How to Clean Earrings without Ruining the Finish
Step-by-step for gold, silver, stainless & gemstones — the FunkyLobes way
Earrings looking a bit… less than luminous? No stress. In a few gentle minutes you can coax your earrings back to sparkle — without stripping plating, clouding stones, or angering your lobes.
Before you start
First, know your metal. Gold-plated and vermeil behave differently to solid gold; sterling silver is not the same as stainless steel. If you’re unsure, treat the piece as plated and be extra gentle. Remember: we’re cleaning, not sterilising. For fresh piercings, keep jewellery in and follow your piercer’s aftercare. And whatever the metal, friction and harsh chemicals are the fastest way to wreck a finish — so we’ll keep things mild.
What you’ll need (keep it simple)
A bowl of lukewarm water, a drop of mild, fragrance-free washing-up liquid, a soft brush (baby toothbrush or make-up brush), and a microfibre/lint-free cloth. Pop a silver polishing cloth aside for sterling silver only. If you like, keep some plain 0.9% saline for posts and backs.
Solid Gold (9k/14k/18k)
Solid gold is easy-going. Swish a drop of mild soap into lukewarm water, dip your soft brush and lightly sweep over the front, back and posts. Rinse under a gentle trickle and pat dry with microfibre, then air-dry completely before storing. You can use saline on the posts for a belt-and-braces clean. Skip boiling water, bleach and toothpaste (it’s basically tiny sand).
Gold Vermeil & Gold-Plated
Here, we baby the plating. Make the same mild soapy solution, but don’t soak the jewellery. Instead, dampen your brush or cloth and use feather-light strokes to lift oils around the settings and posts. Wipe with a barely damp cloth, then dry. Avoid alcohol, acetone, ultrasonic cleaners and polish creams — plating and heavy friction are not friends.
Sterling Silver (925)
For simple dullness or light tarnish, a dedicated silver polishing cloth is your MVP: small, even strokes bring back the mirror shine. If there’s everyday gunk (lotion, make-up), give it a quick wash in mild soapy water, soft brush, rinse and dry, then finish with the cloth. Steer clear of liquid “silver dips” if your piece has glued stones, pearls or intentionally oxidised details. Store silver dry, ideally in a zip bag with an anti-tarnish strip to slow future tarnish.
Stainless Steel (316L) & PVD-Coated Stainless
Stainless is the low-maintenance pal of sensitive ears. Use mild soapy water and a soft brush; if there are no stones you can soak it for a minute. Rinse thoroughly and dry well — water spots can dull the look. If it’s PVD-coated, treat it like plated: gentle strokes, no alcohol, no harsh scrubbing.
Gemstones: choose your path
Hard, non-porous stones (diamond, moissanite, sapphire, ruby, CZ) love a soft brush and mild soapy water, especially from behind the setting where oils hide. Rinse gently and blot dry. If the metal is plated, keep the pressure whisper-light.
Delicate or porous beauties (opal, pearl, turquoise, emerald, amber, coral, lapis, malachite) need pampering. No soaking, no chemicals, no ultrasonic. Wipe the stone with a barely damp microfibre cloth. If the metal around it is grubby, touch just the metal with a tiny dab of soapy water on the cloth, then dry immediately. Pearls get a special PSA: last on, first off — and keep perfumes and hairspray at arm’s length.
Posts & backs, quickly
For healed piercings, remove earrings and wipe posts and backs with saline or a little water plus a dot of mild soap. Rinse, then dry completely before wearing again. Trapped moisture is a one-way ticket to irritation. On plated pieces and pearls, avoid alcohol and peroxide — too drying and finish-unfriendly.
Troubleshooting
Green marks on skin? That’s usually copper oxidation from brass or bronze components. Clean gently, keep pieces dry, add a clear hypoallergenic barrier to the posts, or switch to titanium/niobium/stainless for everyday. Cloudy stones are nearly always oil build-up: a soft brush from behind the setting sorts it. Silver cloth turning black isn’t the finish rubbing off — that’s tarnish transferring (a good sign!). Still dull after cleaning? You might be seeing micro-scratches; go gentler and avoid “polishing” plated items.
What not to use (we beg)
Toothpaste or baking soda pastes, bleach, ammonia, acetone, boiling water or steam, and ultrasonic cleaners on plated jewellery, glue-set stones or any porous gems.
Keep it shiny
Make earrings the last step when getting ready so sprays land on you, not them. After wear, a quick wipe with a clean microfibre cloth keeps oils from settling in. Store pieces dry, separate and out of sunlight — soft pouches or a compartment box are perfect — and add anti-tarnish strips for silver. Rotate your favourites; constant friction accelerates plating wear.
Shop the collection
Choose from a range of affordable, quality earrings at FunkyLobes. We offer vegan, hypoallergenic, and bold, statement pieces. Get funky today!