❥ How to Clean & Care for Your Jewellery: Brass, Sterling Silver & Stainless Steel
Jewellery is made to be worn and enjoyed. But everyday exposure to air, moisture, perfume, skincare products and natural oils from your skin can gradually change the way some metals look.
The good news is that a little care goes a long way. Whether your favourite piece is made from brass, sterling silver or stainless steel, knowing how to clean and store it correctly can help keep it looking beautiful for much longer.
Different metals behave differently, so here's our simple guide to caring for each one.
How to Clean & Care for Brass Jewellery
Brass has a beautiful warm, golden colour, but unlike solid gold, brass naturally oxidises over time. This can cause it to become darker or develop a patina. This is a normal characteristic of the metal rather than a defect.
Some people love the slightly aged appearance of brass, but if you prefer yours bright and shiny, regular gentle cleaning can help.
Cleaning brass
For everyday care, gently polish your jewellery with a soft, dry jewellery or microfibre cloth after wearing it. This helps remove oils and moisture from the surface.
For uncoated solid brass that needs a deeper clean, use a small amount of mild soap and warm water with a soft cloth. Clean gently, rinse away any soap residue and — most importantly — dry the jewellery completely.
Avoid abrasive sponges and harsh household chemicals, as these can scratch or damage the surface.
If your jewellery contains crystals, stones, enamel, plating or glued components, avoid soaking it. These materials may require different cleaning methods.
Caring for brass
Try to remove brass jewellery before showering, swimming or exercising, and avoid spraying perfume, hairspray or other cosmetics directly onto it.
When you're not wearing it, keep your jewellery clean and dry and ideally store pieces separately in a jewellery pouch or box.
Good to know: Brass can sometimes leave a temporary greenish mark on the skin. This can happen when copper within the brass reacts with moisture, sweat or skincare products and is generally a normal property of the metal.
How to Clean & Care for Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is beautiful, durable and designed to last, but it can naturally tarnish.
Tarnishing occurs when silver reacts with substances in its environment, particularly sulfur-containing compounds in the air. It can make silver appear dull, yellowish or eventually dark. Tarnish doesn't necessarily mean your jewellery is damaged — in most cases, it can simply be polished away.
Cleaning sterling silver
For light tarnish, one of the easiest options is a proper silver polishing cloth.
Gently rub the surface until its shine begins to return. Avoid excessive polishing, particularly around delicate details.
For a deeper clean, plain sterling silver can usually be washed carefully with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap. Use a very soft cloth or brush where necessary, rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
Be more cautious with jewellery containing pearls, porous gemstones, oxidised finishes, plating or glued stones, as standard silver-cleaning methods may damage them.
Caring for sterling silver
Store your silver jewellery somewhere cool and dry, preferably inside a jewellery pouch or closed jewellery box.
Keeping individual pieces separate can also help prevent scratching and tangling.
Remove silver jewellery before swimming, particularly in chlorinated pools, and avoid exposing it unnecessarily to household cleaning products and chemicals.
Interestingly, regularly wearing sterling silver can sometimes help keep it looking polished because normal movement creates a mild polishing effect — although this doesn't prevent tarnishing completely.
How to Clean & Care for Stainless Steel Jewellery
Stainless steel is one of the easiest jewellery materials to maintain.
Good-quality stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion and tarnishing, which makes it particularly practical for everyday jewellery. However, it can still collect fingerprints, oils, cosmetics and everyday dirt.
Cleaning stainless steel
For regular cleaning, simply wipe your jewellery with a soft microfibre cloth.
When it needs a more thorough clean, use warm water with a small amount of mild soap. Gently clean the piece using a soft cloth, rinse it with clean water and dry it thoroughly.
A soft toothbrush can help clean small areas on suitable plain stainless-steel pieces, but don't scrub aggressively.
Caring for stainless steel
Although stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, that doesn't mean every stainless-steel jewellery piece is completely maintenance-free.
Plated stainless steel, for example, may need more careful treatment because the plating itself can wear over time, even though the stainless steel underneath remains durable.
It's therefore still sensible to avoid unnecessary exposure to harsh chemicals and to store your jewellery carefully to prevent scratches.
A Few Simple Rules for All Jewellery
Whatever metal you're wearing, a few habits can make a significant difference:
- Put jewellery on after perfume, moisturiser, hairspray and cosmetics have dried.
- Remove jewellery before swimming or using household cleaning products.
- Keep pieces clean and completely dry before storing them.
- Store jewellery separately where possible to reduce scratching and tangling.
- Use a soft cloth rather than abrasive cleaning products.
- Take extra care with gemstones, pearls, enamel, plating and glued components, as the safest cleaning method may depend on the material.
And remember: jewellery that changes slightly with wear isn't necessarily poor quality. Brass developing a patina and sterling silver tarnishing are natural reactions of those metals.
With the right care, you can restore their shine and keep enjoying your favourite pieces for years to come.