How I Clean My Jewelry at Home
with Dawn Dish Soap

One of the questions I get asked all the time is, “Colleen, how do you clean your jewelry?” My answer for a quick at-home shine-up is wonderfully unglamorous: good old Dawn dish soap.

I’ve been using this method for years, both at home and around CMD. Jewelry that you wear regularly naturally picks up oils from your skin, hand lotion, sunscreen, soap and everyday grime, and sometimes what looks like tarnish or a dull finish is simply buildup sitting on the surface. A gentle cleaning can make a surprising difference.

How I Clean My Jewelry with Dish Soap

For many of my everyday CMD pieces, I use a small amount of mild dish soap, like Dawn, with warm water. I work the suds around the jewelry gently with my hands, rinse the piece thoroughly and dry it really well with a soft cloth. I like microfiber because it gets into little spaces and doesn't leave much lint behind.

That’s it. No complicated routine and no fancy machine required for a basic cleaning. Sometimes the piece comes out looking dramatically brighter simply because the layer of lotion, oils and daily life has been washed away.

Can You Use Dish Soap to Clean All Jewelry?

Not necessarily. Jewelry materials and finishes vary, and what works beautifully for one piece may not be the right cleaning method for another.

I’m comfortable using mild dish soap and warm water on many of the sterling silver and solid gold pieces we make at CMD, but I’d be more cautious with pearls, porous or delicate gemstones, plated jewelry, antique pieces, intentionally oxidized finishes or anything you're simply unsure about. When in doubt, ask the jeweler who made the piece before experimenting with cleaners at home.

Why Your Jewelry Gets Dull in the First Place

Jewelry is meant to be worn, and worn jewelry gets dirty. Hand cream, sunscreen, natural skin oils, makeup and everything else you encounter during the day can gradually collect on the surface. That's normal, and in my opinion it's a pretty good indication that you're actually living in your jewelry.

I don't think your favorite pieces need to look untouched forever. Scratches, patina and other signs of wear are different from dirt, and they're part of what happens when jewelry becomes part of your actual life. But when your CMD rings, bracelets, earrings or necklaces start looking a little lackluster, sometimes all they need is a bath.

A Little Jewelry Care Goes a Long Way

I still keep dish soap handy and still love how simple this cleaning method is. The goal isn't to make a well-loved piece look like it has never been worn. It's just to remove the everyday buildup and let the metal look like itself again.

And if you're ever unsure how to care for a piece, send me a message. I'd much rather help you figure out the right cleaning method than have you accidentally damage something you love.

Here's to wearing your jewelry enough that it occasionally needs a bath,
Colleen

© Colleen Mauer Designs. All rights reserved.
Published: January 26, 2023
Updated: August 23, 2026