Cleaning second hand gold plated earrings

[Youvebeenseeingsos]

People buy and wear vintage earrings all the time -Victorian, Art Deco or whatever.
I fancied a change and, instead of buying some new gold plated earrings off Etsy, I bought a pair off eBay. My own fault for not reading the listing, they are ‘used’ condition.
I really like them but I feel a bit funny about putting someone else’s earrings in my ear.
it doesn’t help that the back seems to have a rubber insert in it. I have left them soaking in a cup with fairy liquid and boiling water in it but I still feel a bit funny about it. If they were solid gold I’d probably stick them in bleach or alcohol hand sanitiser or something.

What would you use?

Boiling water and a bit of soap will kill any germs. No need to overthink it

I know you’re right but I do have diagnosed OCD, it’s a curse!

A drop of tea tree oil?

Smear them with sudocreme?

Surgical spirit should kill any germs.

I use an ultrasonic cleaner for my own earrings.

I still couldn't put someone else's earrings into my own ears though. I inherited some lovely ones, put them in the ultrasonic cleaner and still can't wear them.

#squeamish. Sorry OP, not what you wanted to hear.

Surgical spirit (if you can still buy it!) my mum bought it from the chemist years ago when I first had my ears pierced.

I did more soap and boiling water and then a sanitising wipe from a first aid kit. I braved it and put them in.

I can’t believe there’s actually someone worse than me DramaAlpaca I am quite glad I put them in this morning though because, if I’d read your response first, it would have made me feel too squeamish about it again. #I’m so brave 🤣

I may get some surgical spirit in though now if I can find it, for cleaning all my earrings so thanks to the PPs for that suggestion.

I clean all my earrings with TCP antiseptic periodically. I was told do do this by the woman who pierced my ears many years ago!

Sorry @Youvebeenseeingsos! Glad you've got them in, enjoy them.