Clean and care for jewelry, by metal

Most jewelry needs only warm water, a little dish soap, and a soft brush. What changes from metal to metal is what to avoid. Not sure what a piece is made of? Read How to read jewelry stamps or Gold plated, gold filled, or solid gold.

The gentle clean, for almost anything

1. Add a few drops of mild dish soap to a bowl of warm water. GIA says to skip detergents.
2. Soak the piece for a few minutes. Plated pieces shouldn't sit any longer than that.
3. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, getting into the crevices.
4. Rinse in a glass or bowl of clean water, not over an open drain.
5. Dry it right away with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Between cleanings, GIA says a soft cloth is always safe.

What to keep away from every piece

• Chlorine and bleach. GIA says chlorine bleach can pit or damage gold alloys. Take jewelry off before a pool, a hot tub, or household cleaning.
• Abrasives. Toothpaste and some metal polishes can erode metal, according to GIA.
• Lotion, perfume, and hairspray. Jewelers Mutual suggests putting jewelry on last, after everything else.
• Ultrasonic cleaners. GIA warns the vibration can loosen stones, and that filled, coated, and organic gems shouldn't go in one at all.

Sterling silver

Sterling tarnishes. Jewelers Mutual explains that tarnish forms when silver reacts with sulfur, and sweat, body oils, humidity, and household chemicals speed it up. For light tarnish, use the gentle clean above, or a polishing cloth made for silver, which GIA recommends. Jewelers Mutual adds that too much polishing can damage the surface, so polish only when tarnish appears.

For heavy tarnish on plain silver, Jewelers Mutual describes a foil bath: line a bowl with foil, shiny side up, add boiling water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup, and set the silver on the foil for 2 to 5 minutes. Lift it out with tongs, rinse in cold water, and dry. Don't use this method on pieces with gemstones or a coating, including plated and vermeil pieces.

Silver plated

Silver plated jewelry is a base metal with a silver coating. Jewelers Mutual says it scratches and tarnishes easily, so stick with mild soap and water.

Gold plated

The FTC asks only that gold plating be of “reasonable durability.” Unlike vermeil, it sets no minimum thickness. Jewelers Mutual says chlorine, bleach, and cleaning products can break it down and expose the metal underneath. It also says to avoid home remedies like baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and hot water. Use the gentle clean, don't over-soak, and dry the piece as soon as it gets wet. A gold polishing cloth works with light pressure. When plating wears through, a jeweler can replate it.

Vermeil

Under the FTC Jewelry Guides, vermeil is sterling silver plated with gold of at least 10 karats, at least 2.5 microns thick. It's a thicker layer than most plating, but it's still a plated surface, so care for it as you would gold plated, and skip the foil bath.

Gold filled

Jewelers Mutual calls gold filled durable and tarnish resistant, though not indestructible. Clean it with warm water, a few drops of dish soap, and a soft-bristled brush, and keep it away from chlorine and harsh cleaning products.

Solid gold

Gold is soft. GIA says commercial jewelry cleaners are fine for most gold, but if the piece has pearls or porous stones, use warm water and dish soap instead.

Tungsten, ceramic, and other ring metals

GIA says tungsten carbide never needs polishing. To clean it, Jewelers Mutual suggests warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth, plus a soak of a few minutes for a deeper clean. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners, which can damage finishes and inlays. GIA notes that ceramic is tough but can chip and break, so give it its own spot. How titanium, steel, and the rest wear and resize is in Titanium, tungsten, steel, or ceramic.

Storing it

Store pieces apart so they can't scratch each other. GIA suggests an anti-tarnish bag or cloth for sterling, and Jewelers Mutual suggests a soft pouch in a cool, dry place for plated pieces. GIA also recommends having jewelry checked by a jeweler every six months.

If a piece has an NFC tag, resin, or electronics, follow the maker's own care instructions too.

On this shelf

We use each store's own words for materials. The love circle necklace is sterling silver. The EonLuxe bracelet is sterling with 18K gold plating, so treat it as plated. The All heart necklace pairs sterling discs with a gold-filled heart. The favorite book necklace is 24K gold-fill over brass on a gold-plated chain. The sentimental sand pendant is silver- or gold-plated brass. The NFC finger ring is ceramic.

Sources: GIA, Tips on Caring for Jewelry; GIA 4Cs, How to Clean Jewelry and Alternative Jewelry Metals; Jewelers Mutual, How to clean silver jewelry, Does sterling silver tarnish?, How to clean gold-plated jewelry, What is gold-filled jewelry?, and Tungsten rings; FTC Guides for the Jewelry Industry, 16 CFR Part 23, sections 23.3 and 23.4. All read October 22, 2026.

Worried about a rash? Read Jewelry for sensitive skin.