Exactly How to Clean Those Diamond Earrings You Wear Constantly
You've probably got a lot of extra time on your hands right now (just a guess). So, if you're looking for something to keep you busy, there are tons of fashion tutorials and DIY tips you can try, like cleaning your white Vans, applying some cute iron-on patches to your clothes, tie-dyeing your own colorful sweatsuit, and even cleaning your own diamond earrings. You know, the ones that you most likely haven't deep cleaned since God knows when? (Mostly @-ing myself here 😬.)
Everyday diamond earrings are easy to leave in your lobes and almost never take out. Buuuut, wearing them daily, not removing them to take a shower or bath, or when applying hair products and sprays are just some common ways they get dirty and dull, says Alison Chemla, Creative Director and Designer of Alison Lou. "You would be surprised how quickly the dirt can build up!" Ileana Makri, jewelry designer of her namesake line and Creative Director of Reinstein Ross, also says face cream, hand cream, sweat, and any type of oils can cloud the brilliance if they come into contact with your earrings.
Below are some super simple cleaning tips you can use at home to give your sparkly jewelry a lil extra shine and TLC.
Just Some Pretty Diamond Studs and Huggies to Stare At
How do you clean diamond earrings at home?
First thing's first: Get your supplies! All you'll need is a small bowl, some mild liquid detergent, warm water, and a small, soft-bristled brush. Easy, right?
Fill the bowl with warm (not hot!) water and add a in a small amount of liquid soap. Six parts water and one part ammonia also works as a replacement for dish soap, says Makri.
Carefully swirl until the mixture is combined, and add in the earrings you want to clean. Make sure any plugs are stopped if you're doing this by a sink!
Once the pieces have soaked for a bit (~5 minutes), pick one up at a time and start gently scrubbing with a soft toothbrush, getting into as many of the crevices as you can.
After brushing the pieces, rinse them under water to get any residue off, and set them on a towel or cloth to dry.
But if you don't want to do through all the work of DIY-ing, a simple jewelry cleaner that you can drop your earrings into for a minute can be the easiest way to go, says Chemla. Just read the descriptions to ensure it's right for your specific jewelry.
Shop Jewelry Cleaners and Solutions
Can you clean diamond earrings with toothpaste or rubbing alcohol?
Some experts say you can clean diamond earrings using toothpaste and a toothbrush, brushing the stones like you would your teeth, but others warn this method could potentially be abrasive. If you're *really* desperate to clean your earrings if you don't have dish soap for whatever reason, you can try this method and scrub gently, but don't make it a habit.
Rubbing alcohol is another common household supply people tend to recommend for cleaning earrings, but be cautious! "It can dull your stones, so I would not suggest this," says Chemla.
What if your earrings have other materials besides diamonds?
Makri says there's no difference in cleaning your diamond earrings whether they're studs, hoops, huggies, or have a drop pendant. The above method generally works for all styles. But if it has other materials like pearls or natural stones, Chemla says to be careful. Make sure the solution you're cleaning them in isn't too hot or too cold (e.g., the surface of pearls can be damaged if the temperature is too extreme), but they'll generally be okay with gentle soap and water.
How often should you clean your diamond earrings?
There's no hard-and-fast rule, but Chemla suggests once a month or "if you have something special coming up and want them to be extra shiny." (Or, you know, if you just want your coworkers to notice 'em over your Zoom calls.) Makri also says if you're using more hand cream than usual these days, avoid touching your earrings every day because that dulls them fast—which means you'd be cleaning them more often than needed.
When should they be professionally cleaned?
If you can’t get into the setting and there's build up in the nooks and crannies, it doesn’t hurt to get them professionally cleaned. "Getting your good pieces cleaned professionally once a year is a great way to maintain the beauty," according to Chemla.
Speaking of beauty, more earrings to look at just because
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