Warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush clean almost any piece of jewelry safely. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners work faster, but they can crack, loosen or discolor many gems, so they are best kept for hard, untreated stones in sound settings. Porous, organic and treated gems need the gentlest handling of all.
The safe default: warm soapy water
This method suits nearly everything except a few porous and organic materials covered below.
- Fill a bowl with warm (not hot) water and add a few drops of mild dish soap without moisturizers or bleach.
- Soak the piece for a few minutes to loosen lotion and skin oils.
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the back of the stone and under the setting, where grime collects and dulls the sparkle.
- Rinse in a bowl of clean warm water rather than over an open drain.
- Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth and let the piece air dry fully before storing.
Diamonds attract grease, and a film on the pavilion makes them look flat. Regular soap-and-water cleaning brings back most of the brilliance described on the diamond optical properties page.
Ultrasonic cleaners
An ultrasonic cleaner uses high-frequency vibration in a liquid to shake dirt loose. It is effective, but the vibration can loosen stones in worn settings, widen existing fractures, and damage stones with cleavage or fillings. Heat from some units adds to the risk.
Ultrasonic cleaning is usually considered safe for:
- untreated diamond, or diamond with no fracture filling and no large feathers
- untreated or heat-only ruby and sapphire
- most gold and platinum jewelry without stones
It should be avoided for:
- emerald, which is almost always oiled or resin-filled
- opal, pearl, amber, coral and other organic or porous materials
- turquoise, lapis lazuli, malachite and other dyed or stabilized stones
- tanzanite, topaz, kunzite and other stones with perfect cleavage
- any fracture-filled, glass-filled, coated or dyed gem
- pave and micro pave, where small stones can be shaken loose
Steam cleaners
Steam cleaners blast dirt away with heat and pressure. Sudden temperature change can crack stones with inclusions or cleavage, and heat can damage fillings, oils and organic materials. Steam suits the same short list of hard, untreated stones as ultrasonic cleaning. Opal, emerald, tanzanite, pearls and treated stones should never be steamed.
Porous, organic and treated gems
Some materials absorb liquids or carry treatments that solvents and heat can undo:
- Pearls: wipe with a soft damp cloth after wearing and let them dry flat. Avoid soaking, which can weaken silk string. Put pearls on after perfume and hairspray. See pearl composition for why nacre is so soft.
- Opal: clean with a damp cloth and mild soap only. Never soak doublets or triplets, as water can get between the layers. The opal page explains more.
- Emerald: warm soapy water and a soft brush, no heat, no ultrasonic and no solvents, which can draw out the oil or resin. See the emerald profile.
- Turquoise, lapis and malachite: wipe clean with a damp cloth. These stones are porous or soft and are often stabilized or dyed.
- Amber and coral: soft cloth and lukewarm water only. Chemicals and perfumes can dull the surface.
The safest rule is to know what treatment a stone has had. The gemstone treatments page lists common treatments by gem along with how stable each one is, and gemstone durability compares hardness and toughness.
Silver and tarnish
Silver tarnishes when it reacts with sulfur compounds in the air, forming a dark silver sulfide film. To clean it:
- Use a silver polishing cloth for light tarnish. It removes the film without much abrasion.
- Wash with warm soapy water first to remove grime.
- Use silver dips sparingly. They work quickly but can strip intentional oxidized finishes and may harm porous stones.
- Avoid toothpaste and baking soda pastes, which are abrasive and can scratch.
Storing silver in a closed bag or a box with anti-tarnish strips slows tarnishing. More detail is on the silver page.
Gold and platinum
Gold and platinum do not tarnish in the way silver does, though low-karat gold can darken a little over time because of its copper and silver content. Soapy water handles most cleaning. Chlorine in pools and household bleach can attack gold alloys and weaken solder joins over time, so take rings off before swimming or cleaning with bleach. Rhodium-plated white gold will slowly show its natural color as plating wears, which cleaning will not fix; a jeweler replates it.
What to avoid
- Toothpaste, baking soda and abrasive powders, which scratch metal and softer stones.
- Bleach, chlorine and ammonia on organic gems, treated stones or low-karat gold.
- Paper towels and tissues, which can leave fibers and fine scratches.
- Boiling water and sudden temperature changes.
- Cleaning over an open drain.
Professional cleaning and checks
A jeweler can clean a piece thoroughly and inspect it at the same time. Many suggest a check about once a year for rings worn daily. They look for worn or bent prongs, thin shanks, loose stones and cracked solder joins. Catching a lifted prong early is far cheaper than replacing a lost stone. The stone setting page explains how each setting style wears.
Storing jewelry
Store pieces separately so harder stones do not scratch softer ones. Diamonds and sapphires can scratch most other gems and metal. Soft pouches or lined boxes with compartments work well. Keep pearls and opals away from very dry heat, and keep organic gems out of strong sunlight.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean diamond rings with dish soap?
Yes. Warm water, a few drops of mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush are the safest everyday method for diamond jewelry.
Is an ultrasonic cleaner safe for all jewelry?
No. It can damage emerald, opal, pearl, tanzanite, treated stones and pave settings. It is generally safe only for hard, untreated stones in secure settings.
How do I clean pearls?
Wipe them with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing and let them dry flat. Do not soak them or use ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
Does toothpaste clean silver?
It removes tarnish but is abrasive and leaves fine scratches. A silver polishing cloth is gentler.
How often should jewelry be professionally cleaned?
Many jewelers suggest a professional cleaning and inspection about once a year for pieces worn daily.