Jewelry care: how to look after your jewelry every day
https://lillavilla.dk/blogs/tips-og-rad/hvordan-passer-du-bedst-pa-dine-smykker-i-hverdagen
Short answer: Jewelry stays looking its best 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 everyday jewelry care. If you specifically want to know how to store jewelry, 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 jewelry.
- Take jewelry off before sports and strenuous physical activity.
- Gently wipe it with a soft, dry cloth after use.
- Store it in a dry place 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 isn’t the only thing that can affect jewelry. Soap, shampoo, chlorine, salt water, and minerals can also build up on the surface or affect a coating.
So 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 with gold-plated jewelry?.
Perfume, cream, and cosmetics
Perfume, body lotion, hand cream, makeup, and hair products can build up on the surface of your jewelry. Over time, this can change its shine or affect a coating.
A simple routine is to finish your skincare and apply perfume first, then put your jewelry on last. If a product gets on your jewelry, 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 get knocked against equipment, and chains or earrings can get caught.
So, if practical, take jewelry off before exercising and store it safely until you’re done.
Should you sleep with jewelry on?
It is often gentler to take jewelry off before bed. Chains can tangle, earrings can press against your skin or bedding, and plated surfaces are exposed to extra friction.
If a particular piece is designed 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 starting point. Avoid using random cleaning products, toothpaste, or abrasive materials unless the jewelry’s care instructions specifically recommend them.
The method depends on the material, stones, glue, enamel, and coating. Advice that works for solid silver does not necessarily work for a gold-plated piece or jewelry with decorative stones.
Gold-plated and silver-plated jewelry requires extra care
Gold plating and silver plating are surface finishes. With normal wear, they can gradually be affected by friction, water, sweat, and cosmetics.
This doesn’t mean the jewelry can’t 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 can tarnish over time, for example, while jewelry with copper in the alloy or base may react with sweat and moisture.
If you notice green marks on your skin, you can read Why can silver rings leave green marks on your skin? and How to prevent jewelry from leaving green marks.
Storage is part of jewelry care
When not being worn, jewelry should be kept somewhere dry and preferably separate, so the pieces don’t rub against each other. Necklaces especially benefit from being stored individually to prevent tangling.
See our separate guide How to store jewelry properly: prevent scratches, moisture, and tangles.
A simple morning and evening routine
In the morning: Apply lotion, 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 needed, and put it in its usual dry place.
Frequently asked questions
How do you best care for gold-plated jewelry?
Limit contact with water, perfume, lotion, sweat, and friction. Gently wipe the jewelry after wearing it and store it somewhere dry and separate.
How often should jewelry be cleaned?
There is no single interval that works for all jewelry. Wipe it gently as needed, and follow the specific item’s care instructions for more thorough cleaning.
Can you wear perfume when you have jewelry on?
Yes, but it’s best to apply perfume first, let it dry, and then put on your jewelry so the surface isn’t directly exposed to the product.
How do I know what care my jewelry requires?
Check the base material, any plating, stones, and the product’s care instructions. The material should determine how to clean and wear it, rather than using one general method for all jewelry.
See more jewelry guides
See our practical jewelry guides or all jewelry from Lilla Villa.
If you need to choose jewelry for everyday wear, you can also read How do you choose jewelry for everyday wear?.