How to Clean a Pearl Necklace

Last Updated: September 14, 2022 Approved

Once so valuable that the Roman general Vitellius was rumored to have sold his mother's pearl earrings to finance a military campaign, pearls continue to hold their allure as a feature piece of jewelry, especially in the form of a necklace or choker. To maintain the beauty of pearls, understanding how to care for them properly is essential. While the compact crystalline structure of pearls makes them very durable, they're soft by nature and this reality can't be overlooked. It's easy to scratch pearls and simple contact with the skin's oils every day causes them to deteriorate. Thus, regular careful cleaning should be part of any pearl necklace owner's routine.

Steps

1
Find a very soft cloth. Choose either a jewelry cloth or a clean rag, preferably one made from cotton or bamboo fabric. Velvet works well too. Avoid linen, georgette, net and jersey.^{[1]
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- Never use anything abrasive to clean pearls with, such as toothbrushes or plastic sponges. A soft cloth is the only item that should touch pearls.
2
Wipe pearl jewelry gently before putting your pearl necklace away each time, to remove body oils and perspiration. Put a few drops of water onto the cloth, enough to dampen it and no more. Begin wiping the pearls one by one.^{[2]
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- Never use a commercial jewelry cleaner on pearls. Usually such cleaners contain way too much ammonia, which can damage the pearls.
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3
For every fifth wash of the pearls, they'll need something a little stronger than simply a dampened cloth. Dip the soft cloth in warm, mildly soapy water. Do not use washing up liquid; use a very mild soap, such as castille soap without fragrance or color additives.^{[3]
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- Wipe with a clean dampened cloth to remove any soapy residue from the pearls.
4
If the clasp has to be cleaned as well, use a Q tip (cotton bud) dipped in either jewelry cleaner (make sure it is compatible with the metal of the clasp) or if it a hard metal (not gold) without gemstones, you can use a bit of toothpaste. Whatever you use, do not allow it to come into contact with any of the pearls as it can potentially harm them.^{[4]
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- Toothpaste is good on tarnished silver.
5
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I tell game pearls from real ones?

Community Answer

Gently rub the pearls along your front teeth. If there is a slight gritty, sandy feel, they are real. If there is no gritty sensation, and they run smoothly, then they are fake.
Question

Above mentions cleaning pearls in water and hydrogen peroxide. What is the ratio I should use?

Community Answer

Use a drop of hydrogen peroxide in a bowl of water. Hydrogen peroxide is very strong, so it needs to be diluted.
Question

How do I get the string in between the pearls clean?

Community Answer

I suggest using a 3/4 water and 1/4 bleach solution. Take a paper towel and carefully clean in between them. Then, take a baby/Clorox wipe and repeat the process.

Warnings

Always remove your pearls prior to doing strenuous exercise or work. Never go swimming with your pearl jewellery on.

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Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and never use jewellery cleaners containing ammonia chemicals containing ammonia, vinegar or abrasives to clean your pearl jewellery.

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Avoid storing pearls in an excessively dry place. Store your pearl jewellery in a separate pouch to prevent scratching pearl's surface on sharp metal edges or prongs, or against harder gemstones.

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Don't let your pearl jewellery come into contact with ammonia, chlorine bleach of any kind, inks, nail polish removers, perfume, hairspray and toilet water.

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