How to Clean Kundan Jewellery at Home: Safe Steps for Stone-Set Pieces
by Jihaan Savla on Oct 04, 2026
Quick answer: Clean kundan jewellery dry. Wipe it with a soft cloth after each wear, brush dust from around the stones with a clean, dry, soft brush, and keep it away from water, perfume and cleaning liquids. Soaking can loosen the foil-backed stones and dull the plating, so never dip a kundan set.
Kundan and other stone-set fashion jewellery looks rich because of its stones, and the stones are also what make it fragile. The settings are glued or foil-backed, the backs are often lacquered, and water finds its way into every gap. This guide covers gentle dry cleaning at home, what to avoid, and when it is better to leave a piece alone. Everything here is for fashion jewellery in plated brass or alloy, not solid gold.
What is the safest way to clean kundan jewellery?
Use a dry method. Lay the piece on a clean towel, wipe the metal and stones with a soft, dry cotton or microfibre cloth, and then use a soft brush, such as a clean baby toothbrush or a makeup brush, to sweep dust out of the gaps between stones. Work gently and in short strokes, and do not press on the stones.
Can I wash or soak kundan jewellery in water?
No. Water can seep behind the stones, weaken the glue, lift the foil backing and leave dark marks or water spots under the stone. It can also dull the plating and spoil any pearl or bead strings. Even a quick dip is a risk, and a set that has been soaked rarely looks the same afterwards. If a piece gets splashed by accident, blot it at once with a dry cloth and let it air dry fully.
Which chemicals, perfumes and cleaners should I avoid?
Avoid perfume, deodorant, hair spray, sanitiser, soap, jewellery dips, toothpaste, lemon, vinegar and any home remedy that involves a liquid or a paste. Alcohol and acids strip the plating and cloud the stones. Put your jewellery on after perfume and makeup, and take it off before bathing. Our guide on why fashion jewellery reacts with skin explains how sweat and cosmetics affect the finish.
How do I clean pearls and the backs of the pieces?
Pearl strings and beads should only be wiped with a barely damp soft cloth, if at all, and then dried straight away. These are imitation pearls, so treat them like any other bead and keep them away from perfume. For the back of a kundan piece, use the dry cloth and brush as well. The back touches your skin, so sweat builds up there first, and a regular dry wipe is the single best habit. See pearl sets and kundan necklace sets for the designs this applies to.
What should I do if my kundan jewellery looks dull?
Start with a dry wipe, since most dullness is just dust and body oils. If the stones look cloudy or the metal has worn thin, that is usually normal ageing of plating and no home method will reverse it. Do not scrub or polish. Once clean, store the set correctly: our guide to storing jewellery at home explains pouches, silica gel and flat storage, and the gold plated care guide covers wearing habits.
When should I not try to clean it myself?
Leave it alone if a stone is loose or missing, the plating is flaking, a string is frayed, or the piece has a green or black deposit. More cleaning will make these worse. A local jeweller or repair shop can usually re-glue a stone or restring a set. Our kundan jewellery guide explains how the settings work. If you are unsure, message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we would do.
How often should I clean kundan jewellery?
A quick dry wipe after every wear is enough for most people. Do the soft-brush clean only when you notice dust collecting around the stones, or before you put a set away for a long time, such as after a wedding season. Over-cleaning does more harm than good, because every brushing is a little friction on the plating and the stone settings. If a set is worn only a few times a year, a wipe before storing and a wipe before wearing is plenty.
How can I wear kundan jewellery so it stays cleaner for longer?
Put it on last, after saree draping, makeup, hair spray and perfume, and take it off first when you get home. Keep it away from oily hands and food, and avoid wearing a heavy set in the rain or while cooking or dancing hard. Open clasps and hooks with dry hands. Fewer hours of contact with sweat and cosmetics means less to clean afterwards, and the stones keep their sparkle for much longer.
Browse kundan jewellery, kundan earrings and kundan choker sets, or read our checklist for buying fashion jewellery online.
