After wearing pearls, be sure to wipe them with a soft cloth to remove potentially damaging skin oil and salts. Pearls are beautiful but can be easily damaged. For this reason you should wear your pearl jewelry only after applying makeup, perfume, hair products and lotions. Pearls are easily dulled or even eaten away by chemicals and alcohol. Clean pearls after each wearing by gently wiping them with a soft cloth. Never store pearl jewelry along with other items that can cause scratches on them. It's also a good idea to bring your cultured pearl necklaces and bracelets in for restringing every few years, especially if you wear them often. This ensures the strength and safety of the strand.