The safest way to clean most jewellery at home is a wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wearing, plus an occasional wash in warm water with a drop of mild soap — no harsh chemicals, no ultrasonic cleaners. Exactly how you look after a piece depends a little on what it's made from, so here's the quick version for sterling silver, gold-filled and solid gold, with a link to the full guide for each.
Not sure which metal your piece is made from? Our guide to Solid Gold, Gold Filled and Gold Vermeil Jewellery — What's the Difference can help you work it out first.
Sterling silver is a mix of pure silver and copper, and it's the copper that reacts with air and sulphur to cause tarnish. A soft polishing cloth after wearing, plus dry storage away from humidity, does most of the work. Full guide → How to Care for Your Sterling Silver Jewellery
Gold-filled, also called rolled gold, is made by pressure-bonding a layer of solid 14ct gold to a brass core — which is why it holds up so much better over time than gold-plated jewellery, where the gold layer is often just a thin coating. That's part of why it's priced higher than plated alternatives: you're paying for a genuinely more durable material. Day to day it needs very little, just an occasional buff with a soft cloth. Full guide → Guide to Caring for Your Gold-Filled Jewellery
Solid gold is gold the whole way through, alloyed with other metals for strength and measured in carats — 9ct is the most common we work with. With no plated or bonded layer to wear through, it's generally the most straightforward metal to look after: a gentle polish with a soft cloth, and an occasional wash in warm water and mild soap if it needs more. Explore the collection → 9ct Gold Necklaces
Whatever the metal, the same method works: warm water, a drop of mild soap, a soft cloth. Clean gently, rinse if needed, then pat dry rather than rubbing — trapped moisture encourages tarnish. Skip anything abrasive, including toothpaste or baking soda, which are too rough for engraved or detailed pieces. Avoid chlorine and bleach, and don't use an ultrasonic cleaner at home — they're not designed for the delicate settings and engraving found in personalised jewellery.
Keep pieces separate — chains tangle and can scratch against each other or against stones, so a lined box with divided sections, or individual pouches, works best. Store somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight, and let pieces dry fully before putting them away. For silver, an airtight bag with an anti-tarnish strip slows tarnish considerably.
The moments that do the most damage are usually the ones we don't think about: the shower, the sea, a pool or hot tub, the gym, and applying perfume, lotion or sunscreen. Chlorine and salt water are particularly hard on precious metals, and sweat and skincare products can dull a finish over time. As a habit, make your jewellery the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
We have found the sunshine brand of polishing cloths to be very useful for jewellery polishing and they can be used on a variety of metals. The yellow cloth is for pieces that need a deep clean, like sterling silver jewellery that has become very tarnished while the blue cloth can be used regularly to maintain the shine on your jewellery. Giving your jewellery a regular polish to keep it maintained is much better than waiting for is to lose it's shine. While things like jewellery dips can be useful for removing tarnish on hard to reach areas like silver chain, they aren't advised for delicate engravings or stones as they can be harsh on the jewellery.
What's the quickest, safest way to clean jewellery at home?
Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft cloth. Clean gently, rinse if needed, and pat dry rather than rubbing.
Does cleaning differ between sterling silver, gold-filled and solid gold?
The method is the same for all three, but silver needs more frequent polishing to manage tarnish, while gold-filled and solid gold generally need only occasional attention.
What should I never use — chlorine, harsh chemicals, an ultrasonic cleaner?
Yes, avoid all of these at home, along with bleach and abrasive pastes like toothpaste or baking soda. They can strip finishes, damage settings or speed up tarnish.
How should I store jewellery to prevent tarnish or scratching?
Separately, somewhere dry and out of sunlight — a divided box or individual pouch works well, with an anti-tarnish strip added for silver.
Is it safe to wear everyday jewellery in the shower, the sea or the gym?
We'd recommend taking it off for all three. Chlorine, salt water and sweat are some of the quickest ways to dull or tarnish a piece.
Jewellery care mostly comes down to a few habits: a soft cloth, dry storage, and taking pieces off before water, sweat or skincare products get to them. For the full detail on your specific piece, our sterling silver and gold-filled guides above cover tarnish, cleaning and long-term care material by material. With a little regular care, your Lulu + Belle pieces are made to stay part of your everyday for a long time to come — explore the collection to see what's next.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Discover thoughtful jewellery gifts to celebrate a new baby — from birthstone pieces to engraved keepsakes — for mums, grandmothers and loved ones.
If you're searching for thoughtful July birthday gift ideas, you're in the right place. Whether you're shopping for your Mum, sister, partner, best friend or someone celebrating a milestone birthday, finding a gift that feels personal can make all the difference.
Sign up for news and exclusive offers.
© 2026 Lulu + Belle ® Jewellery.
