Jewelry care: how to look after your jewelry every day
Short answer: Jewelry stays looking beautiful for longer when you limit contact with water, perfume, creams, sweat, and unnecessary friction. Take it off before showering, exercising, and cleaning, gently wipe it after use, and always follow the care information for the specific material and coating.
This guide is Lilla Villa's complete guide to daily jewelry care. If you specifically want to know how jewelry should be stored, you can read How to store jewelry correctly.
The 7 most important jewelry care habits
- Take jewelry off before showering, swimming, and cleaning.
- Apply perfume, cream, and hair products before putting on your jewelry.
- Take jewelry off before sports and strenuous physical activity.
- Gently wipe it with a soft, dry cloth after use.
- Store it somewhere dry and preferably separately.
- Avoid unnecessary friction against hard surfaces.
- Always follow the care instructions for the specific piece of jewelry.
Water: when should you take your jewelry off?
Water is not the only thing that can affect jewelry. Soap, shampoo, chlorine, salt water, and minerals can also settle on the surface or affect a coating.
Therefore, the gentlest habit is to take jewelry off before showering, swimming, and prolonged contact with water. This is especially relevant for gold-plated and silver-plated jewelry.
Also read Can you shower while wearing gold-plated jewelry?.
Perfume, cream, and cosmetics
Perfume, body lotion, hand cream, makeup, and hair products can settle on the surface of jewelry. Over time, this can change its shine or affect a coating.
A simple routine is to finish your skincare and perfume first and put on your jewelry last. If a product gets on the jewelry, you can gently wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth.
Sweat, exercise, and physical activity
During sports and other physical activities, jewelry is exposed to both sweat and more friction. Rings can also be knocked against equipment, while chains or earrings can get caught.
Therefore, if practical, take jewelry off before exercising and store it safely until you are finished.
Should you sleep wearing jewelry?
It is often gentler to take jewelry off before bedtime. Chains can become tangled, earrings can be pressed against your skin or bedding, and coated surfaces are exposed to extra friction.
If a particular piece of jewelry is made for continuous wear, follow the manufacturer's instructions for that specific item.
How to clean jewelry gently
For everyday care, a soft, dry cloth is often the safest place to start. Avoid using random cleaning products, toothpaste, or abrasive materials unless the care instructions for the jewelry specifically recommend them.
The method depends on the material, stones, adhesive, enamel, and coating. Advice that works for solid silver does not necessarily work for gold-plated jewelry or jewelry with decorative stones.
Gold-plated and silver-plated jewelry require extra care
Gold plating and silver plating are surface finishes. With normal use, they can gradually be affected by friction, water, sweat, and cosmetics.
This does not mean that the jewelry cannot be worn often, but the more you limit unnecessary exposure, the better you protect the surface.
925 sterling silver and other metals
Materials react differently to air, moisture, skin, and products. 925 sterling silver, for example, can tarnish over time, while jewelry containing copper in the alloy or base can react with sweat and moisture.
If you notice green marks on your skin, you can read Why can silver rings leave a green color on the skin? and How to avoid green marks from jewelry.
Storage is part of care
When jewelry is not being worn, it should be stored somewhere dry and preferably separately, so the pieces do not rub against each other. Necklaces especially benefit from being stored individually, so they do not become tangled.
See our separate guide How to store jewelry correctly: avoid scratches, moisture, and tangling.
A simple morning and evening routine
In the morning: Apply cream, makeup, perfume, and hair products first. Put on your jewelry afterward.
In the evening: Take off your jewelry, gently wipe it with a soft, dry cloth if necessary, and place it in its designated dry spot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to care for gold-plated jewelry?
Limit contact with water, perfume, cream, sweat, and friction. Gently wipe the jewelry after use and store it somewhere dry and separately.
How often should jewelry be cleaned?
There is no single interval that works for all jewelry. Wipe it lightly as needed and follow the specific item's care instructions for more thorough cleaning.
Can you wear perfume when you are wearing jewelry?
Yes, but it is better to apply the perfume first, let it dry, and then put on your jewelry so the surface is not exposed directly to the product.
How do I know what care my jewelry requires?
Check the base material, any coating, stones, and the product's care information. The material should determine cleaning and use rather than one general method for all jewelry.
See more jewelry guides
See our practical jewelry guides or all jewelry at Lilla Villa.
If you are choosing jewelry suitable for everyday wear, you can also read How to choose jewelry for everyday wear?.