How to Clean Sterling Silver and Gold-Plated Jewellery at Home (Step-by-Step)
The safest way to clean sterling silver and gold-plated jewellery at home is to soak it for 5–10 minutes in warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid, brush gently with a soft baby toothbrush, rinse, and dry completely with a lint-free cloth.
For tarnished sterling silver, finish with a silver polishing cloth. For gold-plated pieces, skip polishing cloths and abrasives, which can wear the plating away.
Why does silver tarnish and why does plating wear?
Tarnish is a thin dark layer of silver sulphide. It forms when silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air, and it speeds up with humidity, perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, rubber bands and some foods. Tarnish is not damage; it sits on the surface and can be removed.
Gold plating is a very thin layer of gold over a base metal. It does not tarnish in the same way, but friction, sweat, chlorine and harsh cleaners gradually wear it thinner. That is why plated jewellery needs a gentler routine than solid silver.
What you need
- A small bowl of warm (not hot) water
- Mild, unscented washing-up liquid (no lemon or bleach additives)
- A soft baby toothbrush or make-up brush
- A lint-free microfibre cloth
- A silver polishing cloth (for sterling silver only)
- Optional: cotton buds for clasps and settings
Step-by-step: how to clean 925 sterling silver
- Prepare a soak. Add one or two drops of mild washing-up liquid to a bowl of warm water.
- Soak for 5–10 minutes. This loosens skin oils, lotion and dust.
- Brush gently. Use a soft brush along chains, around clasps and on the backs of earrings.
- Rinse. Rinse under lukewarm running water (put the plug in or use a sieve).
- Dry completely. Pat dry with a microfibre cloth, then leave to air-dry for 30 minutes before storing. Trapped moisture speeds up tarnish.
- Polish if tarnished. Rub lightly with a silver polishing cloth using straight, back-and-forth strokes rather than circles.
Step-by-step: how to clean gold-plated and gold vermeil jewellery
- Use the same mild soap soak, but keep it short (2–5 minutes).
- Wipe, don't scrub. Use a soft cloth or cotton bud rather than a brush on flat plated surfaces.
- Rinse quickly in lukewarm water.
- Pat dry immediately and air-dry fully before storing.
- Skip polishing cloths and dips. Silver polishing cloths often contain mild abrasives that remove plating.
Beck Gold Layering Necklace Set925 sterling silver with 18K gold plating. Clean with a soft cloth and mild soap only.
View Beck set →
Alice Sterling Silver Huggie HoopsSterling silver huggies in silver or gold tone. A quick soap soak keeps the hinge moving freely.
View Alice hoops →
Shannon Solitaire PendantSterling silver with a cubic zirconia solitaire. Brush gently behind the stone.
View Shannon pendant →
How to clean jewellery with cubic zirconia or gemstones
Cubic zirconia (CZ) is hard and tolerates a mild soap soak well. Use a soft brush behind the stone, where lotion and soap build up and dull the sparkle. For softer or porous stones such as opal, pearl or turquoise, do not soak at all: wipe with a barely damp cloth and dry straight away.
What not to use on your jewellery
| Avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| Toothpaste | Abrasive; scratches silver and strips plating |
| Baking soda scrubs | Abrasive on polished and plated surfaces |
| Bleach, chlorine and household cleaners | Can pit silver and discolour plating |
| Silver dip solutions on plated or stone-set pieces | Strip plating and can damage stones and oxidised details |
| Ultrasonic cleaners on plated jewellery | Vibration can lift plating and loosen settings |
| Paper towels and tissues | Wood fibres are surprisingly abrasive |
How to store jewellery to prevent tarnish
- Keep pieces separate in soft pouches or a lined box so chains do not tangle and plating does not scratch.
- Limit air and moisture. A small zip bag or airtight box, plus an anti-tarnish strip or silica gel sachet, slows tarnish noticeably.
- Avoid the bathroom. Steam and humidity accelerate tarnish.
- Store chains fastened to prevent knots.
Daily habits that keep jewellery shining
Follow the "last on, first off" rule: put jewellery on after perfume, make-up and hairspray, and take it off before swimming, showering, exercise, cleaning or sleeping. Wiping pieces with a soft cloth after wearing removes skin oils before they build up. Interestingly, wearing sterling silver often helps it stay bright, because gentle friction with skin and clothing slows tarnish.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean sterling silver jewellery?
Wipe it with a soft cloth after each wear and give it a gentle soap-and-water clean every 2–4 weeks if you wear it often. Polish with a silver cloth whenever you notice tarnish.
Can I shower in sterling silver?
It is best not to. Soap residue dulls the finish, and chlorinated or hard water can speed up tarnish and wear down any plating.
Does gold plating come off when you clean it?
Gentle cleaning with mild soap and a soft cloth will not remove plating. Abrasives such as toothpaste, baking soda, polishing cloths and harsh dips will wear it away.
Why does silver turn my skin green or black?
A green or dark mark is usually a harmless reaction between the copper in the alloy, or tarnish, and your sweat, lotions or cosmetics. Cleaning the piece and keeping skin dry usually stops it.
Is it safe to use a homemade foil and baking soda bath?
It works on plain sterling silver, but it removes the deliberately darkened (oxidised) details on some designs and is not suitable for plated or stone-set jewellery. A polishing cloth is the gentler choice.
Key takeaways
- Use warm water, mild soap and a soft brush for almost all jewellery.
- Dry completely before storing; moisture causes tarnish.
- Use a silver polishing cloth on sterling silver only, never on plating.
- Avoid toothpaste, baking soda, bleach and ultrasonic cleaners on plated pieces.
- Store pieces separately and airtight, and follow "last on, first off".
Looking for easy-care pieces? Explore our chain necklaces and silver earrings.
