How to Polish Your Jewellery at Home: Easy Cleaning Tips

Even the most exquisite jewellery can lose its sparkle over time. Daily wear, dust, sweat, and lotions all gradually dull the brilliance of your cherished rings, necklaces, and bracelets. If you’re wondering how to clean and polish your jewellery at home safely, without risking damage to delicate metals or gemstones, this guide is for you.

We’ll walk you through practical, easy-to-follow steps that anyone can do at home to restore your jewellery’s shine, ensuring your pieces remain dazzling and radiant for years to come.

Why Regular Jewellery Care Matters

Over time, your jewellery can develop a dull film from dirt, sweat, lotions, and environmental exposure, which masks the natural brilliance of metals and gemstones. Regular care is essential because it:

• Restores Brilliance: Polishing removes light tarnish and haze, allowing diamonds and precious metals to reflect light at their brightest.
• Extends Longevity: Routine cleaning eliminates corrosive agents such as chlorine and body acids, helping prevent wear and preserving the integrity of gold alloys and settings.
• Preserves Value: Consistent maintenance safeguards both the sentimental and resale value of your treasured pieces.

With a few simple steps, learning how to polish your jewellery at home becomes easy and an essential part of responsible, lifelong jewellery ownership.

Essential Supplies for Cleaning Your Jewellery

Before you begin, gather the following items to safely clean and polish your jewellery:

• Mild dish soap and warm water: The safest base for cleaning most jewellery without harming metals or gemstones.
• Soft-bristled toothbrush: Perfect for reaching small crevices and intricate settings.
• Microfibre or polishing cloths: Buff and restore shine while preventing scratches.
• Small bowl: Keeps your cleaning solution contained and convenient.
• Optional extras: Ammonia solution for gold or a baking soda paste for silver—use sparingly and carefully.

These essential supplies make it easy to clean and polish your treasured jewellery piece without risking damage.

Step-by-Step: How to Polish Your Jewellery at Home

Bring your beloved jewellery back to dazzling, jaw-dropping sparkle with these simple steps:

Step 1: Create a Gentle Cleaning Solution

Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water in a small bowl. Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or alcohol-based cleaners—they can damage metals and gemstones.

Step 2: Soak Your Jewellery

Place your pieces in the solution for 10–15 minutes to loosen dirt and grime. Rings, chains, and intricate settings benefit most from this gentle soak, which helps remove everyday buildup like sweat, oils, and dust.

Step 3: Brush Gently

Use a soft toothbrush to carefully clean crevices and intricate designs. Light brushing is key; too much pressure can scratch gold or softer gemstones.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry

Rinse your jewellery under lukewarm water. Pat dry with a lint-free or microfiber cloth (avoid paper towels, which can scratch delicate surfaces).

Step 5: Buff to Shine

Finally, use a polishing cloth to gently buff each piece. With a few careful strokes, your rings, necklaces, and bracelets regain their natural shine, leaving them looking fresh, vibrant, and ready to wear.

Jewellery Cleaning Tips by Material

Not all jewellery can withstand the same cleaning methods. To prevent damage and preserve both beauty and value, it’s essential to understand the care requirements for each material in your collection. Following the right approach ensures your pieces stay radiant and last a lifetime.

Gold Jewellery (Yellow, White, Rose)

Gold jewellery is a timeless investment that deserves careful attention to maintain its warm, radiant glow. Whether yellow, white, or rose gold, gentle cleaning preserves both its shine and structural integrity.

• Clean with warm, soapy water and a soft brush to remove daily oils and dirt.
• For white gold, take care not to over-polish, as excessive rubbing can wear down the rhodium plating.
• Buff gently with a microfiber or jewellery polishing cloth to naturally restore shine.

To learn more about maintaining the beauty of your gold pieces, read our full guide on how to clean your gold jewellery at home. 

Silver Jewellery

Silver jewellery is elegant and versatile, but it is more prone to tarnish than gold due to oxidation. Regular care ensures it maintains its bright, reflective surface.

• Silver tends to tarnish faster than gold due to oxidation.
• For stubborn tarnish, use a gentle baking soda paste or a silver-specific polishing cloth.
• Store pieces in anti-tarnish pouches or airtight containers to slow down oxidation and keep them gleaming longer.

Gemstone Jewellery

Gemstone jewellery adds colour and personality, but different stones have varying levels of durability. Knowing how to clean each type safely keeps your gemstones sparkling without risk.

• Non-porous stones like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies can handle soaking and careful brushing.
• Porous stones such as opals, emeralds, or turquoise should only be wiped with a soft, damp cloth to avoid moisture damage.
• Avoid ammonia-based cleaners or ultrasonic machines, which can harm delicate stones.

Pearl Jewellery

Pearls are soft, organic gems that require gentle, consistent care to maintain their natural luster. Proper handling prevents scratches and preserves their smooth, radiant surface.

• Pearls are soft, delicate, and porous so you should never soak them in water.
• After each wear, gently wipe pearls with a damp, lint-free cloth to remove oils and sweat.
• Store pearls separately in fabric-lined cases to avoid scratches or contact with harder jewellery.

Costume & Plated Jewellery

Costume and plated jewellery is beautiful but often delicate, so careful cleaning helps preserve the finish and prevents damage to glued components.

• Avoid soaking in water as this can loosen glued components or damage plating.
• Wipe pieces gently with a soft, damp cloth and dry immediately.
• Buff only with a microfiber cloth and avoid harsh cleaners that may remove plating or tarnish surfaces.

Pro Tips to Keep Your Jewellery Sparkling Longer

• Store each piece separately in soft pouches or lined compartments to prevent scratches and tangling.
• Remove jewellery before swimming, exercising, or applying perfumes, lotions, or hair products to prevent chemical damage.
• Lightly clean frequently worn pieces every 1–2 months to maintain shine and remove buildup.

For a deeper refresh, schedule professional cleaning or polishing once a year, especially for fine jewellery or heirlooms. SK Jewellery offers in-depth polishing to restore lustre and gently remove fine scratches, with services starting from $30. All SK Jewellery pieces also come with complimentary lifelong cleaning—just bring your jewellery and purchase invoice to any store, and our experts will assist you.

By combining simple at-home care with professional services, your jewellery will stay as dazzling and radiant as the day you first wore it.

Keep Your Jewellery Brilliant: Simple Care, Timeless Shine

Keeping your jewellery radiant at home is easier than you think. With gentle care and regular polishing, your pieces can retain their brilliance, beauty, and sentimental value for years to come.

At SK Jewellery, every creation is designed to endure. From sparkling diamond rings to vibrant coloured gemstones, our collections blend timeless elegance with lasting shine, ensuring each piece reflects not just your style, but the memories and moments you cherish most. Explore our collection online or visit our stores to find jewellery crafted to shine for a lifetime.