To clean cheap jewelry, use a gentle solution of warm water and mild dish soap with a soft brush (like a baby toothbrush) for most pieces, but avoid soaking items with glued stones or pearls; for tarnish, a dab of toothpaste or baking soda paste (use cautiously) can help, then rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth to restore shine and prevent damage.
If you'd like to disinfect your jewelry, you can use regular household isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as long as the jewelry is solid gold or platinum and is only set with diamond, ruby, or sapphire. Take care with any other kind of stones and use a gentler form of cleaning.
4 Things You Should Never Use To Clean Jewelry
Baking soda, salt and aluminum foil.
Lay all of your darkened costume jewelry on the foil. Mix one tablespoon salt and one tablespoon of baking soda and mix with one cup warm water. Pour into the dish. The mixture will create a chemical reaction with the foil and bubble as it cleans the jewelry.
Dawn dish soap is specifically formulated to break down oils and dirt without harsh chemicals that could damage delicate materials. This makes it a great option for cleaning gold jewelry, silver jewelry, and even platinum rings.
The 2-1-1 jewelry rule is a styling guideline for balanced accessories, generally meaning two pieces on the hands/wrists, one piece on the neck, and one piece on the ears, or variations focusing on visual weight distribution like two subtle pieces, one medium, and one statement for a cohesive look without clutter. It helps create intentional, effortless style by balancing different accessory types and placement, preventing the "Christmas Tree effect" (too much in one spot).
Mild Soap and Water Solution
This gentle mixture is a simple and safe way to clean most artificial jewellery, especially small pieces like earrings. Add a few drops of mild liquid soap to lukewarm water.
Sweat and Oils: Natural oils and sweat can interact with the base metals in cheap jewelry. Over time, these interactions lead to tarnishing and discoloration.
You should not clean delicate surfaces like electronics, glass (mirrors, screens, cooktops), wood, aluminum, marble/natural stone, painted surfaces, or gold/silver-plated items with baking soda, as its mild abrasiveness can cause scratches, dullness, or damage finishes and patinas. It's best used for tougher grime where its abrasive quality helps, but avoided on anything requiring a delicate touch or specific sealant.
A simple and safe method is to use washing up liquid and warm water and to soak the jewellery for around 10 minutes.
The safest and most recommended at-home jewelry cleaner is a solution of white vinegar and water. However, if your jewelry is heavily stone-studded, reduce the soak time and use a microfiber cloth to pat it dry.
Clean Silver with Dish Soap and Water
Consider swapping harsh polish for this soapy hot water method if you're not dealing with items that are badly tarnished, but rather just look dull and a little lackluster. Simply mix up a bit of dish soap with warm water and dip in a microfiber cloth.
Scrubbing With Toothpaste
Cleaning your jewelry with toothpaste can do more harm than good. Toothpaste is abrasive, meaning it can scratch the gold and loosen the stones. And don't forget, toothpaste is corrosive to metal.
The gleam of sterling or silver-plated jewelry, flatware, and serving pieces is gorgeous, but exposure to air tarnishes silver over time. Instead of commercial silver polishes that contain harsh chemicals, polish silver with baking soda, water and aluminium foil for a fast and easy way to restore the shine.
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are natural, non-toxic products that clean many surfaces in your home. The two products can be safely combined to form a paste or used separately to whiten laundry, remove odors, disinfect surfaces, and much more.
Many methods and tips talk about using toothpaste, baking soda, or coca-cola to clean a diamond ring, but we do not recommend using these types of products which are chemical and too abrasive.
Short answer: For disinfection, the closest like-for-like alternative to isopropyl alcohol is ethanol (ethyl alcohol) at 60–95% for hands and small surfaces. For hard, nonporous surfaces, 3% hydrogen peroxide is another strong option.