Proven Ways to Clean Jewelry (No Baking Soda Required!)

Co-authored by Kennon Young and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: April 9, 2021 References

If you’re looking to clean your own jewelry at home, you’ve probably stumbled across a lot of DIY jewelry cleaners with baking soda in them. While baking soda is a great way to scrub off tough stains, it can be a little too abrasive on delicate pieces (plus, baking soda can react with certain types of metal and cause discoloration). Fortunately, there are many ways you can clean your silver, gold, or costume jewelry on your own without using baking soda at all.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Jewelry Cleaning FAQs

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Why is it important to figure out what type of jewelry I have? It will help you pick out the right cleaning methods so you don’t hurt or scratch your piece. Silver jewelry is different from gold jewelry, and they’re both different from costume jewelry.^{[1]
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- If you aren’t sure what type of jewelry you have, get it appraised by a professional.
- Real silver jewelry will often be stamped with a small number on the back or inside of the piece.
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Is costume jewelry stronger than normal jewelry? Not necessarily. In fact, since costume jewelry is usually made of weaker materials, it may not hold up as well if you use abrasive or acidic cleaners.^{[2]
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- Oversized or antique jewelry is often costume jewelry.
- While vinegar and lemon juice are often recommended as cleaning products for costume jewelry, they can be too acidic for some older pieces. Stick to mild cleansers, like dish soap, to be safe.
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When should I take my jewelry to a professional? Look for a professional if it’s a really valuable piece or something is broken. Repairing your jewelry on your own is never a good idea, so if there’s a stone missing or loose, find a jewelry store nearby.^{[3]
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- If your piece is really valuable, you shouldn’t try to clean it yourself. If you use the wrong cleaner or materials, you could scratch or damage it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Silver Jewelry

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Use silver wipes to polish while you clean. If your silver jewelry looks tarnished, purchase a package of silver wipes from your local jewelry store. Gently rub the wipes all over your jewelry, using one side to clean and the other side to polish.^{[4]
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- Silver wipes are easier to use than liquid silver polish, so they’re great if you’ve never tried to clean your jewelry before.
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Try dish soap and warm water for a deep clean. Fill a small bowl with warm water and stir in 1 to 2 drops of dish soap until you see suds. Soak your jewelry in the bowl for 5 to 10 minutes, then use a soft toothbrush to clean any dirty areas. Rinse the jewelry with warm water, then dry it off with a polishing cloth.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have a polishing cloth, use a microfiber one instead.
- Stay away from paper towels, as they can be too harsh on your jewelry and might leave scratches.
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Use toothpaste as a mild abrasive to get tarnish off. Grab a bottle of white paste toothpaste (not the gel kind) and dab it onto your jewelry. Rub the paste in with your finger or a soft cloth, then rinse it with warm water.^{[6]
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- Make your jewelry shine again with a polishing cloth once you’re done.
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Store your jewelry in an anti-tarnish bag. Keep it in a cool, dark place when you’re not wearing it to prevent tarnish in the first place. If you live in a humid environment, consider storing your jewelry with silica packets to wick away moisture.^{[7]
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- Try not to store your jewelry in the bathroom. The extra humidity can make silver tarnish much faster.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Gold Jewelry

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Try dish soap and warm water for an easy clean. Mix 1 to 2 drops of dish soap into a bowl of warm water and stir it around. Brush your jewelry with the soapy solution using a baby-soft toothbrush, then rinse it in warm water. When you're finished, dry the piece completely.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.}
- You can use these steps on yellow, white, and rose gold.
- If your jewelry is really old or dirty, soak it in the soapy water solution for 15 to 20 minutes before scrubbing it with the toothbrush.
- You can either towel dry your jewelry with a microfiber cloth or let it air dry.
- Gold jewelry is super soft, so it’s the one metal that you definitely don’t want to use baking soda on. Even if your jewelry is just gold-plated, baking soda can still scratch or mark up your jewelry.
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Shine diamond, ruby, and sapphire gemstone pieces with window cleaner. Mix a 3:1 ratio of hot water and window cleaner in a spray bottle, then spritz your jewelry with the solution. Rinse the jewelry with cold water and dry it off with a microfiber cloth.^{[9]
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- Only do this if your jewelry has a diamond, ruby, or sapphire gemstone—opals, turquoise, pearls, shell, or coral are too soft, and they could be damaged by the ammonia-based cleaner. Stick to dish soap and warm water if your jewelry is too soft for anything else.
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Try an ultrasonic cleaner for a deep clean. Fill your ultrasonic cleaner with a jewelry cleaner, then fill the tank in the back with hot water. Put your jewelry inside and turn it on, then let it run for 1 to 20 minutes depending on how dirty your jewelry is. Take the jewelry out and clean it off with a soft brush to remove any residual dirt.^{[10]
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- Don’t use an ultrasonic cleaner on any jewelry with soft, porous gemstones, like opals, turquoise, pearls, shell, or corals.
- You can find ultrasonic jewelry cleaners online for as little as $40.
- If you wear your jewelry a lot, you can clean it using an ultrasonic cleaner around once a week.
4
Use an ammonia solution to make your jewelry shine. Mix ¹⁄₂ c (120 mL) of clear ammonia with 1 c (240 mL) of warm water. Let your jewelry soak for around 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a microfiber cloth.^{[11]
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- Don’t use ammonia if your jewelry has pearls in it. The harsh chemical can damage soft pearls.
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Store gold jewelry in a jewelry box. When you aren’t wearing your jewelry, keep it protected by putting it in a box or a dresser drawer. Try to keep the humidity low in your home to prevent moisture buildup, too.^{[12]
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- Always take off your jewelry before cleaning, putting on lotion, or going swimming.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Costume Jewelry

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Use dish soap for a gentle clean. Dab a cloth into a mixture of warm water and 1 to 2 drops of dish soap. Carefully wipe down your jewelry pieces, then rinse them in warm water and leave them out to air dry.^{[13]
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- Although costume jewelry is generally less expensive than regular jewelry, it often needs extra care and attention while cleaning because of the many crevices it has. Plus, you can’t be 100% sure what it’s made out of, so use caution with abrasive or acidic materials.
- When you make your mixture, don’t use hot water. If the water is too hot, it could loosen the glue in your jewelry and cause it to fall apart.
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Shine your jewelry with toothpaste. Dab a dot of toothpaste onto your jewelry and use a cloth to buff it in. Wipe the toothpaste off with a clean cloth and rinse it in warm water, then let it air dry.^{[14]
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- Toothpaste is a mild abrasive, so it works well without scratching the surface of your piece.
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Pick out dirt and grime with a toothpick or cotton swab. If you notice any dirt, grime, or discolored green areas (also called verdigris) in your jewelry, grab a toothpick or a cotton swab and gently pry them out of the piece. Go slowly to avoid scratching the surface of your jewelry as you clean it.^{[15]
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- If you can’t get everything out with a cotton swab or toothpick, try a can of compressed air instead.
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Buff your jewelry with a microfiber cloth. Make sure your jewelry is super dry, then grab a clean, dry microfiber towel. Rub your jewelry in a circular motion to buff out marks or lines and make it shine.^{[16]
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Store your jewelry in its original box to keep it safe. When you aren’t wearing your costume jewelry, put it back in the box it came in for the best storage solution. If you don’t have the box anymore, use a jewelry box instead.^{[17]
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- If you’re on a budget, even plastic baggies will work. Make sure they’re sealed all the way to keep moisture and air out.
- If your costume jewelry has silver in it, you may want to store it in an anti-tarnish bag.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What is the best way to clean diamond jewelry?

Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.

Kennon Young

Master Gemologist Appraiser

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

The best bet is to clean it with a mixture of warm water and a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Dip a soft toothbrush in the soapy water and gently scrub the top of the stone, then flip it over and clean the pavilion, or the underside, as well. Then, rinse the jewelry and dry it thoroughly.