HOW TO DISINFECT SECOND-HAND EARRINGS

Why Should You Clean and Disinfect Earrings?

Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your earrings, and not just second-hand earrings that you buy, should be an essential part of your jewellery care routine. It's especially important to disinfect second-hand earrings before you wear them, but there are various benefits to regularly cleaning and disinfecting all your earrings, such as:

• Preventing bacteria - earrings go through a hole in the skin, and so are much more prone to bacteria and germs, which can cause infection, than other jewellery types. Disinfecting your earrings regularly will reduce your risk of infection.


• Increase the life of your earrings - Dirt, dust, and grease can all build up if you don't clean your earrings regularly, and this can cause them to become tarnished. Having a cleaning routine will prevent this build-up, increasing the life of your earrings.


• Keep the earrings shiny - the build-up of dirt and grime can not only cause your earrings to become tarnished but will reduce your earrings' shine too. Cleaning your earrings regularly will keep them sparkling.

How to Disinfect Earrings

Cleaning and sterilising earrings doesn't have to be a big task. Here's how to properly disinfect earrings at home:

1. Prepare for Cleaning

The first step in cleaning and disinfecting earrings is often overlooked. But it's important to prepare for cleaning your earrings. After all, there's no point in cleaning your earrings if they are just going to get dirty again in seconds.

First, clean the surface on which you are going to be cleaning your earrings. Ensure the area is dry before you start cleaning your earrings too, so be sure to wipe the surface with a clean towel.

Wash your hands thoroughly next. Wash them with soap and warm water, rinsing and drying thoroughly. Then use an alcohol-based hand gel to fully sterilise your hands.

2. Clean Your Earrings

Before disinfecting earrings, they need to be cleaned. Otherwise, you'll just be disinfecting the dirt and grime, not the earrings themselves. Do this by:

1. First, carefully inspect your earrings. Look for any dirt or tarnish. This will help you to see how much of a clean is needed and if any delicate components need special care.


2. Next, prepare a cleaning solution. To do this, fill a small bowl with warm water and add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid. You want to avoid harsh chemicals, as this can damage sensitive materials.


3. Put the earrings in the bowl of soapy water and leave them to soak for 5 to 10 minutes; this will help to loosen dirt and grime.


4. After soaking the earrings, take them out of the water and use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub them. Pay particular attention to any crevices and intricate details.


5. If there are any particularly stubborn bits, make a paste using baking soda and water and apply this with the toothbrush. Be cautious with this though, as it can damage some materials; if in doubt, do not use this and take the earrings for a professional clean.


6. Rinse the earrings thoroughly under warm water to remove any residue.


7. Gently pat your earrings dry with a clean cloth or microfibre towel.


8. If the earrings have gemstones, buff them gently with a lint-free cloth.

3. Disinfect Your Earrings

If the earrings you are cleaning need disinfecting too, do this before you pat the earrings dry.

Second-hand earrings, those that you regularly wear or those that you haven't worn for a while, will benefit from being disinfected and reduce your chance of infection. Even new earrings should be sterilised before wearing them. Two common solutions for disinfecting earrings are rubbing alcohol and vinegar. Before you disinfect the earrings, check the material and gemstones to see how sensitive they are. There will be certain chemicals you cannot use on sensitive materials, as these will be easily damaged. For instance, rubbing alcohol is ok to be used on most metals but can melt glue that holds embellishments in place.

Here's how to disinfect your earrings using rubbing alcohol:

1. Saturate a cotton ball or pad with the rubbing alcohol
2. Wipe the saturated cotton ball or pad on the earring. Using this method, you can avoid any delicate areas and just focus on the areas that need disinfecting (the back and the part that goes through your ear).
3. For earrings that need fully disinfecting (such as second-hand earrings) and have no risk of damage from rubbing alcohol, you can fill a small bowl with rubbing alcohol and submerge the earrings for a couple of minutes. Then use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub them.
4. Pat the earrings dry with a clean cloth or microfibre towel.

To disinfect your earrings with vinegar:

1. In a bowl, add one and a half cups of vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda.
2. Soak your earrings in this solution for a maximum of three hours.
3. Remove the earrings from the solution and rinse them thoroughly under cold water.
4. Allow the earrings to air dry.

If you are worried about damaging your earrings with chemicals and aren't sure what can be used on them, take them to a jeweller, who will be able to clean them for you.

How to Often Should You Clean Your Earrings?

To prevent the build-up of dirt and bacteria, it is recommended that you clean your earrings once a week. The more regularly you clean your earrings, the less thorough the cleaning will need to be. It is especially important to clean earrings that you regularly wear on a regular basis.

How to Often Should You Sterilise Earrings?

Disinfecting your earrings doesn't have to be as regular as cleaning. In fact, if you clean them often, you won't need to sterilise them as often. Sterilising your earrings once a month should be enough to keep you safe from bacterial build-up and infections.

However, if you buy a second-hand pair of earrings or have some earrings that you haven't worn for a long time, it is also advisable to clean and disinfect them before you wear them. Even if you buy a pair of new earrings, it’s vital to sterilise them beforehand, especially if it’s a fresh piercing.

Pre-Owned Earrings at Ramsdens Jewellery

At Ramsdens, we sell a range of second-hand jewellery, which includes earrings. We check all of our pre-loved jewellery and ensure it is of a high standard. 

However, we still recommend you clean and disinfect your second-hand earrings at home before you wear them for the first time, just to be on the safe side.

If you're looking for some unique earrings, check out our range of second-hand earrings, or you can also browse our full earrings range.