You should be disinfecting your silver earrings regardless of what they are made from. It is not only important to maintain the quality of the piece of jewellery, but it is also very important for the cleanliness of your ears. Dirt and grim can get easily trapped in the holes in your ears and you need to make sure that you regularly clean them to ensure that you clean out that dirt. Regularly cleaning your sterling silver earrings will make sure that they last well and maintain their superior look and feel.
There are a few ways you can disinfect your sterling silver earrings.
- Use Hydrogen Peroxide: Before you start cleaning your earrings wash your hands so that you don’t transfer any additional dirt to the earrings. Make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds cleaning between your fingers. Dry your hands with a clean down before you start. Use hydrogen peroxide to soak a cotton wool ball. Hydrogen Peroxide is great for two reasons, it kills bacteria but also makes your earrings shine again. Make sure that you really saturate the cotton wool ball. Once your cotton ball is adequately saturated with the hydrogen peroxide, dab the cotton ball over the earring. Get the cotton ball into all the nooks and crannies of the earrings, it is important to do this if the design of the earring is intricate. If you are cleaning sterling silver hoop earrings, make sure you clean around the entire hoop on both sides. Don’t rush the process, spend a few minutes cleaning each earring, add more hydrogen peroxide if you need to. Once you have cleaned them rinse the earrings in a bowl of water. You can also completely submerge the earrings in hydrogen peroxide for 5-10 minutes. This will get rid of any fiber or cotton that has gotten caught on the earrings. Remember to rinse the earrings thoroughly afterwards. Once you have washed and rinsed them, leave them on a dry, clean cloth to dry. Once they are fully dry you can wear them or put them on.
- Wash your silver earring with hot water. If you are using this method, you must still start by thoroughly washing your hands in with soap and water. Make sure they are dry before starting to clean your earrings. Boil water on the stove or in the microwave. This is an easy method if you need to clean your earrings but don’t have hydrogen peroxide. If you are only cleaning one pair of earrings you can boil water in a mug. Once the water is boiling drop the earrings in the water and let them stay there for up to 20 minutes. This gives the hot water time to kill germs and loosen any dirt. Once the 20 minutes is up, remove the earrings using a spoon and start scrubbing them with a clean toothbrush. You can wet your toothbrush with warm water before you start scrubbing. The brushing will help to remove any dirt that has remained. Once you have scrubbed them really well, rinse them in warm water. Place them on a dry, clean towel or cloth to dry. If they are very wet, you can pat them to remove any excess water.
- Deep cleaning your silver earring with baking soda. This is another method of cleaning your earrings and is a good way to help them maintain their shine. With this method you start by lining a glass baking dish with tin foil, make sure the shiny side is facing up. Place all the earrings you want to clean on your tray and fill the tray with warm water so that the earrings are completely immersed. Then you need to sprinkle baking soda over the earrings until you start to see the bubbles forming. Once this is done, leave the earrings to soak for at least an hour. You can then rinse them in warm water and let them dry on a soft, cloth. This is a great method if you have a more than one pair of earrings to clean at a time and it will help to keep your sterling silver looking shiny.
It is also important to remember to look after your silver earrings after you have worn them. The natural oils of your body will help to clean and moisturize your earrings. A little extra care is still needed daily. When you take off your earrings at the end of the day, run them under some warm water to remove any dirt they may have accumulated during the day. Pat them dry rather than leaving them to air dry as this can cause water spots.
If you look after your sterling silver earrings and make sure you clean it properly and regularly your pieces will last for many years to come without looking dull.
