To clean diamond earrings, soak them in water with liquid soap for 30 minutes. Scrub them with a soft toothbrush, rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth.
- Combine liquid soap with lukewarm water in a bowl
- Soak earrings in the bowl for 30 minutes
- Scrub them with a soft toothbrush
- Rinse earrings with warm water
- Dry with a lint-free cloth
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Diamonds are a girl’s (and guy’s) best friend. They add a touch of class and luxury to our wardrobes and lives and become some of our most prized possessions. So, it would only make sense for us to want to take the very best care of the most expensive items in our jewelry box.
In this post, we’ll talk about how to clean diamond earrings at home, and all the things you can do to make them literally shine bright like a diamond! This way, they always look their best and last as long as they should.
Why Clean Diamond Earrings?
Even if your diamond earrings don’t form a part of your daily wardrobe, it’s still important to clean them now and then. Everyone who wears earrings regularly knows how bad they can smell if they aren’t cleaned.
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Your sweat is one of the main contributors to the bad earring smell. This sweat accumulates on your earring and combines with things like dead skin cells, yeast, the products you use on your face and in your hair, and bacteria.
This makes for a pretty nasty combination when allowed to go unchecked. And, if your ears are freshly pierced, it becomes even worse and puts you at risk of infection.
Cheap earrings tend to get even cheesier. The materials used to create them interact poorly with the delicate skin around the ears. But, this doesn’t mean your pricey diamond earrings are exempt from getting dirty.
Diamond earrings, in particular the back and base, whether silver, gold, or even gold-plated, can have a build-up of dirt and grime. This build-up carries an unpleasant odor and causes the diamonds to get dull or dim. Clean diamond jewelry to make sure they look and smell as good as the day you got them.
How to Clean Diamond Earrings at Home
Use Unscented Liquid Soap
A lot of people avoid cleaning their diamond earrings at home in fear of damaging or ruining them. The truth is, you don’t have to have your diamond earrings professionally cleaned all the time. You can use things you already have at home to get the job done.
Here are 5 easy steps to clean your diamond earrings:
You will need:
- A bowl
- Liquid soap (can be dish soap)
- Warm water (not hot water)
- Soft toothbrush
Step 1: Combine the soap with warm water in your bowl at a ratio of 1 cup of water to 2 drops of soap until there are bubbles. The soap should be mild and unscented. It should not contain any bleach, dyes, or harsh chemicals that could damage your diamond jewelry.
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Step 2: Place your earrings in the bowl and let it sit for 20-40 minutes. This will help to soak away any stubborn bits of grime and give you better results.
Step 3: Next, use the soft toothbrush to give them a gentle scrub. Try to get into all the crevices for a good clean. Allow the earrings to soak for another 5 minutes if the oil and dirt are stubborn, then scrub again.
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Step 4: Remove your earrings from the solution and rinse with warm water. (Use a flat surface, away from your drain. We wouldn’t want you to lose them!)
Step 5: Allow your earrings to air dry on a safe, flat surface. Do not use paper towels or any abrasive cloths to wipe it dry as this can cause scratches. Use a soft cloth to clean your jewelry.
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For best results, clean diamond jewelry during the daytime or in bright lighting.
Use Other Cleaning agents
According to the experts, using mild soap (dish soap for example) and warm water is the safest way to clean diamond jewelry at home. Yet, people have been using other cleaning agents on their diamonds in hope of better results.
We strongly advise against this. If they are too dirty, and lukewarm water and soap don’t do the trick, have them professionally cleaned.
- Vodka- If you’re in a pinch, and vodka is the only thing on this planet that you can get your hands on, it still isn’t a good idea.
- Toothpaste- People tend to brush their earrings like their teeth when using toothpaste. This is too aggressive. Toothpaste can damage the setting or base of your earrings. Many of them contain scrubbing particles for polishing teeth and whitening agents.
- Windex- Recently, a lot of people have been using Windex to clean diamond earrings at home. The purpose is to improve shine. While this may work, Windex is for cleaning glass and windows, not diamonds.
- Club soda- Club soda is great at getting stains out of carpets and loosening rusted bolts and nuts. Don’t leave your diamond jewelry soaking overnight in it. This can damage the base or mount of the earrings.
Avoid These Cleaning agents to Clean your Diamond Earrings
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- Ammonia- Ammonia is often used for cleaning jewelry, but do not use it to clean your diamond earrings at home. You may get the proportions off, and when mixed wrong, it becomes a hazard. Ammonia also has the potential to damage clarity-enhanced diamonds.
- Bicarbonate of Soda- Baking soda is too abrasive and can scratch your earrings.
- Hydrogen Peroxide- Peroxide with no tint is another popular alternative. If your earrings contain materials like sterling silver, they will begin to oxidize quickly and they will become ruined.
- Rubbing alcohol- This can cause your stones to become dull.
Many people use these cleaning agents and their jewelry turns out fine. You may not have the same luck. Diamond earrings with other gemstones like pearls, they will ruin if they come in contact with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.
How to Use an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Image via Magnasonic
Consider using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner at home if you have too much jewelry in your jewelry box to clean. These devices work by sending vibrating sound waves through tap water to loosen and remove dirt and oils from jewelry.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are safe for most types of jewelry and do a great job at removing impurities. You can get a decent one for as little as $40 and the price increases as capacity and capability increase.
Pros of ultrasonic jewelry cleaners
- Affordable
- Safe for many types of jewelry
- Can clean many pieces of jewelry at once
Cons of ultrasonic cleaners
- Can tarnish porous organic gems and other precious stones. E.g pearls, opal, turquoise, topaz, etc. under 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale
- Can’t remove tarnishes on silver
Interested in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner? Check out this easy-to-operate Magnasonic Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner It has 5-preset cleaning cycles, auto-shut feature, and 20oz capacity.
Compare this with this Steamfast SF-1000 JULE Steam Jewelry Cleaner. It cleans diamond earrings and improves shine.
Get a Professional Jewelry Cleaning Experience at Home with Jewelry Cleaning Kits
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Jewelry cleaning kits come with a jewelry cleaning solution and cleaning accessories like brushes and trays to give you a professional cleaning experience at home. Before you buy a jewelry cleaning kit for your diamond earrings, make sure it is suitable for cleaning diamonds.
Pros of jewelry cleaning kits
- Near-professional results at home
- Includes tools suited for jewelry cleaning
- Affordable
Cons of jewelry cleaning kits
- May tarnish plated jewelry
This Complete Jewelry Cleaning Kit Polishing contains an ammonia-free jewelry cleaning solution. It is gentle on all metals and precious stones, even pearl, opal, turquoise, onyx, emerald, amber, and coral.
The Connoisseurs Diamond Dazzle Kit keeps your diamond earrings dazzling on the go without having to haul a clunky cleaner with you! At only $5, it outperforms and out-conveniences many jewelry cleaning kits on the market today!
10 Tips to Protect Your Diamond Jewelry
- Avoid touching your earrings, especially after using hand creams and lotions.
- Get your earrings professionally cleaned at least twice a year. You can clean them yourself at home once a month.
- Don’t wear your diamond earrings during activities that involve sweat or dirt.
- Store your diamond earrings in a jewelry box to avoid scratches, or worse, losing them.
- Upgrade your earring backings from push backs to screw backs to keep them securely in your ears. Lever backs are a more secure option for hoops and diamond earrings that dangle.
- Don’t wash your face or hair with your diamond jewelry in to prevent them from falling down the drain.
- Avoid any harsh products and materials that may tarnish your earrings.
- Remove your earrings when applying makeup, face creams, sunscreen, hairspray, perfumes, etc.
- Don’t use your ultrasonic cleaner on earrings that have loose parts or damage.
- Don’t wear your diamond earrings to bed.
FAQS about How to Clean Diamond Earrings
Q. How Can I Make My Diamond Earrings Sparkle again?
A. The best way to make your diamond jewelry sparkle again is to bring them to an expert. Having them professionally cleaned will restore them to their former glory.
Q. How Do You Clean Gunk off Diamond Earrings?
A. Soak your diamond earrings in warm water and mild, unscented soap for 20-40 minutes, then use a soft toothbrush to get rid of stubborn gunk. Be gentle to avoid scratching your diamond earrings.
Q. Can You Clean Diamond Jewelry With alcohol?
A. Rubbing alcohol? No. Vodka, beer, and other forms of alcohol? Still no.
Q. Can I Soak My Diamond Earrings in Hydrogen peroxide?
A. No. It is harsh on certain metals like sterling silver and can ruin the overall appearance of your earrings.
Q. What Can You Soak Diamond Earrings in?
A. You may soak your diamond jewelry in a solution of warm water and mild, unscented soap.
Q. Can You Clean Your Diamond Earrings With Vinegar?
A. Vinegar is acidic and can do more harm than good. If you’re ever unsure about any cleaning agent, consult a professional.