Disinfecting your body jewelry is important for keeping your piercing healthy. New jewelry or jewelry you haven't worn in a while should always be disinfected before insertion. Remember that there is a difference between disinfecting and sterilizing. Sterilization is the removal of all viable microorganisms from a surface, while disinfection is reducing the number of viable microorganisms. Only an autoclave, a machine that uses high-pressure steam, can sterilize your jewelry. It is easy, however, to disinfect at home.
Step 1
Place your metal jewelry in an unused disposable cup.
Step 2
Pour enough rubbing alcohol in the cup to cover your jewelry. Remember that alcohol should only be used with metal jewelry, as it can ruin acrylic.
Step 3
Allow the jewelry to soak for half an hour.
Step 4
Remove the jewelry from the alcohol with clean hands.
Step 5
Wash the jewelry for three full minutes with antibacterial soap such as Technicare, Satin or Provon. The jewelry is now safe to insert into a fully healed piercing.
Things You'll Need
- Antimicrobial soap
- Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
- Disposable cup
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