Is hand sanitiser bad for jewellery? The general rule is not to expose your jewellery to chemicals. Don't wear while swimming, cleaning, in hot tubs, sauna's or anywhere there may be chemicals. Even the salty water in the ocean should be avoided. Follow this simple rule- Jewellery should be the last thing on and the first thing off. With the global outbreak of Covid 19, people around the world are increasing the use of hand sanitisers and soap to minimise the spread of the virus. Under the best of circumstances, exposing your jewellery to alcohol or chlorine-based cleaners might cause them to tarnish. On the other hand, it could also cause them to crack under the pressure of long-term corrosion. With sterling silver, you have to be especially cautious of alcohol-free