How to Clean Jade

Last Updated: March 24, 2020 References

Jade is the common name given to two distinct minerals: nephrite and jadeite. General care is the same for both materials, and both are fairly tough and durable.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Gemological Institute of America
Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards
Go to source} Clean your jade with warm, soapy water and a soft brush once a week or whenever it becomes dirty. To remove more stubborn grime, try using a bit of ammonia to make a stronger cleaning solution. After rinsing and thoroughly drying your piece, polish it to keep its luster. You can use a jewelry polishing cloth or try wiping it with a lint-free cloth dabbed in canola oil.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Light Surface Dirt

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Mix together warm water and mild soap. Fill a bowl that’s large enough to contain your jade piece with warm water. Add two or three drops of mild, alcohol-free dish or hand soap, then mix until the soap has dissolved completely.^{[2]
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- Warm, soapy water is your safest option. Avoid alcohol and harsh chemicals.
- Find out if there are any types of treatments on your jade. Extra care needs to be taken when cleaning treated jadeite. Use of chemicals or hot liquids may cause damage to it appearance.
2
Soak and gently scrub your jade. Place your jade piece in the solution-filled bowl and let it soak for up to one minute. Scrub the piece gently with a soft brush or microfiber towel. Use small, circular motions and avoid pressing too hard.^{[3]
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Use a soft-bristled toothbrush for tight spaces. If you’re cleaning a ring or other piece of jewelry with tight spaces, you can use a toothbrush to clean out nooks and crannies. Dip the brush in the cleaning solution and gently scrub around the setting.^{[4]
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Rinse the piece under warm water. After you’ve washed your jade, rinse off any soap residue under warm, running water. Try to keep the running water around the same temperature as the cleaning solution.^{[5]
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- When cleaning jewelry at home, you should avoid sudden radical temperature changes.

Part 2

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Removing Heavy Grime

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Mix soap and water with ammonia. Dilute a small amount of ammonia in your solution if you need to remove more stubborn grime. Combine eight parts water, one part soap, and one part ammonia, then mix the solution until it’s fully dissolved.^{[6]
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- If you’re cleaning a piece of jewelry, make sure ammonia won’t harm its other gems or metals.
- Be sure to know that your jade has not been treated. Cleaning jade that has been treated with ammonia can cause damage to its appearance.
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Scrub your jade gently. Use your soft brush or microfiber towel to gently scrub your jade piece. Remember to use small, circular motions. Rinse your piece under warm water after scrubbing if you’ve successfully removed the grime.^{[7]
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3
Use a toothpick to carefully pick out debris. Sometimes debris or mineral deposits can accumulate in small crevices. If you have trouble flushing them out with a cleaning solution or toothbrush, try to carefully pick them out using a toothpick. Go slowly and take care not to damage any settings or prongs.^{[8]
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Part 3

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Drying and Polishing Jade

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Shake off excess water and gently towel dry. After rinsing, shake or blow off any excess water. Use a dry microfiber towel or other soft, lint-free cloth to dry the piece completely. Avoid harsh cloths or rags, and don’t press too hard as you hand dry your piece.^{[9]
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Try soaking a piece of jewelry in maple wood chips. Drying a ring or necklace in maple wood chips will prevent liquid stains on its metal setting. Cover the piece in a bed of dry maple wood chips, then blow them away once the piece is completely dry.^{[10]
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- This drying method works best for jewelry pieces with large stones.
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Polish the stone when it’s completely dry. Once your piece is completely dry, you can polish it with a store-bought jewelry polishing cloth.^{[11]
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Research source} Alternatively, you can dab a bit of canola oil on a lint-free cloth and rub the stone with it. Let the oil sit for five to ten minutes, then wipe it off with a clean, dry cloth.^{[12]
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- Alternatively, you can wax your jade piece using white candle wax as they are done traditionally. Waxing prevents body oil,dirt and grime from entering the porous surface. Using canola oil would allow dirt to stick to the surface easier and will require frequent cleaning.
EXPERT TIP

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist
Jerry Ehrenwald, GG, ASA, is a graduate gemologist in New York City. He is the previous President of the International Gemological Institute and the inventor of U.S.-patented Laserscribe℠, a means of laser inscribing onto a diamond a unique indicia, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number). He is a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York, a social club limited to 200 of the most accomplished individuals in the jewelry business.

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Did You Know? If the stone has fibrous veins or air bubbles in the interior it is typically counterfeit. The best way to check to see if your jade is not real is to hold the stone to the light and look for irregularities.