If you have a love for body jewelry and piercings, you must have a whole collection of jewelry pieces. Some of them may be your most prized possessions, as you’re wearing them all the time.

Cleaning your jewelry regularly will not only keep it looking great but also protect you from a skin infection. Over time and with continuous use, bacteria can build up on your jewelry, which needs to be thoroughly cleaned. The rule of thumb is to clean your everyday wear jewelry every few weeks.

If you’re wondering how to clean your jewelry, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to check out our step-by-step jewelry reading guide.

1. Wash Your Hands

The first step is to wash your hands properly with warm water and antibacterial soap. Rub in between the fingers and rinse thoroughly. Dry your hands and then get started.

2. Clean the Jewelry

If you have to clean some stored jewelry items, just take them out and put them on a piece of tissue paper. For piercing jewelry, gently remove all the pieces from your body. It’s also a good time to clean the pierced areas with a clean cotton swab soaked in a rock salt solution.

Next, take a cup or bowl and fill it with warm water. Add a few squirts of the antibacterial liquid soap in the water and mix well to prepare a solution. Now put your jewelry pieces in the bowl and leave them for 5 to 6 minutes.

3. Rinse with Hot Water

Take out the jewelry pieces one by one and give them a good rinse under hot running water. Be careful that nothing slips out of your hand. Once rinsed, collect the pieces on a clean and dry cloth.

If the jewelry is large or has too many crevices and grooves, you can use a soft and clean brush to gently scrub it before rinsing with water.

Let the jewelry dry off before you wear it again.

Other Jewelry Cleaning Tips

  • If you own pure gold or titanium pieces (that do not have any other stone embellishments or metals on them), you can sterilize them by putting them in boiling water for a few minutes. These metals are highly stable and won’t get damaged by boiling water.
  • Avoid the use of harsh, chemical-based jewelry cleaners or rubbing alcohol to clean your jewelry. These can damage or tarnish your jewelry.
  • If you have a tongue piecing and want to clean your tongue stud or ring, you can simply rinse your mouth a few times with a mouthwash.
  • Once every few months, you should consider getting your jewelry professionally cleaned and polished.