How to sterilize your earrings
If you have pierced ears, it is important to regularly sterilize your earrings to avoid the risk of infection.
Soaking the earrings in rubbing alcohol will kill germs and bacteria, which may contaminate sensitive earlobes. It is also a good idea to sterilize used earrings you found at a flea market or second-hand store, or after a friend borrowed them.
David Bellman of Bellman Jewelers, who invented an at-home jewellery cleaning system called AquaSonic Wave, says dirty jewellery has bacteria levels 10 times higher than skin after hand-washing, but most people go months or even years without cleaning their jewellery.
Rubbing alcohol is safe to use on most earring metals and embellishments, such as gold, silver and gemstones.
Sterilizing your earrings
- Fill a small bowl with rubbing alcohol.
- Place the earrings into the alcohol, which will kill any bacteria on the jewellery items. Allow the earrings to soak in the alcohol for at least one hour.
- Dip an old toothbrush or nail brush into the rubbing alcohol and use it to gently clean the earring posts and decorations, such as gemstones or beads.
- Rinse the earrings off in water to remove the alcohol. Pat the jewellery dry with a soft cloth.
Warning
Do not use rubbing alcohol on delicate pearl earrings, rather have the jewellery professionally cleaned instead to avoid damage.
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