Whether your jewelry is precious, everyday, or somewhere in between, it gets dirty over time. Oil and dander from your skin, dust, build up from hand and dish soap, and even water from washing dishes can all add up to dull and cloudy jewelry that requires cleaning to restore its luster.
For the best results, use a natural jewelry cleaner that’s safe for your metals and gemstones. A jewelry-specific cleaner is ideal because it contains a special formula to clean delicate pieces without causing damage. These include wipes and cloths that remove tarnish, residue, and dullness from silver, gold, and platinum; liquid formulas that gently dissolve tough grime; and foam and dips for a deep clean without the need for rinsing and drying.
You can also use a homemade jewelry cleaner that’s easy on your stones and metals. Simply line a bowl with foil and pour hot water in. Add a little salt, baking soda, and gentle dishwashing liquid to the mixture; then place your jewelry in and let it soak for a few minutes. You can also use vinegar in this method, but be careful not to use it on opals and pearls, which are softer than most metals and may erode or discolor.
An ultrasonic cleaner is another convenient option for quickly scrubbing away grime from multiple pieces of jewelry at once. These small devices resemble rice cookers and work by emitting high-frequency ultrasound waves that create microscopic bubbles that can reach in between crevices and joints. Just add water and your jewelry; then turn on the cleaner. It’s a great choice for hard-to-reach areas like nooks and crannies in diamonds, as well as for removing tarnish from a chain or bracelet.
While it’s tempting to make your own ammoniated jewelry cleaner at home, we recommend taking your treasured pieces to a professional jeweler for an ultimate deep clean and polish. Doing so will ensure your jewelry is safe, and it will be returned to you looking brand new. If you don’t have a budget for a jeweler, check out the Jewelry Cleaner from GH Institute expert Elizabeth Berry (she/her) for an at-home option. It’s affordable and effective; our lab testers loved it for its unique brush design that includes an “ice pick” tip to get under settings, a spade to scrub large-set gems, and a wedge with densely packed bristles that can clean baby diamonds.
Elizabeth Berry is the Updates Editor for the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. She has over three years of experience testing and writing about products, with a particular focus on beauty and home care. Elizabeth is a Certified Jewelry Professional and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
The products included in this guide were independently selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute. Experts from the GH Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab regularly test jewelry cleaners, evaluating their performance, ease of use, and ingredient labels to curate this guide.
