Whether it be regular maintenance or an occasional deep clean, every type of jewelry needs proper care. If you’ve been buffing your rings, earrings, and necklaces with an old toothbrush to no avail, it could be time to try a specially formulated jewelry cleaner.
To find the best jewelry cleaners, we tested 10 products on various types of jewelry and evaluated them based on their formula, value, and overall effectiveness. We also spoke with Brittany Groshong, founder, CEO, and creative director of jewelry brand Valley Rose, for insight on what to look for in a jewelry cleaner to make your pieces sparkle like new.
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What Stands Out
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It has a convenient dipping tray and works on gold, platinum, titanium, diamonds, and more.
Not only is this option inexpensive and simple to use, but it also works like a charm. The Weiman Fine Jewelry Cleaner comes with a convenient dipping tray to set your jewelry on and lower it into the solution, where you let it sit for up to 30 minutes.
When you pull it out again, there’s a little scrubbing brush to access nooks and crannies if needed. After that, just rinse it off with water, buff it with a soft cloth, and enjoy the new shine and sparkle. This worked super well on all of our jewelry, excluding heavily tarnished items that were pretty much past the point of no return.
It’s a great option for anyone looking for a regular cleaner for jewelry worn daily. Just note that this cleaner is not formulated for silver, coral, ivory, amber, malachite, pearls, opals, jade, or turquoise.
Type: Liquid | Best For: Gold, platinum, titanium, diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby, topaz | Size: 6 fluid ounces
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Ultrasonic cleaners may seem gimmicky, but through our testing (and even advice from experts), we found that they can be an excellent option for cleaning jewelry and other small items, including eyeglasses, watchbands, coins, electric shaver heads, and kitchen utensils, as long as they aren’t extremely tarnished. We appreciated that we could clean several items in one batch in the roomy basket.
This model from Magnasonic requires basically no effort to use—just add tap water, toss your items in the stainless steel tank, and forget about them until they’re clean. There are five presets: 90, 180, 280, 380, and 480 seconds.
Although this jewelry cleaner doesn’t exactly deep clean certain crevices, particularly rings and small earrings, we don’t mind this small drawback considering its convenience. It’s also quite bulky, but if you have the bathroom vanity, dresser top, or nightstand space for it, you’ll hardly notice it.
Type: Ultrasonic machine | Best For: Most jewelry (no loose stones or soft/porous stones such as pearl, opal, or amber), metal, eyeglasses, silver | Size: 8 x 6 x 5 inches
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Diamonds are renowned for their hardness, strength, and durability, but when it comes to cleaning them, you’ll need to be meticulous and intentional to really make your diamond ring or earrings sparkle as they should.
We loved the Maui Liquid Jewelry Cleaner Solution—the kit comes with everything you need to properly polish your jewelry, including a small brush and cloth. We tested it on an old Pandora bracelet and were impressed at how well it removed discoloration and returned some of its original shine.
According to the label, this cleaner may not work on all silver and gold (specifically, fake or costume jewelry), but it is optimized for diamonds and precious stones. If you’re looking for a low-cost cleaner that cleans diamond jewelry quickly and effectively, you can’t go wrong with this all-in-one kit.
Type: Liquid | Best For: Silver, gold, diamonds | Size: 5 fluid ounces
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Since silver is a softer metal than gold, it takes a specially formulated cleaner to clean silver jewelry properly and efficiently. Similar to other jewelry cleaners, the Connoisseurs Premium Edition Silver Jewelry Cleaner features a small container filled with liquid in which you place your jewelry, but its formulation is designed exclusively for silver.
During our testing, we liked how well this product worked on an old silver ring, which ended up significantly less dull. We also liked how it didn’t create a mess and was quick to use—it only took 10 seconds. If you need to, you can repeat after five minutes.
If you’re sensitive to strong scents, it’s important to keep in mind that this liquid cleaner is quite funky. The label also says it can cause stains, so it’s best to use this product carefully to avoid damage to your clothes or whatever surface you’re working on. While this product is great for cleaning silver, you may also want a polish to fully restore the shine. Do not use this on stones or painted or antiqued pieces.
Type: Liquid | Best For: Sterling silver | Size: 10 fluid ounces
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To keep your gold jewelry brilliant and sparkling, we recommend the Connoisseurs Premium Edition Jewelry Wipes. In our testing, we liked how quickly these dry wipes worked on heavily tarnished earrings and that they added a protective coating to each piece of jewelry to create a long-lasting shine.
These also come highly recommended by Groshong since you can easily store them in your purse or work bag and clean your rings when you’re in a pinch. These wipes are packaged in a compact box of 30 and are disposable, which is something to consider if you’re trying to invest in a more eco-friendly jewelry cleaner.
However, if you’ve never tried a jewelry cleaner before or want something quick, efficient, and easy to travel with that you’ll only use on occasion, these are an excellent option.
Type: Dry wipes | Best For: Gold, silver, gemstones, watches | Size: 3 x 4 inches each
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If you’re looking to clean several pieces of large costume jewelry or just prefer a foam cleaner in general, we recommend Connoisseurs All-Purpose Jewelry Cleansing Foam. All you need to do is let your jewelry sit in it for up to a minute and then rinse it with water.
We tested it on a few pieces of jewelry, including a tarnished necklace, and were pleasantly surprised by the results, especially considering we did not do any scrubbing. This cleaner is not exactly heavy-duty, but we do like it as a regular cleaner to maintain everyday jewelry or clean large costume jewelry that wouldn’t otherwise fit in a standard liquid cleaner container.
Since it is a foam, it can get a little messy. It’s also not the most effective on silver. Regardless, we think this is the best foam jewelry cleaner for anyone looking for something reliable that’s helpful for maintenance or covering large surface areas on jewelry.
Type: Foam | Best For: All jewelry except silver | Size: 2 fluid ounces
Final Verdict
Our top pick for the best overall jewelry cleaner is Weiman Fine Jewelry Cleaner. We loved how easy it was to use during our testing, plus it’s versatile and inexpensive. If you’d prefer an ultrasonic version, we also recommend the Magnasonic Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner because it doesn’t require much effort, and you can clean other items besides jewelry.
Our Testing Process
To compile our list of the best jewelry cleaners, we tested 10 top options, including liquids, gels, foams, wipes, and more. Following each product’s instructions, we used each option on our various pieces of jewelry, including earrings, rings, diamonds, costume jewelry, and necklaces. We also ensured our jewelry varied in size, condition (in some cases, our pieces were heavily tarnished), and type of metal.
After thoroughly testing each option with multiple pieces of jewelry, we evaluated each cleaner based on formula, value, and overall effectiveness, taking into account whether it was manual or ultrasonic. We also noted which cleaning products worked best for different types of jewelry, the level of messiness involved, and scent strength to identify the best options for various jewelry-cleaning needs.
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Manual vs. Ultrasonic
Jewelry cleaners come in two categories: manual and ultrasonic. Manual jewelry cleaners include liquids, creams, foams, gels, wipes, and brushes, whereas ultrasonic cleaners are electronic devices filled with water or a cleaning solution that use high-frequency sound waves to agitate and clean items. Groshong says there are pros and cons to both; deciding which is best for you depends on the type of jewelry you want to clean and how hands-on you want to be.
“Many manual cleaners are great for travel and cleaning pieces that you occasionally wear or when a light cleaning is needed,” Groshong says. “With proper brushing and soaking, these manual cleaners are enough to get the job done.”
“Ultrasonic cleaners are extremely effective on diamonds and strong precious gemstones, but could destroy stones with inclusions like emerald or soft stones and organic materials like opal, coral, turquoise, doublets, resin inlay, and moonstone,” she adds.
Formula
Most jewelry requires a special formula to dissolve dirt and oils while restoring luster and shine. Groshong says it’s important to read the label carefully when selecting your cleaner to ensure that it’s formulated for your jewelry type—harsh solvents and detergents shouldn’t be used on delicate gemstones.
She recommends taking extra precautions with pearls, opals, turquoise, and plated and vermeil options, which require gentler solutions. Diamonds, sapphires, and garnets are compatible with nearly all cleaners, Groshong says, but it’s still critical to check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Jewelry Type
While all jewelry should be cleaned in some way, not every cleaner will work for every type of jewelry. Groshong explains that some metals, such as silver, require a more specific formulation, while costume jewelry is best cleaned with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water.
“Most fine jewelry, like gold, diamonds, and platinum, can be cleaned with manual cleaners, ultrasonics, and cleaning formulas,” she says. “When cleaning costume jewelry and soft stones, be gentle to avoid lifting off the plating or scratching the metal and stones.” If in doubt, consult the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the formula and cleaning method are appropriate for your specific piece of jewelry.
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Questions You Might Ask
Is there any type of jewelry that can’t be cleaned with a store-bought jewelry cleaner?
Not all jewelry is created the same, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with your jewelry, what it’s made of, and the types of stones it may contain. Groshong says it’s also essential to follow the label guidelines of any jewelry cleaner.
“Pearls, opals, and turquoise are the most vulnerable to solvents and need special, delicate formulas,” she says. “Diamonds, garnets, and sapphires can handle almost anything. Plated jewelry and vermeil should also not be exposed to harsh cleaners or methods, as they will wear away the gold plating.”
Take Our Word for It
To compile this list, we tested 12 jewelry cleaners at home and evaluated them based on their formula, the type of jewelry they are compatible with, and whether they were manual or ultrasonic. We also consulted Brittany Groshong, founder, CEO, and creative director of Valley Rose.