Short answer: it's best to take your jewellery off before you shower, sleep or work out. Water, soap and sweat dull finishes and wear plating faster, and sleeping or exercising in jewellery can bend, snag or scratch it. A simple habit, putting pieces in the same safe spot every time you take them off, protects your jewellery and makes it last much longer.
Quick guide: should it come off?
| Activity | Take it off? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Showering and bathing | Yes | Soap film dulls metal and stones; water and heat wear plating. |
| Swimming | Yes | Chlorine and salt water are harsh on most metals. |
| Sleeping | Yes, ideally | Earrings and chains can bend, snag or tangle overnight. |
| Gym and sport | Yes | Sweat, friction and equipment can scratch and bend pieces. |
| Cleaning and washing up | Yes | Household chemicals and scrubbing damage finishes. |
| Applying skincare or perfume | Put jewellery on afterwards | Products leave residue that dulls shine. |
Can you shower with jewellery on?
It's better not to. Soap, shampoo and conditioner leave a thin film that dulls metal and builds up behind stones and in settings. Hot water and repeated wetting also speed up wear on plated finishes, and pearls, mother-of-pearl and porous stones such as turquoise shouldn't be soaked at all.
Even 925 sterling silver, which handles water better than plated pieces, can tarnish faster when it's often left damp. If a piece does get wet, dry it straight away with a soft cloth. For more, see can you swim in gold-plated jewellery?
Can you sleep with earrings in?
For most earrings, it's best to take them out at night. While you sleep, earrings can press into your ear, catch on pillowcases and hair, and bend out of shape, especially hoops, drops and larger statement styles. Small, flat studs are the least likely to cause problems, but taking them out still gives your ears a rest and protects the backs from loosening.
If you have a new piercing, follow your piercer's aftercare advice about when it's safe to change or remove earrings.
Can you sleep in a necklace?
Fine chains can tangle, kink or snap overnight as you move, and pendants can twist the chain. Take necklaces off and lay them flat or hang them before bed. If a chain does knot, our guide on how to untangle a necklace can help.
Can you wear jewellery to the gym?
It's safest not to. Sweat contains salt and acids that dull plating and speed up tarnishing. Rings can be scratched or bent by weights and equipment, and can catch during exercise. Necklaces and dangling earrings can swing, snag or get pulled during sport. Leave your jewellery in your bag in a pouch and put it back on after you've cooled down and dried off.
The one habit that protects everything: a "landing spot"
Most lost or damaged jewellery happens in the moment we take it off: a ring left on the edge of a sink, earrings dropped into a gym bag, a necklace tossed on a bedside table. Choose one safe place at home, such as a dish, tray or jewellery roll, and always put pieces there. Keep a small pouch in your gym bag and handbag for when you're out.
- At home: a lined dish or tray by your bed or bathroom door, away from water.
- At the gym or pool: a zipped pouch inside your bag, never loose in a pocket.
- Travelling: a jewellery roll that keeps earrings in pairs and chains apart. Read our travel tips.
What about everyday "never take off" jewellery?
Many people like to wear a few pieces all the time. If you do, lighter, simpler styles and solid metals tend to cope best with daily life, but they still last longer with regular breaks, a wipe after wearing, and the habits above. Everything is easier to care for when it isn't worn through water, sweat and sleep every day. For material-specific advice, read gold-plated vs vermeil vs gold-filled vs solid gold.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it bad to shower with gold-plated jewellery?
Yes, it's best avoided. Soap, water and heat wear plating faster. Take plated pieces off before showering and dry them straight away if they get wet.
Is it OK to sleep with stud earrings in?
Small, flat studs are less likely to cause problems than hoops or drops, but taking earrings out at night protects them and gives your ears a rest. For new piercings, follow your piercer's advice.
Should I take my rings off at the gym?
Yes. Weights and equipment can scratch and bend rings, and rings can catch during exercise. Keep them in a zipped pouch in your bag.
For more ways to look after your pieces, visit our Jewellery Care Guide.