The best way to clean earrings is gently: after wearing, wipe them with a soft, dry cloth and put them away dry, which is almost always enough for fashion jewelry. For stones, links and small corners, add a soft, dry brush.
Caring for fashion jewelry comes down to doing a little, often. The routine below fits even at the end of a long day. For an overview of the shapes themselves, see what types of earrings are there.
How do you clean earrings after wearing them?
The 30-second routine for every evening:
- Take your earrings off before you remove make-up or put on cream.
- Wipe them gently with a soft, lint-free cloth, front and back.
- Put them away dry and separately, for example in a small compartment or pouch.
It has been a long evening, your shoes are already in the hallway, and the earrings are on the nightstand. That is exactly when thirty seconds is easiest: cloth, wipe, put away.
What can you clean earrings with?
Your main tool is a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a dry microfiber cloth or a piece of cotton. For settings, links and corners, a soft, dry brush works well, like a clean make-up brush. That is all you need to keep earrings clean. Keep the cloth right where your earrings live, so it is there in the evening.
How do you care for earrings with stones and zirconia?
A little dust likes to collect in small settings. Brush over them gently with a soft, dry brush, then follow with the cloth. With Esme and her fine row of pavé cubic zirconia, a few light strokes along the links are enough. The next morning, the row catches the light clearly as soon as you turn your head. For how to choose drop earrings with cubic zirconia, see our Esme article.
Do silver-tone and gold-tone jewelry need different care?
The routine is the same for both: a soft cloth, dry and separate storage, perfume first and jewelry second. Our silver-tone pieces like Clara and Esme are rhodium-plated copper alloy with a bright white shine. Gold-tone pairs like Diana, in gold-tone copper alloy, get the same care. With fashion jewelry in general, the plating is a fine surface layer that wears over time, which is why gentle, dry care suits it best. If you wear both, one cloth in the same drawer does the job. For what the labels mean, see which material for earrings. Questions about materials? Message us.
Clara - Petite Heart Necklace
A small polished heart with a smooth, bright surface on a fine chain, silver-tone, rhodium-plated copper alloy. €14.95.
When do perfume, lotion and hairspray go on?
Before your jewelry. Put on perfume, lotion and hairspray first and let them dry for a moment, then put your earrings in. In the evening, the earrings come out first and the night cream goes on last. The order is easy to remember, even on a tired night.
What comes next in earring care?
Why do earrings turn black or look darker over time? It usually comes down to moisture, cosmetics and friction. What is behind it and what helps, you can read there.
Where your earrings go afterwards, in a pouch, a small dish or a drawer, is covered in how to store earrings. Maybe the dish on your nightstand is already waiting.
More to read
- Why do earrings turn black? Causes and what helps
- How to store earrings: sorted, dry and easy to find
Common questions
Can I clean fashion jewelry with water?
A soft, dry cloth is usually enough. If a piece does get wet, pat it thoroughly dry before you put it away.
Why should I put on perfume before jewelry?
Otherwise perfume, lotion and hairspray land straight on the surface. Let them dry for a moment, then put your earrings in.
How often should I clean my earrings?
A quick wipe after each wear. In everyday life you rarely need more, as long as you store them dry and separately.