Remember three key points: Don’t wear them in the shower, Clean them regularly, and Avoid contact with hard objects.

Don’t Wear Pearls in the Shower
One of the most damaging things you can do to pearls in daily life is wearing them while showering. Pearls are sensitive to water, especially hot water, and also to detergents. These can dull the luster and damage the nacre. Hot water and shower gel can also weaken the glue used to set the pearl, leading to the pearl becoming detached. I had a friend who, while showering, had her several-thousand-dollar Tahitian pendant lose its glue, and the pearl fell down the drain.

Take Them Off Early, Put Them On Late, and Clean Them Regularly
Some guides advise against letting pearls come into contact with sweat, perfume, or cosmetics, and while that’s true, it’s hard to completely avoid these things since pearls are worn close to the skin. So, remember: apply your makeup and perfume before putting on your pearls. When you get home, take them off first, and gently wipe them with a soft cloth or suede. Try to minimize exposure to water. If you sweat a lot in summer and are concerned that just a soft cloth won’t clean them thoroughly, you can dampen the cloth with purified water to wipe the pearls.

Avoid Contact with Hard Objects
Pearls have a relatively low hardness, so they can easily be scratched by many common materials. When storing your pearls, keep them in a jewelry box with a soft lining. Avoid placing them in sealed plastic bags, exposing them to direct sunlight, or letting them come into contact with diamonds, gemstones, or metals to prevent scratches.