how to clean pearls?

Question

How can I clean the pearls on my pearl earrings without ruining their finish (or whatever you call the shine on pearls! lol)?

the polident commercial pearls were made out of denture material btw

Answer 1

1. Gently wipe pearls with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth.

2. Pat dry with a fresh, lint-free cloth.

3. Have pearls professionally cleaned at least every other year.

Answer 2

Taking Care of Pearls
Pearls are meant to be worn. Wearing them only enhances their beauty. But they can’t be worn indefinitely, so they must be regularly put away for safekeeping as well as for preservation. Do not store pearls in plastic bags over a long period of time as they will dry out and crack. Because they need to breathe, store them in a soft satin or velvet pouch.

Since pearls are not as hard as precious stones, they should not be stored in direct contact with other pieces of jewelry, which may scratch them. Also to be avoided is contact between the pearls and dishwashing liquid and acidic products, such as hair spray, perfume, vinegar and lemon juice.
Cleaning Your Pearls
When the moment comes to put pearls away for the night, owners should make it a habit of rinsing and drying them off. You may even polish them with a soft cloth.

Cleaning "Don'ts"
What must be kept in mind is that the softness of pearls and their low resistance to heat and chemicals mean that special precautions must be taken when cleaning them. Here are some important guidelines:

Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners on pearls unless the product label states they are safe for pearls. Many such products contain ammonia, which will cause deterioration. Never clean pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner. That can damage the pearls. Never steam-clean pearls. Heat can harm them. Never use detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda or ammonia-based cleaners on pearls. Do not wear pearls when their string is wet. Wet strings stretch and attract dirt, which is hard to remove. Likewise, do not hang pearls to dry. Do not use toothbrushes, scouring pads or abrasive materials to clean pearls. They can scratch the pearls' surface. If there is a lump of dirt that can't be rubbed off with a soft cloth, trying using a fingernail, which has a hardness of only 2.5 or less.

Cleaning "Do's"
Cleaning pearls is not complicated. After you wear them just wipe them off with a soft cloth or chamois, which may be dry or damp. This will prevent dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the pearl nacre.

When taking off a pearl ring, grasp the shank, or metal part, rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from loosening and coming into contact with skin oil on your hand. If pearls have not been kept clean and are very dirty, they can be cleaned by your jeweler or they can be washed in water and a mild soap, such as Ivory or Lux Liquid and cleaned with a soft cloth. Some liquid soaps, such as Dawn, can damage pearls. Pay attention to the areas around the drill holes where dirt may tend to collect.

After washing your pearls, lay them flat in a moist kitchen towel to dry. When the towel is dry, your pearls should be dry. About every six months have a jewelry professional verify that the pearls on your jewelry are securely mounted or that the string is still good. Many jewelers will do this free of charge, and they'll be happy to answer your questions about the care of your jewelry.

Answer 3

you clean fake and real pearls by soaking them in polident, the same as you use for false teeth