How to Clean & Care for Turquoise Jewelry

Why turquoise asks for gentle care

Turquoise is a porous phosphate mineral, noticeably softer than most gemstones — around 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, softer than quartz. That number matters more than it sounds: ordinary household dust carries quartz, which is why a gentle wipe will always beat a vigorous rub. And because the stone is porous, it slowly absorbs oils, lotions, and chemicals — the real cause of most turquoise trouble.

How much a stone drinks depends on what it is. Natural turquoise is the most absorbent and the most deserving of care; stabilized turquoise, hardened with clear resin, is more forgiving — but the rules below apply to both. (Not sure which you own? Our guides to the types of turquoise and real vs. fake turquoise explain how the trade grades stones — and a good dealer will simply tell you. The whole series lives in The Turquoise Guide.)

How to clean turquoise jewelry, step by step

1. Make the dry cloth a habit

   After a day of wear, wipe the stone and the silver with a soft, dry cloth. Thirty seconds removes skin oils before the stone can absorb them — this one habit does more than everything else combined.

2. When it needs more, wash briefly — never soak

   Dampen a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a single drop of mild soap, wipe the piece clean, then go over it again with a plain-water cloth. Seconds, not minutes. Turquoise should never sit in water.

3. Detail the silverwork with a soft brush

   A worn-soft toothbrush reaches the crevices of stamped and appliquéd silver. Work the metal, and keep the bristles off the stone as much as you reasonably can.

4. Dry completely before it goes away

   Pat dry with a soft cloth, then let the piece air out before it returns to its pouch. Trapped moisture helps nobody — least of all the silver.

Never use these on turquoise

• Ultrasonic cleaners — the vibration can damage the stone and loosen bezels.
• Steam cleaners — heat and pressure are exactly what a porous stone doesn’t want.
• Silver dip and chemical tarnish removers — the fastest way to permanently dull a turquoise stone. Never dip a set piece.
• Ammonia, bleach, acetone, or alcohol-based cleaners — they soak straight into the stone.
• Abrasives — toothpaste, polishing pastes, scouring pads. Remember the hardness scale.
• Long soaks in water — brief and damp, never submerged and forgotten.
• Sustained heat and direct sun — a car dashboard or a sunny windowsill can dry a stone and shift its color.

“Last on, first off” — the everyday rule

Perfume, lotion, sunscreen, and hairspray should all be dry on your skin before turquoise goes on, and the jewelry should come off before the day’s rough work begins: pools and hot tubs (chlorine is hard on stone and silver alike), dishes, gardening, the gym.

Different pieces live different lives. Rings meet soap and lotion more than anything else you own — men’s rings add toolboxes and truck doors to the list — while cuffs collect doorframe encounters, and earrings mostly just meet hairspray. Give the hardest-working pieces the most faithful wipe-downs.

One more thing worth knowing: over years of wear, even well-kept turquoise can deepen slightly in color as it lives with you. Collectors of Old Pawn and vintage pieces often love that mellowed look. Good habits don’t stop the story — they just let you set its pace.

Caring for the sterling silver

Tarnish is chemistry, not damage — sterling silver darkens naturally with air and time. A silver polishing cloth is the right tool: work the bright, raised metal and stay off the stone.

But look closely at handmade Native American silverwork before you polish. The darkened, oxidized background inside stampwork, overlay, and shadowbox settings is intentional — it’s what makes the design read. Polish the raised surfaces and leave those recesses alone. When tarnish has gone deep or the piece is intricate, bring it to us rather than fighting it at home.

Storing turquoise jewelry

Store each piece in its own soft pouch or a lined compartment — harder stones and metals will scratch turquoise if everything tumbles together in one dish. Keep the jewelry box somewhere cool, dry, and out of direct sun; anti-tarnish strips are a cheap kindness to the silver, and the humidity of a bathroom counter is not.

A note on White Buffalo, Old Pawn & vintage pieces

When to bring it to the bench

Some things a cloth can’t fix, and catching them early is the whole game. Bring a piece in when a stone rocks or clicks in its bezel, when a cuff has bent out of shape (repeated re-bending fatigues the silver — let us do it once, properly), when a ring shank has worn thin, when an aging necklace needs restringing, or when a clasp no longer bites. Our repair bench is right in the store on Main Street, and walk-ins are welcome seven days a week.

Visit the Repair Bench