--- title: "How Do You Clean Pearls Safely?" description: "How to clean pearls safely: wipe after wear, wash gently in warm soapy water, dry a strand properly, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners, ammonia, acids and heat." canonical_url: "https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/how-to-clean-pearls/" last_updated: "2026-11-04" last_reviewed: "2026-11-01" reviewed_by: "Simon" publisher: "Unique Pearl" publisher_disclosure: "Learn About Pearls is published by Unique Pearl, a pearl jeweler." --- # How Do You Clean Pearls Safely? **Short answer:** Wipe pearls with a soft cloth dampened in clean water after each wear. For a deeper clean, GIA suggests a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water, then laying a strand on a towel until its silk thread is completely dry. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, household cleaners, acids or solvents, and put pearls on only after perfume, hair products and makeup. **Key facts:** - Wipe pearls with a soft cloth dampened in clean water after wearing them. [1, 2] - For a deeper clean, GIA suggests a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water. [3] - Lay a strand on a towel and don't touch it until it is completely dry, because wet silk thread can stretch and attract dirt. [3] - Ultrasonic cleaners should never be used on pearls. [1, 3] - Many household cleaners contain ammonia, which can be too harsh for delicate gems. [3] - Pearls that aren't worn for long periods should still be wiped at regular intervals. [1] - GIA advises restringing pearls that are worn often once a year. [3] Cleaning pearls is mostly about being gentle. Pearls rate 2.5 to 3.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so they are a comparatively soft gem that needs [special care](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#special-care). [2] After every wear - Wipe with a soft cloth dampened in clean water A deeper clean - A new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water - Rinse in a glass, not over a sink Drying a strand - Lay it flat on a towel - Don’t touch it until it’s completely dry Never use - Ultrasonic cleaners - Household cleaners, acids or solvents - Heat Cleaning pearls in four pictures: the everyday wipe, a deeper clean, drying a strand, and what never to use. Drawn for Learn About Pearls. **Text version of this diagram** Four panels. After every wear: wipe the pearls with a soft cloth dampened in clean water. A deeper clean: a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water, with the pearls rinsed in a glass of water rather than over a sink. Drying a strand: lay it flat on a towel and don’t touch it until it is completely dry, because wet silk thread stretches. Never use: ultrasonic cleaners, household cleaners, acids or solvents, or heat. ## After every wear Wipe your pearls with a soft cloth dampened in clean water when you take them off. [1] GIA recommends a soft, damp cloth, ideally after every wearing. [2] Pearls you haven’t worn for a while need attention too. CIBJO advises wiping them at regular intervals with a soft cloth dampened in clean water. [1] ## A deeper clean When pearls need more than a wipe, GIA suggests a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water, used gently, because soft gems such as pearls scratch easily. Pearl earrings can be cleaned the same way. [3] Rinse jewelry in a glass of water rather than over a sink, so a loose stone, or a whole piece, can’t be lost down the drain. [3] ## Drying a strand Lay a strand on a towel to dry. Its silk thread can stretch and attract dirt while it is wet, so don’t touch the strand until it is completely dry. [3] ## What never to use - **Ultrasonic cleaners.** GIA says they should not be used on organic gems such as pearls, and CIBJO’s care advice rules them out too. [1, 3] - **Household cleaners.** Many contain ammonia, which can be too harsh for delicate gems. [3] - **Acids and solvents.** CIBJO says pearls should be kept away from all solvents and acids. [1] - **Heat.** Excessive heat can make pearls dry out, crack and discolor. [3] - **Cosmetics and hair spray.** These aren’t cleaners, but hairspray, lotion, perfume and other cosmetics can permanently damage the surface of pearls, so put pearls on after applying them. [2, 3] Take extra care with [treated pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#treated-pearl). GIA warns that gem treatments can be affected by heat, solvents, steam and ultrasonic cleaners, [3] and CIBJO notes that some color-treated pearls can fade or revert to their original color under strong light. [1] ## Storing pearls after cleaning Store each piece separately, so nothing scratches it, and keep pearls away from other gems and metal jewelry. [1, 2] Never store pearls in a plastic bag, which can give off a chemical that damages their surface, [2] and don’t wrap them in materials that absorb moisture, such as cotton wool. [1] Pearls draw moisture from the air, so storing them somewhere very dry, such as a safe deposit box, can sometimes do more harm than good. [3] ## Professional care GIA recommends having jewelry checked every six months, and [restringing](https://learnaboutpearls.com/glossary/#restringing) pearls that are worn often once a year. [3] The page [restringing pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/restringing-pearls/) explains when a strand needs new string, and [what damages pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/what-damages-pearls/) covers the other risks. The [care planner](https://learnaboutpearls.com/tools/pearl-care-planner/) puts these steps into a plan for your own pearls. ## Questions people ask ### Can I clean pearls with soap and water? Yes, gently. GIA suggests a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water, then drying the pearls on a towel. Rinse jewelry in a glass of water rather than over the sink, so nothing can be lost down the drain. [3] ### Can pearls go in a jewelry cleaner? Not an ultrasonic one. GIA says ultrasonic cleaners should not be used on organic gems such as pearls, and CIBJO's care advice rules them out too. Household cleaners are risky as well, since many contain ammonia. [1, 3] ### How often should pearls be cleaned? Wipe them with a soft, damp cloth after every wearing, and wipe pearls you aren't wearing at regular intervals. GIA also advises having jewelry checked every six months. [1, 2, 3] ### Can I clean pearls with vinegar? No. Vinegar is an acid, and CIBJO says pearls should be kept away from all acids. In GIA's tests, a dilute acid solution made a cultured pearl effervesce. [1, 4] ## References 1. CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, Pearl Commission (2026). The CIBJO Pearl Book (Pearl Blue Book) 2026. [Source](https://cibjo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pearl-Blue-Book-2026-.pdf) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261025235254/https://cibjo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pearl-Blue-Book-2026-.pdf) 2. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Birthstones. June Birthstones. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/june-birthstones) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260614074112/https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/june-birthstones) 3. Gemological Institute of America (GIA), News & Research (2015). Tips on Caring for Jewelry. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-tips-caring-jewelry) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260113070939/https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-tips-caring-jewelry) 4. June Hanano, Mary Wildman and Philip G. Yurkiewicz (1990). Majorica Imitation Pearls. [Source](https://www.gia.edu/doc/Majorica-Imitation-Pearls.pdf) · DOI [10.5741/GEMS.26.3.178](https://doi.org/10.5741/GEMS.26.3.178) · [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20251005124434/https://www.gia.edu/doc/Majorica-Imitation-Pearls.pdf) **Written by:** Learn About Pearls editors **Fact-checked:** Learn About Pearls editors, November 1, 2026 **Reviewed by:** Simon, November 1, 2026 **First published:** November 4, 2026 **Publisher:** [Unique Pearl](https://learnaboutpearls.com/about/), a pearl jeweler **Revision history** 1. November 4, 2026: First published. First published **How to cite this page** **APA:** Learn About Pearls editors. (2026). _How Do You Clean Pearls Safely?_ Learn About Pearls. https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/how-to-clean-pearls/ **MLA:** “How Do You Clean Pearls Safely?” _Learn About Pearls_, Unique Pearl, November 4, 2026, learnaboutpearls.com/care/how-to-clean-pearls/. **Chicago:** Learn About Pearls editors. “How Do You Clean Pearls Safely?” Learn About Pearls. Unique Pearl. Last modified November 4, 2026. https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/how-to-clean-pearls/. **BibTeX:** `@misc{lap-care-how-to-clean-pearls, title = {How Do You Clean Pearls Safely?}, author = {{Learn About Pearls editors}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/how-to-clean-pearls/}}, note = {Learn About Pearls, published by Unique Pearl}}` Quoting with attribution and a link is welcome. See [how to cite and reuse](https://learnaboutpearls.com/cite/). **Suggest a correction** ## Related pages - [What damages pearls](https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/what-damages-pearls/): What harms pearls, from chemicals, heat and light to everyday wear, and why some pearls change color. - [Care](https://learnaboutpearls.com/care/): What damages pearls, how to clean and store them, and when to restring. - [June birthstone](https://learnaboutpearls.com/wearing/june-birthstone/): Pearl is a June birthstone, with alexandrite and moonstone; the list, the meaning and the care.