Make your earrings shine again by following these simple cleaning tips

Whether worn frequently or not, earrings tend to become tarnished and dull over time: the tarnish can be caused by touch transfer (of natural body oils); but sometimes it is also due to the passage of time, and how you store your earrings. It goes without saying, then, that from time to time, you will need to clean your earrings to restore them to pristine condition.

It's simple to do this and you can take care of it at home. Read on to find out more:

How often should earrings be cleaned?

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The cleaning frequency for earrings depends on how you use them:

• If you wear them daily, it is best to clean them about once a month;
• If you rarely wear them, it will depend on where you keep them: those kept in jewelry boxes need cleaning very rarely and only when you can see dirt build-up and/or tarnish;
• However, if the earrings are kept out in the open - exposed to dust and other pollutants - they will have to be cleaned more often.

It is also advisable to clean jewelery that you will be wearing for the first time - after purchasing them in a shop, for example.

How to clean earrings at home

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At home, you can probably find everything you need to clean your earrings. These are products suitable for metal earrings - even expensive ones. That said, if your earrings are expensive and precious, consult an expert first.

For cleaning earrings at home, all you need is:

• A small bowl of warm water;
• Organic dish detergent (or Marseille soap);
• A soft bristled toothbrush;
• A soft cloth;
• A polishing cloth (or those used to clean glasses);
• A fine mesh strainer.

Here's to proceed:

• Pour a couple of drops of detergent into the bowl of warm water;
• Immerse the earrings in the water and leave them to soak for 10 minutes;
• With the toothbrush, remove any visible dirt (especially in crevices and joints, and on the back - where more oils, sweat or dead skin cells accumulate);
• Place the earrings in the strainer and rinse off;
• Wipe with a soft cloth, rubbing gently;
• Rinse off again in the strainer;
• Dry with the polishing cloth.

What if the dirt and grime is difficult to remove?

In the case of stubborn dirt and grime, try using alcohol vinegar.

You just need to add some to the bowl of water (one part vinegar, two parts water) and immerse the earrings in this solution. After half an hour, first use the soft cloth and then the toothbrush to rub/scrub away all the stubborn dirt and grime. Rinse off and dry thoroughly.

If you also want to disinfect your earrings, then get some cotton balls and pour some hydrogen peroxide on them. Then, rub the soaked cotton balls over the earrings, ensuring contact for a couple of minutes. Thereafter take a dry, lint-free cloth and dry the earrings thoroughly wll.

Your earrings will now be clean and sanitized!