First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Wipe the piece with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth first.
- Wash any dirt that remains in warm, not hot, soapy water.
- Dry pearls completely before you wear them.
- If you're unsure a gem can take cleaning, see a jeweler.
Stains on jewelry are usually lotion, skin oil or dirt building up behind the stones and along the band, and a little soap and water lifts them. Worn plating is the exception, since it can't be cleaned back once the coating has gone, and silver tarnish is a normal change that calls for polishing rather than a stain fix. Decide first whether the piece has stones, pearls or plating, because that decides how gentle you have to be.
Use a soft brush and mild soap on stained watch straps, and dry them fully before you put the watch back on. If the mark is on a pink or white band, test a hidden spot first, since light colors show dye more easily. Take the piece off first so soap doesn't get trapped under the stones.
Before you start
What this material can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Hot water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid3
- Chlorine bleach
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Heat, once the stain is out
4 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, soft clothLifts lotion and film without scratching the metal or pearls. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid dish soapMakes the warm soapy water for the wash step.
- Soft-bristled toothbrushReaches dirt behind settings on metal and hard gems.
- Gentle solution made for delicate gemsA backup for dirt that warm soapy water doesn't lift.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Check that every stone is secure
Before you clean anything, make sure each stone sits firmly in its mounting. A loose stone can come out during washing, so fix it first.
Step 2 of 6
Wipe off lotion and film
Use a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth to wipe the piece and lift away lotion or film. Pearls need an even gentler touch, so use a very soft, clean cloth for them.
Careful. Keep pearls away from acids, perfume, hair spray, cosmetics and cleaning agents.
Step 3 of 6
Wash off the remaining dirt
If dirt is still there after wiping, clean the piece in warm soapy water or a gentle solution made for delicate gems. Pearls can be washed this way occasionally, too.
Step 4 of 6
Brush dirt out from behind settings
On metal and hard gems, a soft-bristled toothbrush loosens the dirt that collects behind the settings. Work in small strokes around each setting so the grime lifts without being pushed deeper.
Careful. Keep the toothbrush off pearls and other organic gems.
Step 5 of 6
Dry pearl strings completely
After a pearl string has been washed in warm soapy water, it must be completely dry before you wear it. Lay it flat on a clean towel to finish drying.
Tip. A clean towel keeps the string from sitting in water while it dries.
Step 6 of 6
Recheck the stones and get help if unsure
Check again that the stones are still secure after cleaning. If you're unsure whether a gem can take cleaning, take the piece to a jeweler instead of trying a home method.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on jewelry & watches
Water, rust & minerals3
Paint, glue & adhesives2
Oil & grease1
Discoloration & marks2
Food & drink1
Body fluids2
Dye & color1
Wax, gum & sticky1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The piece looks clear, with no film left in the settings or on the links. The stones sit firm, and the metal feels smooth under a fingertip.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your jewelry & watches
Watch bands and straps
Take the band off the watch if it comes off easily, and check the material before you choose a method. Metal links can be brushed behind with a soft-bristled toothbrush in warm soapy water, the same way you'd clean behind a metal ring.
If you can't identify the band's material, don't guess. Wipe it with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth and check the care label before trying anything else.
Watch band stains
A stain that wipes off with a soft, damp cloth usually needs nothing more than that. Stains that stay should get the warm soapy water step, worked gently with a cloth rather than scrubbed.
Once the band is clean, dry it fully before you put it back on, so no moisture sits against your skin.
White, pink, and colored watch bands
Light and colored bands show marks sooner, so wipe them as soon as you notice one instead of letting it dry.
Keep to warm soapy water and a soft cloth here, and leave out the stronger remedies covered below.
Gold jewelry and gold necklaces
Gold responds well to warm soapy water, and a soft-bristled toothbrush lifts dirt from behind the settings on gold pieces with stones in them.
Dry a gold chain fully before you wear it, and give the clasp and links a close look for trapped dirt.
Skin marks from jewelry
Marks on skin under a piece usually come from lotion, film or dirt that has built up on the jewelry. Wipe the piece with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth first, then wash the skin under it with warm water.
Dry the piece completely, and check it again once it's dry before you wear it.
Sterling silver, pearls, and delicate pieces
Silver tarnish is normal, and regular polishing keeps it under control, with a jeweler cleaning the piece once a year. Pearls need a very soft, clean cloth and an occasional wash in warm soapy water, with the string dried fully afterward.
Delicate pieces with antique metals or softer stones are best left to a jeweler rather than a home machine.
Denim dye on watch bands
Dye transfer is harder to predict than ordinary dirt, so start with the gentlest option. Blot the dye with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth, without rubbing.
If the color is still there after one gentle try, stop and take the band to a professional cleaner rather than trying something stronger.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain on jewelry is usually built-up film or tarnish, and it comes off slowly, so give it the same gentle wash rather than a harder one. Repeat warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush on metal and hard gems, one careful round at a time.
If the stain is still there after the piece has dried, check the metal before you do anything else. On silver, that's tarnish, and regular polishing plus a professional cleaning once a year is what removes it.
If it's still there after that, or the stones or plating seem to be involved, take the piece to a jeweler. Worn plating cannot be cleaned back at home, so don't keep scrubbing it.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on jewelry & watches?
Most common stain remedies don't belong on jewelry. Warm soapy water, plus a soft toothbrush for metal and hard stones, does the work, and the rest are either unsafe or unnecessary. For the copper smell, the safe starting point is the same wash and a thorough dry.
Skip4Avoid3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't soak jewelry in chlorine or salt water
Chlorine and salt water damage and discolor gold and platinum, and they can harm gemstones too. Take fine jewelry off before swimming or cleaning with anything containing bleach.
Don't run pearls or organic gems through a machine
Never put pearls, coral, tortoise shell, ivory, shell cameos, jet or amber in an ultrasonic cleaner. Pearls shouldn't go in a steam cleaner either.
Don't use an ultrasonic on heat-sensitive or treated gems
Ultrasonic cleaners may be too harsh for delicate pieces and softer gemstones. Tanzanite, opal, topaz, star stones, fracture-filled gems, and gems treated with oil, plastic or wax all need hand cleaning.
Don't leave jewelry near heat or humidity
Store jewelry away from heaters, radiators, air conditioners and humidifiers. Heat and damp air are the wrong place for a piece you want to keep looking clean.
Don't use hot water on gems
Many gems are susceptible to heat and temperature changes, so warm water is the safe choice every time. Use it even when a piece looks heavily soiled.
Don't use vinegar or any acid
Acids damage pearls and can harm metals, so keep vinegar and other acids off jewelry. The same rule covers any cleaner that lists acid as an ingredient.
Don't expect worn plating to come back
Worn plating can't be cleaned back, since gold plating eventually wears away. Scrubbing won't restore the color, so stop once the gold is worn and see a jeweler about it.
When to call a professional
Have jewelry professionally cleaned at least once a year, and take silver in at the same time for cleaning and tarnish removal. If you're unsure whether a gem can withstand cleaning, use a jeweler instead of a home method. Pearl necklaces may need restringing as the silk thread wears.
Questions
Does gold, silver, brass, copper, or tungsten jewelry stain skin?
It depends on the piece and on your skin, so there's no single yes or no for every metal. Wipe the piece and the skin under it with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth and see whether the mark comes off. If it does, the film or dirt on the piece was the cause.
Does the white watch band stain?
White bands can show marks from dirt and lotion, and they show them sooner than dark bands. Wipe the band with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth first, then use warm soapy water if the mark is still there. If the color stays after that, don't scrub harder.
Why does my jewelry smell like copper, and how do I get rid of it?
Start with a wash in warm soapy water and dry the piece completely. If the smell stays, take it to a jeweler rather than trying a stronger remedy, since the acid and salt options aren't safe on jewelry.
Is warm soapy water safe for gold jewelry?
Yes, warm soapy water is the safe home method for gold, and a soft-bristled toothbrush gets dirt out from behind the settings. Use warm water rather than hot, and dry the piece fully afterward.
How do I remove jewelry marks from skin?
Wipe the piece with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth to remove the lotion or film that's causing the mark, then wash the skin with warm water. Dry the piece before wearing it again.
Can I put my pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner?
No. Pearls should never go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, so use a very soft, clean cloth and warm soapy water instead. Let the string dry completely before you wear it.
What should I do if I'm not sure a gem can be cleaned at home?
Take it to a jeweler instead of trying a home method, since a wrong guess can damage a stone. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth are the only home methods to try first.
Will denim dye come off a watch band?
It may lift partly with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth, but dye transfer is hard to predict. Blot gently and don't rub. If the color stays after one gentle try, take the band to a professional cleaner.
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.