Everyday Jewelry Care: How to Clean and Store Your Jewelry
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Start with the materials
Keep your favorite jewelry looking its best with care that suits its materials. Different metals, plated finishes, pearls, stones, and cords have different cleaning, wear, and storage needs. Start with the materials listed in your piece’s product details, then follow the care instructions for its most delicate component.
- Identify the exact metal, finish, stones, and any cord before choosing a cleaning method.
- Follow the care instructions for the most delicate component, not just the metal.
- If materials are unknown, avoid soaking, polishing, chemical cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaning.
- Store pieces dry and separately; consult the Jewelry Care & Repair Policy when unsure.
Everyday jewelry-care habits
Good jewelry care starts before you put on your favorite pieces. Apply perfume, lotion, makeup, and hair products first, then add your jewelry as the finishing touch. Before showering, swimming, exercising, or cleaning, check the care instructions for your piece. Plated jewelry should be removed for each of these activities. Keep earrings secure with their safety backs, and give each piece its own dry place when you take it off.
How to care for jewelry by type
- Fashion
- Protect the plating. Avoid water, exercise, soaps, household cleaners, and contact with personal-care products.
- Kendra Scott Ever (Gold-Filled)
- Kendra Scott Ever is designed for everyday life. After swimming, exercising, or contact with personal-care or household products, gently clean the piece with soap and warm water, then dry it with a soft cloth. Check the product details for stones or other components that may require additional care
- Demi-Fine
- Remove Demi-Fine Jewelry before showering, swimming, exercising, or cleaning, and avoid contact with soaps and personal-care products. Gently polish Sterling Silver as directed. Silver cleaner may be used only on pure Sterling Silver pieces—not Gold Vermeil or pieces with components that require different care.A silver cleaner can be used on pure Sterling Silver pieces, but not 18k Yellow Gold Vermeil or 18k Rose Gold Vermeil.
- Fine
- Follow the care instructions for the specific piece. When gentle soap is appropriate, rinse thoroughly and dry completely with a soft cloth. Avoid jewelry dips, polishes, personal-care products, cleaning agents, chlorine, and salt water; remove Fine Jewelry before swimming or exercising.
How to store your jewelry
Give your everyday favorites a safe place to rest. Fasten necklaces before putting them away and keep chains separated to help prevent tangles. Store earrings with their safety backs so each pair is easy to find and ready to wear.
Give rings and bracelets a little space, too, so they don’t rub against neighboring pieces. A dry pouch, lined box, or divided travel jewelry case can help keep everything organized at home or away. Make sure each piece is completely dry before storing it. Delicate stones, pearls, cords, and other materials may need a little extra care, so check the Kendra Scott Jewelry Care & Repair Policy for specific guidance.
Explore compartmented jewelry boxes to give dry pieces separate places between wears.
Jewelry cleaning methods to avoid
Some popular DIY cleaning tricks can be too harsh for jewelry. Skip toothpaste, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, boiling water, paper towels, and tissues, along with any unapproved jewelry dips or polishes. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner unless the product instructions, Customer Service, or a qualified professional specifically confirms that it is appropriate for the piece. If you’re unsure what your jewelry is made from, pause before soaking or polishing it and check the appropriate jewelry material guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Check the product page or the materials information supplied with your piece for its exact metal construction, stones, and finishes. Consult About Our Metals for terminology, or contact Customer Service if you cannot identify the materials.
No. Kendra Scott Ever 14K gold-filled jewelry can be gently cleaned with soap and warm water, while Fine Jewelry should be cleaned according to the instructions for the specific piece. Fashion Jewelry and other plated designs should be protected from soap and water. Pearls, gemstones, and corded pieces may require additional care, so always confirm the product’s materials and instructions before cleaning.
No. Silver cleaner is not appropriate for Gold Vermeil, even when the piece has a Sterling Silver base. Follow the separate Gold Vermeil directions in the Jewelry Care & Repair Policy.
It depends on what your piece is made from. Keep Fashion Jewelry out of the shower and pool, and remove Fine Jewelry before swimming or exercising to help protect it from chlorine, salt water, and physical activity. If you want jewelry designed with everyday wear in mind, explore Kendra Scott Ever. Its 14K gold-filled styles are water-resistant, sweat-resistant, and tarnish-resistant, but always check the product details for stones or other components and follow the recommended care instructions after exposure.
If you notice damage, a loose component, or a change in the finish, set the piece aside instead of reaching for a stronger cleaning method. Review the Jewelry Care & Repair Policy or contact Customer Service for help with next steps. Repair options depend on the piece and policy, and not every design can be repaired through Kendra Scott.