ASK MS. ELITOU:  Can I polish my pearls with toothpaste?

Hello Ms. Elitou! I was given my Grandmother’s pearls as an anniversary gift and I want to make them look as new as I can. I want to polish them with toothpaste like my other jewelry but I am not sure if they would be safe if I did that. What are your thoughts?

-Aliza W.

Hi Aliza! Thank you for reaching out! I am very happy that you asked this question because I believe many have the same thought when it comes to cleaning pearls.

The answer is NO! It is very important to not use toothpaste on pearls, turquoise, vintage Bakelite, or vintage rhinestones, because they have softer surfaces and may get scratched. read more