A special cleaning may be recommended by your piercing practitioner. To prevent a skin infection, apply an antibiotic ointment to the affected region. Try not to touch your ear piercing, even if it's tempting. Infections can be caused by germs on your hands. This is especially true if you are wearing someone else's jewelry. If you are using homemade remedies to clean your ear piercings, here are some suggestions: Use a soft toothbrush or clean finger tips to gently brush away any debris that might have accumulated inside the holes. If there are problems with odor, soak the piece of jewelry in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes and then rinse under running water. Here are some suggestions for cleaning your jewelry if it has been exposed to chemicals or other substances: Remove all jewelry before bathing or going into water. Even if you are only planning to wear it during the day, remove it because chemicals found in household products can cause damage to metals such as silver and gold. Cleaning solutions containing acids or chemicals should never be used to clean metal jewelry because they will dissolve precious stones and affect the durability of the piece. If you are not cleaning your jewelry regularly, bacteria will build up in them and lead to infections.