Clean pearl earrings by wiping them with a soft, clean cloth after each wear. For a deeper clean, use a cloth dampened in warm, soapy water, wipe again with plain water, and let them dry flat before storing. Never soak them or use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Keep perfume and hairspray off the pearls.
Most pearl cleaning advice assumes a strand of pearls on silk thread. Earrings are different. The pearl sits on a post or inside a small frame of metal, and on some pairs it sits inside a flower of crocheted wire. The cleaning has to suit the pearl, the plating and the wire at the same time.
What is the safest way to clean pearl earrings?
A soft cloth is the safest tool, and it is enough most of the time. The Gemological Institute of America's pearl care guide advises wiping cultured pearls with a very soft, clean cloth after each wearing, and says warm, soapy water is safe for occasional, thorough cleaning. The same guide gives pearl a Mohs hardness of 2.5, which means a pearl scratches easily, so a rough cloth, a brush or a gritty cleaner can mark the surface.
Wipe each pearl with a soft, clean cloth after wearing. For a deeper clean, dampen a corner of the cloth in warm water with a drop of mild soap. Wipe the pearl, then wipe again with a cloth dampened in plain water. Pat dry and leave the pair flat on a towel until fully dry. Store each pair on its own, in a soft pouch.
What should you never use on pearls?
Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, and keep chemicals away. The GIA guide says pearls should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, and that many chemicals and all acids can damage pearl, naming hair spray, perfume, cosmetics and even perspiration. Jewelry dips, toothpaste and baking soda pastes are too harsh for the surface. Soaking is also a risk for earrings, because water can sit around the setting and the glue that holds a pearl on its post.
| Method | Safe for pearl earrings? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Soft dry cloth | Yes, after every wear | Removes skin oil and cosmetics |
| Cloth with warm, soapy water | Yes, now and then | Lifts buildup without soaking |
| Soaking in water | No | Water sits in the setting and around the glue |
| Ultrasonic or steam cleaner | No | Can damage the pearl surface |
| Jewelry dip or toothpaste | No | Acids and abrasives mark the pearl |
How to clean pearls set in crocheted wire
Pearls held inside crocheted wire need a lighter touch, because the wire can bend while you clean the pearl. The figures here are taken from each product page. The Little Flower Pearl Studs set one freshwater cultured pearl inside a small flower of colored copper wire, crocheted by hand, at 1.8 × 1.8 cm and 3 g each, with 18K gold-plated copper fittings on 925 sterling silver posts. The Twin Bloom Pearl Earrings join two ruffled flowers of silver-plated copper wire with a short line of freshwater cultured pearls between them, 4.6 × 3 cm and 5 g each. On both, wipe each pearl with a corner of the cloth and do not rub across the petals, which can catch a loop. If a petal does lift, ease it back with a fingertip.
The Gold-Topped Pearl Earrings are cast and strung, not crocheted. A pearl hangs under a gold shape in 18K gold-plated copper. Most styles carry a baroque pearl. The Pale Gold Knot style carries a glass pearl, which takes the same gentle cleaning. The plated shape above the pearl should be wiped dry too. All pearl pieces are together in the pearls collection.
A baroque pearl is a real pearl with an irregular shape, and what is a baroque pearl explains how that shape forms and why it is not a flaw.
Are glass pearls cleaned the same way?
Yes, with the same soft cloth and the same care with water. A glass pearl has a coating over a glass bead, and that coating can wear or chip if it is rubbed hard or soaked in chemicals. The difference between the two is set out in freshwater pearls vs glass pearls.
How should pearl earrings be stored after cleaning?
Dry, apart and flat. Leave the pair on a towel until no damp is left around the setting, then store each pair in its own soft pouch, away from harder stones and metal that can scratch a pearl. More on keeping pairs apart is in how to store earrings.
FAQ
Why do my pearl earrings look dull?
Skin oil, lotion and makeup leave a film on pearl that dulls its luster. Wiping after each wear usually brings it back. If the surface stays dull after a careful clean, the nacre may be worn, which cleaning cannot repair.
Can you wear pearl earrings in the shower?
It is better not to. Shampoo, soap and hot water reach the pearl and the setting every day, and repeated soaking can loosen the glue on a post. Take pearl earrings off before showering and swimming.
How often should pearl earrings be cleaned?
Wipe them after every wear, and give them a damp, soapy clean only when buildup shows, a few times a year for most pairs. Cleaning more often than that adds wear without adding shine.