How to Clean Piercing Jewellery Properly (Without Damaging It)

Wondering how to clean your body jewellery without damaging the metal or irritating your piercing?

Cleaning your jewellery is just as important as cleaning your piercing — especially if you wear it daily, or switch pieces regularly. Sweat, skincare products, dirt, and bacteria can build up fast.

But not all cleaning methods are safe. In this post, we’ll cover:

• How to clean titanium, surgical steel and gold jewellery

• What not to use

• How to clean jewellery that’s in your body vs. stored

• Safe routines that protect your piercings and your jewellery

🧼 Why Cleaning Your Jewellery Matters

Whether your piercing is fresh or healed, dirty jewellery can cause:

• Irritation or flare-ups

• Build-up of dead skin and product residue

• Bad odour (“piercing cheese”)

• Risk of infection

• Tarnishing or corrosion of lower-grade metals

🧽 How to Clean Body Jewellery (Safely)

There are two cleaning situations:

1. Jewellery that’s in your body

2. Jewellery that’s out of your body and being stored or swapped

Let’s break down the best practices for both.

✅ 1. Cleaning Jewellery You're Wearing (While It's In)

If your jewellery is still in the piercing, especially during healing:

Do this:

• Spray with sterile saline twice a day

• Let it soak in for ~30–60 seconds

• Pat dry with clean paper towel (never fabric)

Don’t:

• Remove it to clean (unless fully healed)

• Use alcohol, peroxide or soap on the area

• Twist or rotate the jewellery (it irritates the skin)

✅ 2. Cleaning Jewellery That’s Out of the Body (Swaps & Spares)

If you’re changing or rotating your jewellery, here’s how to clean it properly:

What you’ll need:

• Warm distilled water

• Mild antibacterial soap (fragrance-free)

• Soft toothbrush or jewellery cloth

• Optional: ultrasonic cleaner (for titanium or gold)

Steps:

1. Wash your hands

2. Soak the jewellery in warm soapy water for 5–10 minutes

3. Gently scrub with soft brush (get into threads or corners)

4. Rinse thoroughly with distilled water

5. Let air dry on clean tissue or paper towel

💡 For titanium jewellery, this method is safe and won’t damage the surface or integrity.

❌ What Not to Use When Cleaning Piercing Jewellery

💎 How to Clean Titanium Jewellery

Titanium (especially ASTM F-136 implant-grade) is:

• Non-porous

• Tarnish-resistant

• Biocompatible

It doesn’t require aggressive cleaning — just:

• A saline rinse when worn

• Gentle soap and water when swapped out

• Ultrasonic or polishing cloth for deep cleaning (optional)

👉 [Explore Our Titanium Jewellery Range]

🧠 FAQ: Common Questions

Can I soak my jewellery in saline?

Yes — for a short time (2–5 mins max). Use sterile saline, not table salt mixed at home.

How often should I clean it?

• Healing piercings: 2x daily (saline spray)

• Healed jewellery swaps: Clean before and after each wear

• Stored jewellery: Every few months, or before reuse

What if it still smells after cleaning?

That’s likely skin oil and bacteria buildup. Stick to titanium, clean more often, and check if your jewellery is reacting with your skin.

🎯 Final Thoughts: Clean Jewellery = Happy Piercings

Keeping your piercing jewellery clean is an easy habit with big benefits. It protects your piercings, extends the life of your jewellery, and prevents skin irritation.

Just remember: gentle is best — and stick to materials like titanium or solid gold for the smoothest experience.

👉 [Shop Titanium Jewellery Now]