How to clean your stainless steel jewelry?

Blackened steel jewelry: How can you make it shine again?

Stainless steel requires almost no maintenance, but jewelry worn every day will eventually lose its luster: lotion, perfume, sweat, and mineral deposits leave a thin film on its surface. The good news is that a few common kitchen items are all you need to clean it. Just be sure to choose the right method depending on whether your jewelry is silver-plated or gold-plated.

On our product pages, the label “nickel-free” indicates that the stainless steel product complies with REACH regulations. Although it contains nickel due to its composition, no nickel is released.

Has your stainless steel jewelry turned black, and are you wondering how to fix it? You’ve come to the right place! To keep it shiny and ensure it lasts, it’s important to clean and care for your stainless steel jewelry regularly.

How do you clean stainless steel?

There are several ways to care for your stainless steel jewelry and restore its shine.

• White vinegar for dull silver-colored stainless steel:
  Dampen a soft cloth with a few drops of white vinegar and rub the jewelry. For a very dirty chain, let it soak for 15 to 30 minutes in a mixture of half warm water and half vinegar, then rinse thoroughly and dry. Avoid using this method on gold-plated steel or jewelry with glued stones or beads, as hot water may dissolve the adhesive.
• Baking soda for stubborn stains:
  Mix a little baking soda with water to form clay. Apply it with a soft toothbrush, scrub gently, then rinse several times. Baking soda is slightly abrasive: use it only on silver-plated steel and do not press too hard.
• Marseille soap, the basic method:
  Mix a few drops of Marseille soap or dish soap into a bowl of lukewarm water. Scrub the jewelry with a soft cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush, paying special attention to the links, then rinse with clean water. Dry immediately with a microfiber cloth. This method works for all finishes, including gold-plated steel.
• Lemon:
  Rub the jewelry with a cloth soaked in lemon juice diluted with a little water, then rinse thoroughly. Like vinegar, lemon is acidic: use it only on silver-plated steel, and not too often.
• Toothpaste:
  Gently scrub your jewelry with a toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste. Don’t forget to rinse!

Caution: For chains and componentsmade ofgold-plated stainless steel or Rose Gold-plated stainless steel clasps, avoid acidic cleaners such as vinegar, lemon, or toothpaste. This could damage the finish.

Tarnished stainless steel jewelry: how to make it shine again?

Stainless steel doesn’t tarnish like silver. If your jewelry darkens, it’s usually for one of these reasons:
• A film of cosmetics or limescale: simply clean the silver-colored steel with soap, followed by white vinegar.
• Lower-quality stainless steel or another metal: Jewelry that tarnishes quickly may not be made of stainless steel, or it may be made of a less durable grade (see the comparison chart of stainless steel types).

How do you clean gold-plated stainless steel jewelry?

Use only warm water and mild soap with a very soft cloth, then dry it thoroughly. Vinegar, lemon, baking soda, and toothpaste damage the PVD gold coating. Also, do not use a silver polishing cloth, as it contains an abrasive. To understand what makes the gold plating last, see the PVD treatment of gold-plated stainless steel.

All these advantages make it an ideal metal for creating DIY costume jewelry. If all of this has convinced you and you’re now looking for ideas, check out our DIY stainless steel jewelry designs, as well as our jewelry components, findings, and stainless steel chains.

What Not to Do

• Use bleach, household cleaners, or descaling agents: chlorine corrodes stainless steel.
• Scrub with an abrasive sponge or steel wool.
• Soak jewelry with glued stones, beads, mother-of-pearl, or resin for long periods of time.
• Do not clean jewelry with glued stones or beads in an ultrasonic cleaner.
• Store jewelry while it’s wet: always dry it thoroughly, including the links.