How to Clean Mother of Pearl (Nacre)

Co-authored by Kennon Young

Last Updated: August 22, 2023 Approved

Have some jewelry or art at home made with mother of pearl? This strong, iridescent surface is super easy to clean with a couple of common household items. We've outlined everything you need to know so you can get cleaning right away. In just a few minutes, your mother of pearl items will be looking spotless!

1

Dip a cleaning cloth into olive oil.

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Kennon Young
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2

Rub the cloth over the mother of pearl item.

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3

Polish the surface.

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Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser

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4

Make sure that the piece is dry.

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If it is on display, be sure that its base is dry.

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What if I don't have silk?

vani samalla

Community Answer

You can use cotton instead of silk. This is easy enough to do provided you take care not to use anything that might damage the nacre.

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Tips

Avoid using soap and water. It is not good to get mother of pearl too wet and the contents of soap are likely to be too harsh for mother of pearl and will degrade it.^{[3]
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If storing mother of pearl, it should be kept in a soft cotton bag.^{[4]
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Warnings

Chemicals can destroy nacre. Do not use any chemicals on it.^{[5]
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Nacre is easily scratched, so be careful to ensure that the cleaning cloth is very soft.^{[6]
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