How to Clean Pura Vida Bracelets: Step by Step Guide

Wondering how to clean Pura Vida bracelets? You've come to the right place. We know how much you love your new jewelry and you want to keep it looking amazing for years to come. And that's exactly what we're here to help you do. No more guessing games about cleaning your bracelets! 

This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know - so you can enjoy peace of mind and confidence in sprucing up your favorite bracelets. We'll talk about the differences in cleaning string bracelets vs metal and beaded styles, along with the other styles we offer here on our site. You'll also gain tips and tricks on how to keep your bracelets in tip-top shape for the long haul. 

Let's not waste any more time. First, we want to answer a separate question related to cleaning that we get asked all the time. Do you really need to clean Pura Vida bracelets? Here’s the scoop…

Do You Need to Clean Pura Vida Bracelets?

We get this question a lot - and the answer is yes! Just like any other piece of jewelry, your bracelets will eventually need to be cleaned. This is true of both our men's bracelets and women's bracelets.

Even if you don't wear them every day, it's still important to give them a good cleaning every few months (or more often if you live an active lifestyle). This timeline will also depend on how hard you are on your bracelets. For example, if you're just wearing your bracelets to work or out on the town they won't get nearly as dirty as if you take them to the beach, camping, surfing, etc. Why do you need to learn how to clean bracelets, aside from the obvious reason of keeping them fresh and visually beautiful?

Why Learning How to Clean Bracelets is so Important

One of the main reasons why you should clean your bracelets regularly is because of how they're made. Most Pura Vida bracelets are crafted with either string or thread. And as time goes on, that string can start to fray or become discolored. If you want to keep your bracelet looking new, it's important to take care of it.

Cleaning also helps prevent the buildup of dirt, oil, and other materials that can make your bracelets look dull. If you live an active lifestyle or just happen to get sweaty a lot (we're not judging!), it's especially important to clean your bracelets often. The last thing you want is for your beautiful jewelry to become stained or grimy.

So now that we know learning how to clean Pura Vida bracelets isn’t something you can overlook, let’s talk about another important question. How often do you need to clean bracelets?

How Often Should You Clean Pura Vida Bracelets?

This really depends on how often you wear them and what type of activities you do while wearing them. As we mentioned before, if you live an active lifestyle or are constantly exposed to dirt and water then you'll need to clean your bracelets more often. We recommend giving them a good cleaning at least once a month, but you can do it more frequently if needed.

On the other hand, if you only wear your bracelets occasionally then you can probably get away with cleaning them every few months or so. Just use your best judgment and give them a good scrub when they start to look dirty. Trust us - your bracelets will thank you for it!

We've answered all of your burning questions about cleaning Pura Vida bracelets, except for one…how to actually do it! With that said, it’s time to move on to the main topic at hand today...how to clean Pura Vida bracelets.

How to Clean Pura Vida Bracelets: Step by Step Guide

Ready to learn how to clean Pura Vida bracelets? We're so excited to help you get your favorite pieces of jewelry looking new again. Keep in mind, though, that these recommendations will vary based on the type of material your bracelet is made of. We have such a wide variety of unique bracelets that we've broken down recommendations into a few different categories:

  • How to Clean String Bracelets
  • How to Clean Metal or Beaded Bracelets

Because the string jewelry is what started it all for us here at Pura Vida, it's only fitting we start there! Here's a step-by-step guide on how to clean Pura Vida's string bracelets:

Cleaning String Bracelets

When cleaning string bracelets, you can try a few different methods and see which one works best for you. We've seen our community get their string jewelry back looking beautiful by using We've also seen people use mild soap and warm water - which is the easiest way to go about it.

We recommend using dish soap, but any type of gentle soap will work just fine. Avoid using harsh chemicals or detergents as these can damage the material of your bracelets.

Next, simply wet your bracelet in the soapy water and use your fingers to lightly scrub away any dirt or grime. If you're having trouble getting all of the dirt out, you can also use a soft toothbrush to help loosen things up. Just be sure not to scrub too hard or you could damage the bracelet.

Once you've given your bracelet a good scrub, rinse it off with clean water. You can either let it air dry or gently pat it down with a soft towel. Be sure not to put your bracelet in direct sunlight as this can cause the material to fade or discolor over time.

Because all our string jewelry is coated, it's waterproof - and thus, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to washing the items. However, that is not the case with our gold-plated or beaded bracelets. So, let's explain how to clean bracelets made from metal or beaded materials.

Cleaning Metal or Beaded Bracelets

Our string collection is what inspired the brand's inception back in 2012. But since then, we've designed and produced so many other fun, unique styles here at Pura Vida! Two of these are our metal bracelets and beaded bracelets.

When it comes to cleaning metal bracelets, we recommend using a jewelry cleaner specifically designed for gold, silver, or other precious metals. You can find these cleaners at most drugstores or online. But even still, this opens up the risk to tarnishing your jewelry - which is obviously the last thing you want. So, to keep things simple and ensure you don't do more harm than good while cleaning your metal bracelets, here's our advice:

Do your best to keep these pieces clean so they don't become dirty in the first place. That might mean leaving them at home before you head to the beach, or going with a different style when heading on an adventure where you'll spend a lot of time outdoors. We'll provide more tips for keeping your Pura Vida bracelets clean, in general, down below. But, when it does come time to polish up your metal bracelets, you can use a dry, gentle microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints and grime. Just by carefully rubbing the bracelet with a cloth you can restore the shine you witnessed when you first unboxed it! This is a testament to the quality of our materials.

Caring for Your Bracelets & Keeping Them Fresh: Tips & Tricks

There you have it - how to clean bracelets safely and easily. No matter what type of bracelet you have, we want to give you some tips for caring for your bracelets and keeping them fresh for the long haul. After all, the better you take care of your bracelets and prevent them from getting dirty, the less often you have to clean them! Here's some advice we give to everyone who shops with us...

  • Only touch your bracelets with clean hands. Wash your hands before putting on bracelets and taking them off - especially our metal bracelets. The last thing you want is the oils on your fingers to tarnish the silver or gold plating.
  • Take your bracelets off before you go to bed. This gives them a chance to air out and prevents them from getting damaged while you sleep.
  • Avoid putting your bracelets on after you've applied lotion or sunscreen - this will help keep the material from discoloring. We also recommend keeping sprays and other smell-good stuff away from your jewelry.
  • When doing activities like cooking, gardening, or working out, we recommend taking your bracelets off to avoid getting them dirty or covered in sweat. With that said, your Pura Vida bracelets are capable of withstanding your rigorous lifestyle - so if you don't mind them getting a bit dirty, you can always have separate bracelets for these activities and more formal outings!
  • Store your bracelets in a cool, dry place when you're not wearing them. We suggest a jewelry pouch or a jewelry box. And as we briefly mentioned earlier, try to keep them out of direct sunlight.
  • We love stacking bracelets - and we know you do too. That's why we wrote a complete guide on how to stack bracelets. However, it's important to prevent metal jewelry from scraping against other metal. We've heard people say their jewelry got scratched because they put it in the same pocket/bag as their keys, for example.

Final Thoughts on How to Clean Bracelets

That concludes our complete guide on how to clean Pura Vida bracelets. Whether you've got some original string bracelets, beaded bracelets, metal bracelets, personalized bracelets, braided bracelets, or our demi-fine bracelets - you now know all about cleaning your jewelry. The same rules apply to ankle bracelets, too, in case you were curious.

Now that you know how to clean Pura Vida bracelets, it's time for you to get to work cleaning up your bracelets and getting them looking brand new again! If you have any other questions about cleaning Pura Vida bracelets, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team - we're super excited to chat with you and help you love your bracelets to the fullest!

Looking to treat yourself to something new and exciting? Explore our year-end reviews of the best bracelets for women or the best bracelets for men - and treat yourself to the quality jewelry you deserve!

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