How to clean men’s earrings

Whether you’re rocking sleek studs, bold hoops, or subtle ear cuffs, keeping them clean is key to maintaining their shine and keeping them hygienic.

The best part? Cleaning your earrings at home is simple and quick. With the right tools and care, your earrings can look brand new every day.

Let’s dive into the cleaning tips for different materials, and the dos and don’ts of earring care.

• Clean regularly.
• Store in a soft pouch or box.
• Remove before swimming, showering, or using sprays.

• Avoid harsh cleaners or brushes.
• Never soak pearls or soft stones.
• Don’t leave earrings wet.

These materials are durable and tarnish resistant, so they’re a breeze to clean. Their colour is usually made with PVD coating, which is the toughest colouring method available.

What you’ll need:

• A small bowl
• Warm water
• Mild dishwashing soap
• A soft cloth or microfibre towel
• A soft-bristled toothbrush (optional)

Steps:

1. Prepare the cleaning solution: Fill a bowl with warm water and mix in a few drops of mild dishwashing soap.
2. Soak the earrings: Submerge the earrings for 5-10 minutes to loosen any dirt or oils.
3. Gently scrub: Use a soft toothbrush to clean any crevices, backs, or details.
4. Rinse and dry: Rinse under clean water and pat dry with a soft towel.

✨ Pro Tip: To keep surgical steel shiny, buff it with a microfibre cloth after cleaning.

Gold earrings are elegant but need extra care to prevent scratches and tarnishing.

What you’ll need:

• A small bowl
• Warm water
• Mild dishwashing soap
• A jewellery polishing cloth or soft lint-free cloth
• A soft-bristled toothbrush

Steps:

• Wipe the earrings: Use a jewellery polishing cloth to remove dirt before cleaning.
• Prepare the cleaning solution: Mix warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap.
• Soak the earrings: Let the earrings sit in the solution for 5 minutes.
• Scrub gently: Use a soft toothbrush to clean details, avoiding too much pressure.
• Rinse and dry: Rinse with clean water and dry completely with a soft towel.

Silver is stunning but prone to tarnishing. A little extra care will bring it back to life.

What you’ll need:

• A small bowl
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• A soft cloth
• A soft-bristled toothbrush

1. Create a paste: Mix baking soda with hot water until it forms a paste.
2. Apply the paste: Rub the paste gently onto the earrings with your fingers or a soft toothbrush.
3. Rinse and dry: Rinse under cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.

✨ Pro Tip: For heavily tarnished silver, soak the earrings in a baking soda solution before scrubbing.

Natural pearls and stones need gentle care to avoid damage. Even hard stones like diamond or zirconia can become loose and fall out if soaked in harsh chemicals.

To prevent permanent damage, never soak these materials.

What you’ll need:

• A soft cloth
• Mild dishwashing soap
• Warm water

Steps:

1. Prepare the cleaning solution: Mix a small amount of mild dishwashing soap with warm water.
2. Wipe gently: Dip the cloth in the solution and gently clean the earrings and stones.
3. Rinse: Use a damp cloth to remove all remaining soap.
4. Dry: Pat the earrings dry with a clean towel.

✨ Pro Tip: Store gemstone earrings in a soft pouch to protect them from scratches.

Sterilising your earrings is essential for preventing infections, especially if you have fresh piercings or wear earrings daily.

What you’ll need:

• Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl)
• Cotton pads or a small bowl
• Clean towel

Steps:

1. Soak the earrings: Submerge them in rubbing alcohol for 5–10 minutes. If the material is delicate, use a cotton pad soaked in alcohol to wipe them instead.
2. Rinse: Rinse with clean water to remove alcohol, especially for materials like wood or natural stones that can be damaged by long exposure.
3. Dry: Pat the earrings dry with a clean towel.

✨ Pro tip: Keep your earrings clean, especially after removing them.

• For healed piercings: Clean your earrings once every 1 – 2 weeks and always before putting them on out of storage.
• For fresh piercings: Clean around the piercing every day without removing it to avoid infection and support proper healing.

💡 Ask your piercer for advice to ensure the best care for fresh piercings.