How to Clean Pearls at Home (Without Ruining Them)

To clean pearls at home, wipe each pearl with a soft, damp cloth after wearing, and for a deeper clean, use a cloth lightly dampened with lukewarm water and a tiny drop of mild soap—then dry flat on a towel. That gentle approach is the whole secret to how to clean pearls safely: pearls are softer and more porous than most gemstones, so they need patience, not pressure. Skip the ultrasonic cleaner, skip the harsh chemicals, and you’ll keep their natural glow for years.

Below is the honest, step-by-step version—what to do, what to avoid, and why pearls behave differently from the rest of your jewelry.

Why pearls need gentler care than other stones

Pearls aren’t cut from rock. They’re grown, layer by layer, from nacre—the same material that lines a shell. That gives them their soft luster, but it also makes them more delicate than something like onyx or tiger’s eye. On the Mohs hardness scale, pearls land around 2.5 to 4.5, which is genuinely soft for jewelry.

What that means in practice: pearls scratch easily, they don’t like acids (including the ones in perfume, hairspray, and even sweat), and they can dry out if they’re soaked or exposed to heat. The nacre is also what gives natural pearls and mother-of-pearl their depth, so protecting that surface is the whole game. Treat a pearl the way you’d treat fine silk, and you’ll rarely go wrong.

The simple everyday clean (do this most often)

For day-to-day care, you don’t need a routine—you need one good habit:

• After you take your pearls off, wipe each one with a soft, lint-free cloth (a microfiber or jewelry cloth is ideal).
• This removes skin oils, lotion, and traces of perfume before they have time to settle into the surface.
• Pay attention to the area where the pearl meets metal or knots, where residue likes to hide.

That thirty-second wipe is the single most effective thing you can do. Most pearls that lose their shine didn’t get damaged—they just got coated in everyday residue that was never cleaned off.

The deeper clean (a few times a year, or when they look dull)

When a quick wipe isn’t enough, do this:

1. Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and add a single tiny drop of mild, non-detergent soap.
2. Dip a soft cloth into the solution, then wring it out so it’s just damp—not dripping.
3. Gently wipe each pearl, including the spots near clasps and settings.
4. Wipe again with a cloth dampened in plain water to remove any soap film.
5. Lay the piece flat on a soft towel and let it air-dry completely before storing.

A few boundaries worth respecting, because we’d rather be honest than oversell an easy fix:

• Don’t submerge strung pearls. Soaking can weaken the silk or cord they’re knotted on, and a wet string stretches and stays damp inside the drill hole.
• Don’t hang pearls to dry. A wet strand can stretch under its own weight; drying flat keeps it true.
• Let them fully dry before putting them away. Trapped moisture is one of the few things that genuinely harms pearls over time.

What to never use on pearls

This is the part that saves pieces. Avoid:

• Ultrasonic and steam cleaners — the vibration and heat can crack nacre or loosen pearls from their settings.
• Harsh chemicals — ammonia, bleach, chlorine, vinegar, and most commercial jewelry “dips” are too aggressive for nacre.
• Abrasives — toothpaste, baking soda, scouring cloths, and even some polishing creams will scratch the surface.
• Hot water — heat dries out the nacre and can dull the luster.

Our pieces pair genuine natural pearls and mother-of-pearl with solid S925 sterling silver. The silver itself is more forgiving, but when a pearl is set into it, always clean to the pearl’s rules, not the metal’s. When in doubt, gentler is safer.

Storing and wearing pearls so they stay bright

Cleaning is only half of pearl care. The other half is what happens the rest of the time:

• Put pearls on last, take them off first. A good rule: pearls go on after perfume, makeup, and hairspray, and come off before you wash up. They’re “last on, first off.”
• Store them soft and separate. Keep pearls in a soft pouch or a lined compartment, away from harder pieces that could scratch them. A jewelry box with dividers is perfect.
• Let them breathe. Pearls actually like being worn—skin contact helps keep the nacre from drying out. Long-term, avoid sealed plastic bags that trap moisture.
• Keep them out of the gym and the pool. Sweat is mildly acidic, and chlorine is harsh, so save pearls for after the workout, not during.

Looked after this way, well-made pearl jewelry stays beautiful for decades. If you’re building a small, low-maintenance collection, our natural pearl and mother-of-pearl jewelry is designed to be worn often and cared for simply.

FAQ

Can I use jewelry cleaner on pearls?
Most commercial jewelry cleaners and dips are too harsh for pearls—they’re formulated for harder stones and metals. Stick to a damp soft cloth and, at most, a single drop of mild soap in lukewarm water.

How often should I clean my pearls?
Wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear, and do a gentle deeper clean a few times a year or whenever they start to look dull. Frequent light cleaning beats occasional heavy cleaning.

Why do my pearls look cloudy or dull?
Usually it’s a buildup of skin oils, lotion, or perfume on the surface rather than real damage. A careful wipe-down often brings the luster back. If a pearl is scratched or the nacre is worn, that’s permanent—another reason to clean gently.

Can pearls get wet?
A quick splash or a damp cloth is fine. What you want to avoid is soaking strung pearls, hot water, and storing them while still wet, since trapped moisture and a wet string cause the most trouble.

Is it safe to clean sterling silver pearl jewelry the same way?
Clean to the pearl’s rules, not the silver’s. Skip silver dips and polishes on any piece that includes a pearl, and use the gentle cloth method instead so you protect the nacre.

Gentle, consistent care really is all it takes. If you’re ready to add a piece worth caring for, explore our pearl jewelry collection—and if you’re new to Sterling Arc, use code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order of $100 or more. Every order ships worldwide, and a portion of every purchase supports United Way.

— Peter, founder of Sterling Arc