How to Clean Diamond Earrings and Keep Them Shining

The good news? Cleaning earrings at home is easier than you think. No lab coats or gemstone jargon required—just a few everyday materials, a gentle method, and a little know-how. This guide will walk you through how to clean diamond earrings safely, how often to clean them, and how to prevent build-up, grime, and tarnish that can dim your sparkle.

Let’s get into it.

Why Cleaning Earrings Matters

We wear our jewelry like second skin — through workouts, work calls, dinner reservations, and everything in between. That’s exactly how Jennifer designed her pieces: to be worn, not locked away. As the "Queen of Hoops" once said:

“I never wanted to be that jewelry designer that makes a piece of jewelry that you’re going to wear once and put in your safe for another six months and not wear again. I want to be on your dish on your night stand…” – Jennifer Fisher, The New York Times

And just like your favorite denim or signature fragrance, diamond earrings need care to stay looking and feeling their best.

Maintain the Shine

Diamonds may be tough, but they’re not immune to the buildup of real life. Natural oils from your skin, hair products, face serums, and even city air can dull their sparkle over time. The secret to maintaining the sparkle? Clean earrings regularly, every two to three weeks to maintain that mirror-like shine.

Even the best diamonds can lose their edge if neglected. The difference between “meh” and “wow” often comes down to a quick soak and polish.

Protect the Metal

It’s not just about the stones. Whether you’re wearing gold earrings, sterling silver, or a mix of metals, the settings deserve just as much love. Dirt, grime, and even sweat can cling to the metal, leading to tarnish or even long-term damage if not cleaned well.

Keeping the metal clean also helps you avoid buildup around the posts and backs, right where your ears come into contact with the jewelry. A little care goes a long way in preventing skin irritation and keeping your pieces wearable every day.

Prevent Build-Up

If you’ve ever gone months without cleaning your earrings (no judgment here), you’ve probably seen that stubborn grime that won’t budge, no matter how much you scrub. That’s the kind of dirt that creeps in quietly and overstays its welcome.

Cleaning your diamond earrings regularly helps prevent that invisible layer of buildup from forming. And trust us—once it’s there, it’s much harder to remove without risking damage to the metal or gemstones. Stay ahead of it with a simple home method that’s as easy as your Sunday skincare routine.

What You’ll Need to Clean Your Diamond Earrings

Before you start cleaning your diamond earrings, gather the essentials. These aren’t complicated materials, just simple, gentle tools that are probably already hanging out under your sink.

Cleaning Tools

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A small bowl
• Warm water (not scalding hot, your fingers should still feel comfy)
• Mild dish soap (nothing with bleach, dye, or citrus)
• A soft-bristled toothbrush (a baby toothbrush or an unused clean one works best)
• A soft cloth or microfiber towel to dry
• A jewelry polishing cloth (optional, but great for extra shine)

If you’re cleaning silver earrings or pieces made with sterling silver, you’ll want to make sure the soap you use is especially gentle. Avoid anything that claims to “remove tarnish instantly”, those tend to be too harsh for delicate settings.

Take a Gentle Approach

Diamond earrings may look tough, but they’re still jewelry, and that means treating them with care. Skip harsh cleaners like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or rubbing alcohol unless you’re sure the earrings can handle them.

Some online cleaning hacks recommend using vinegar, toothpaste, or even abrasive brushes. Don’t. These might seem effective in the moment but can cause micro-damage to the setting or loosen the stone over time.

Instead, think of your earrings the way you think about your skin: if it’s too rough, it’s probably doing more harm than good.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Diamond Earrings

You don’t need a degree in gemology to clean diamond earrings at home. You just need a little time, some warm water, and a gentle hand.

Here’s you can properly clean your diamond earrings from the comfort of your home:

Step 1: Mix the Cleaning Solution

In your bowl, combine a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water. Stir gently with your fingers or a spoon until it forms a soapy solution. This will be your cleaning base. It's simple, safe, and effective.

Step 2: Soak the Earrings

Drop your earrings into the solution and let them soak for 15–20 minutes. This loosens any oils, dirt, or grime that’s clinging to the diamonds or the settings. While they soak, take a beat. Refill your coffee. Put on a playlist. This part does the heavy lifting for you!

Step 3: Gently Scrub the Earrings

After soaking, use your toothbrush to gently scrub the earrings. Focus on the hard-to-reach spots, like the backs of the settings, around the posts, and under the diamonds where dirt loves to hide.

Use a soft, circular motion. Don’t press too hard or you could scratch the metal or dislodge a stone. Think of it like brushing your lashes: gentle and intentional.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry

Rinse the earrings thoroughly in clean, warm water to remove all soap residue. Don’t skip this step, even a little leftover soap can attract more dirt.

Then, pat them dry with a lint-free soft cloth. A microfiber towel or soft cotton works best here. Avoid tissues or paper towels, they can leave behind fibers or cause micro-scratches.

Step 5: Polish for Extra Shine

If you’ve got a jewelry polishing cloth on hand, give your earrings a quick once-over to restore that sparkle. While it's not essential, it’s still a lovely finishing touch, like adding gloss after lip balm.

This method works on most clean diamond earrings, whether they’re gold, silver, or sterling silver. For pieces that feature gemstones or pearls, be extra cautious, those materials require special care.

Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Your Diamond Earrings

Even the best intentions can backfire when it comes to jewelry care. Here’s how to keep your earrings clean, without damaging them in the process.

Steer Clear of Harsh Chemicals

We get it, when you want your earrings to sparkle, reaching for bleach, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide might sound like a good shortcut. But these can actually strip the finish off your metals or dull the surface of your diamonds over time.

So, make sure to avoid using similar items like:

• Ammonia
• Bleach
• Baking soda
• Toothpaste
• Harsh commercial cleaners not designed for fine jewelry

These might disinfect, sure, but they also increase the risk of long-term damage to the setting. When in doubt, skip it.

Don’t Over-Scrub

It’s tempting to go in with the brush like you’re scrubbing a cast iron pan. But resist. Too much force can loosen settings, scratch the metal, or even push dirt deeper into the crevices. The goal is to gently remove buildup, not to polish your way into a repair bill.

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a light hand, especially on delicate areas like prongs or posts.

Regular Cleaning is Key

One of the best ways to avoid damage? Stay consistent. Clean your earrings regularly, every couple of weeks, to avoid thick grime that’s harder to remove and more likely to cause wear.

If you’re wearing your earrings daily (and we hope you are), treat them like you would your favorite white tee or your go-to makeup brushes. They deserve that same level of care.

When to Take Your Earrings to a Professional

Sometimes your earrings just need more than a quick soak, and that’s totally normal. Knowing when to call in a pro can help protect your favorite pieces for years to come.

Signs You Might Need a Professional Cleaning

Even after a thorough at-home method, if your earrings still look dull, or the diamond seems cloudy, it’s probably time for a deeper clean.

Also, if you notice:

• A loose stone
• Bent posts
• Broken backs or damaged settings

…don’t try to fix it yourself. Bring them to a trusted jeweler who knows how to care for fine jewelry properly. Jennifer Fisher recommends doing this at least once a year if you're wearing your pieces on a regular basis.

Why Professional Cleaning is Worth It

A jeweler can thoroughly inspect the earrings, remove embedded dirt, and polish the metal without sacrficing the integrity of the settings. For personalized pieces, especially those from our —this check-up helps ensure you don’t lose what makes your jewelry so meaningful.

Think of it like getting a tune-up for your style staples. A little professional care keeps them shining and wearable, day in, day out.

Make It Part of Your Routine

Cleaning your diamond earrings doesn’t need to be a once-a-year panic before a big event. Build it into your self-care rhythm, just like you clean your face, do your nails, or wash your favorite gold rings.

And when you're not wearing them? Store your earrings clean and dry, ideally in a fabric-lined jewelry box or dish, away from moisture. It’ll help prevent tarnish and keep your go-to pairs ready at a moment’s notice.

Jennifer Fisher always says her jewelry is meant to be lived in. That includes keeping it clean, not because it’s a chore, but because these are the pieces you actually wear. The ones that move through your real life, every single day.

Care for Your Diamonds Like Jen Wears Hers — Every Day

Diamond earrings aren’t just accessories. They’re your daily signature. Your quiet power. I’m not trying, I just threw these on energy. So give them the love they deserve.

With a few simple materials, warm water, mild soap, a soft cloth, and a gentle brush, you can keep your earrings clean, your metal untarnished, and your shine turned all the way up. Now, just like your earrings, your favorite chains deserve some love. So, if you’re wondering how to clean gold necklace styles without damaging the shine, we’ve got tips for that, too.

And if you're still building your go-to collection? Explore our collection of beautiful diamond earrings to find timeless styles you’ll never want to take off. From gold hoops to sleek studs, each pair is designed to be worn with everything, from sweats to sequins.