Earring Hygiene

[Jadeanne]

On Saturday I was the cashier at our church rummage sale.

Two different GG customers after paying, put on pierced hoop earrings - no cleaning of them, just right in their earlobes .

My wife is very particular about her earrings and always cleans the post or wire of new earrings before putting them on for the first time. She also cleans them regularly after that.

My wife is also very particular about the type of metal that the post/wire is made of - surgical steel, gold or sterling silver are her preferences.

I don't have pierced ears and have no plans to have them pierced.

One of the pairs of earrings are ones that I donated - I used adapters with them. I bought a set of 3 different size hoops at a dollar store and donated them all after I got tired of them. Of course I kept the adaptors for reuse.

What are your cleaning procedures/post and wire likes and dislikes?

Jadeanne

[Georgia(SO)]

Ya know - my ears have been pierced for so many years, I really don't think about cleaning the earrings very often. When I do, I drop them in a cup of hydrogen peroxide for a little while, pull them out and let them air dry on a towel and call it a day. Haven't bought earrings at a rummage sale in 16 days since forever, but I probably would have cleaned them first. Still, once your ears have been pierced for many years, they are pretty well healed and I don't think it's likely that you'd catch anything unless you are really sensitive...

I am more particular about the type of post/wire - cheap earrings will rot my ears right off my head.

-g(so)

[SilverLady(SO)]

Hi, Jadeanne -

I'm like Georgia, my ears have been pierced for 30yrs now (!!) and I don't think about cleaning the earrings all that much. I'm not prone to infections nor am I 'sensitive' to certain metals, and I can wear just about any type of earring style (or metal) without problems. I've worn many 'new' earrings just after purchase without cleaning them first, but I prefer to clean the 'second-hand' earrings prior to wearing them.

When it comes to cleaning them, I tend to use Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (90%) on a soft cloth for a quick cleaning. If they need a deep-clean (or if they were bought 'used') I tend to drop them in the appropriate Connoisseurs Jewelry Cleaning jars, letting them soak for a few minutes or so before brushing/wiping them clean.

- SL