How to Clean Costume Jewellery Without Ruining the Plating or Stones

The short answer

Start dry with a soft microfibre cloth. For grime, dip a cotton bud in lukewarm water with a tiny drop of washing-up liquid, clean the metal only, wipe with a clean damp bud and dry at once. Never soak it. Skip toothpaste, bicarbonate of soda, silver dip and ultrasonic cleaners, especially around glued stones.

EVELYSS in a strand of white pearls and baroque pearl drop earrings — Ms. Evelyss, AI-generated fashion muse.

“Costume jewellery is a charming little illusion: thin plating, foil behind the stones, and glue doing more work than anyone admits. Clean it the way you'd blot silk, and those Christmas party earrings will come out sparkling for years.”Her take

What is the safest way to clean costume jewellery?

Start with the gentlest option and only move on if it's needed. A soft microfibre cloth removes most surface dust, skin oil and make-up. A dry, clean soft brush, like a make-up or baby toothbrush, reaches fine settings and chain links.

If there is still grime, mix a small bowl of lukewarm water with a tiny drop of washing-up liquid. Dip the tip of a cotton bud in it, squeeze out the excess and work on one small area at a time. Wipe away the soap with a clean damp bud, and pat dry immediately with a soft cloth.

Don't submerge the piece, even for a minute.
Don't rub any plated area harder than you'd rub your eyelid.
Finish by leaving the piece on a clean towel in open air for at least an hour before you store it.

How do you clean glued stones and foil-backed crystals?

Use a dry cloth or soft brush only wherever you can. Water can seep behind glued stones, weaken the adhesive and turn foil dull or dark. It's far easier to prevent a cloudy stone than to repair one.

Sticky make-up or hair product around a setting can be removed using a barely damp cotton bud, kept on the surrounding metal. Give it a quick dry with the corner of a tissue. Avoid perfume, nail varnish remover and alcohol near stones or glue, because all of them can damage finishes.

What should you never use on costume jewellery?

Most at-home tips for silver don't translate well to costume pieces. Their abrasive or chemical action can remove thin plating, leaving a pale or dark patch you can't polish back.

Toothpaste and bicarbonate of soda: both are abrasive.
Silver dips and metal polishes: they can strip plating and attack base metal.
Bleach, ammonia and strong household cleaners: these damage plating and stones.
Ultrasonic cleaners: vibrations can loosen stones and glue.
Foil and salt methods: designed for solid silver, not for plated or glued pieces.

How do you clean costume jewellery that has turned green?

Green marks are often a sign of corrosion on a copper or brass base metal, and they often appear where plating has worn through. Store the piece apart from your other jewellery, and first try lifting the green crust gently with a wooden cocktail stick. If some remains, lightly dab only the affected bare metal with a cotton bud dampened in white vinegar. Keep it away from stones, enamel, pearls and intact plating.

Remove the vinegar with a clean damp bud, then dry it fully with a soft cloth and wash your hands. Check it before going further: if the mark doesn't move, leave it. Repeated scrubbing can make the worn patch larger. A jeweller may be able to tell you whether re-plating is worthwhile.

How do you clean costume jewellery chains and pearls?

Run a chain through a slightly damp microfibre cloth, then dry it in the same way. For stubborn dirt in the links, a soft brush with a little soapy water on it works on sturdy, unstoned chains. Lay the chain flat on a towel to dry, and check that any spring clasp is dry too.

Imitation pearls have a coating that can flake if you scrub or use chemicals. Wipe them with a soft cloth only. If the coating is already peeling, avoid water, as it can make the damage worse.

How can you keep costume jewellery bright for longer?

Put your jewellery on last and take it off first. Let perfume, hairspray, make-up and body lotion dry before they get near it, and wipe the piece over after a night out, particularly the inside of earring backs and clasps.

Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined box, away from bathroom steam. A small anti-tarnish strip in the box can help, and it helps to fasten chains so they don't knot. Keep it away from swimming pools, hot tubs and showers altogether.

Questions people ask

Can costume jewellery get wet?

Try to keep it dry. Brief contact won't always ruin a piece, but water can damage glued stones and encourage corrosion. Dry it immediately if it gets wet.

How do you make cheap jewellery shiny again?

Wipe it with a dry microfibre cloth, then clean any grime with a slightly soapy cotton bud. If the plating is worn, cleaning won't restore the original finish.

Can I use vinegar on costume jewellery?

Only sparingly on exposed green corrosion, using a damp cotton bud. Never soak the piece or use vinegar near stones, plating or enamel.

Can you clean costume earrings with alcohol?

You can wipe a plain metal post with an alcohol wipe, but keep it away from glue, stones, enamel and coloured finishes. Dry it before wearing.

How often should I clean costume jewellery?

Give it a quick dry wipe after each wear, and only use a damp clean when you can see build-up. Less water means a longer life.

The takeaway

Dry cloth first, a soapy cotton bud on metal only, no soaking, no abrasives, and everything dried and stored separately.

New looks, every day

Her shorts, the Sunday code word for her promo codes, and answers to your questions, on every platform as @msevelyss.

Follow her everywhere → Ask her live →