A pair of earrings attracts more gunk than almost any other piece of jewelry. They pick up hair spray residue, grime from your fingers and face, sweat, and accumulated creams that can lead to dullness, tarnish and even infection. This makes it more important than ever to keep on top of how to clean your earrings.
The good news is that earring cleaning can be done at home with products you likely already have on hand. Vinegar, baking soda and rubbing alcohol are safe and effective ways to disinfect and revitalize any gold or silver piece.
For a quick spruce, try soaking your earrings in a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. This will remove any built-up tarnish and will leave you with sparkling accessories. Another easy option is to form a paste of equal parts cornstarch and water, apply it to your earrings and allow it to dry completely, buffing away any tarnish. This works especially well on sterling silver.
Alternatively, you can boil some water, place your earrings in a bowl or mug and soak them for 20 minutes, then gently scrub them with a soft toothbrush to remove any dirt or tarnish that has settled into the nooks and crannies of the intricate design. Be sure to use a lint-free cloth for this process, since you don’t want to risk attracting any fibers that could scratch the surface of your earrings.
For a more thorough clean, you can also try soaking your earrings in a solution made with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Just be sure to avoid excessively hot water, which can weaken glues used in some embellishments. how to clean earrings