jewellery With?
- Toothpaste or baking soda scrubs on plated pieces. They're abrasive and can wear the plating away.
- Bleach, chlorine, ammonia or acetone (nail polish remover). These harsh chemicals can damage your jewellery and make it tarnish faster.
- Ultrasonic cleaners on pearls or glued stones. The vibrations can loosen or damage them.
- Paper towels and tissues. They can scratch, so use a microfibre cloth instead.
How to Make Your Jewellery Shine Like New
Clean your piece, dry it thoroughly, then buff it with a soft microfibre or jewellery cloth. If it has stones, brush gently behind them, since that's where dullness builds up.
Keep Your Jewellery Looking Its Best
Proper care is the key to keeping your jewellery beautiful. By following these tips, you can make sure your pieces look their best for years to come.