How Do You Clean Pearls Safely?

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.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

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. 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 pearls that are worn often once a year.³ The page restringing pearls explains when a strand needs new string, and what damages pearls covers the other risks. The care planner puts these steps into a plan for your own pearls.