How to Store Grillz: The Right Way to Keep Them Safe
Proper storage is one of the most overlooked parts of grillz care. The choices you make between wears — where you put the piece, how you prepare it before storing, what you keep it in — directly affect how long your grillz last and how they look over months and years.
Clean Before Storing — Always
This is the single most important rule. Never store grillz without first cleaning them.
Saliva contains enzymes, proteins, and bacteria. Left on gold or silver, saliva residue:
- Accelerates tarnish on silver pieces
- Can dull the surface finish of gold over time
- Creates a film over stone settings that reduces brilliance
- Provides a surface for bacteria to accumulate
After every wear: rinse with warm water. For longer wear sessions, clean briefly with mild soap and a soft brush, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely before storing.
See our how to clean grillz guide for the full cleaning routine.
Dry Completely Before Storing
Water in contact with metal during storage causes:
- Accelerated tarnish on silver (the primary driver of silver tarnish alongside air exposure)
- Minor surface marks on gold over extended periods
- In stone-set pieces: potential moisture under settings that can affect adhesion over time
After rinsing and cleaning: pat dry with a soft cloth, then leave the piece for a few minutes on a clean dry surface before putting it in the case. Don't seal a wet or damp piece in a case.
Use the Provided Case
Every Ice Jeweller piece comes with a presentation case. Use it — it's designed for exactly this purpose.
The case:
- Protects the surface from scratching during storage
- Limits air exposure (important for silver tarnish prevention)
- Keeps the piece separate from other jewellery that could scratch it
- Maintains the shape of the piece
If you've lost or damaged your original case, a small jewellery box with a soft lining works well. The key requirements are: soft interior surface, closeable to limit air exposure, no contact with harder metals or objects.
What Not to Store Grillz Near
Other hard jewellery — loose pieces stored together scratch each other. Your grill shouldn't rattle around with chains, rings, or other pieces.
Bathroom storage — bathrooms are humid environments. Humidity accelerates silver tarnish significantly. Don't store silver grillz in a bathroom.
Direct sunlight — UV exposure can affect stone settings over time. Store away from direct light.
Chemicals — keep stored pieces away from perfume, aftershave, cleaning products, and similar — even the fumes of strong chemicals can affect silver.
Silver vs Gold: Storage Differences
Gold grillz (yellow, white, rose) are more forgiving in storage. Gold doesn't tarnish, and the main storage concern is preventing scratches. Any clean, closed container works well.
Silver grillz require more attention to storage because silver tarnishes through exposure to air (specifically sulphur compounds in the air and in saliva). For silver:
- Always dry completely before storing
- A closed, airtight or near-airtight case slows tarnish development significantly
- Anti-tarnish strips (small cloth squares that absorb sulphur from the air) placed inside the case extend tarnish-free intervals
- Store in a cool, dry location — not a bathroom
For the full guide on silver tarnish, see our do silver grillz tarnish guide.
Storage for Stone-Set Grillz
Bustdown and snow-set pieces with hand-set VVS stones need slightly more care during storage:
- Never drop or impact the piece against hard surfaces — the shock can loosen settings
- Don't store in contact with rough-textured materials that could catch stone edges
- Inspect settings periodically — before and after storage — to identify any stones that have loosened before they're lost
Travelling with Grillz
Taking your grillz somewhere? The same case used for storage works well for travel, but:
- Make sure it's in a secure inner pocket or compartment of your bag — not loose in a main compartment where it can move around
- Keep in your carry-on bag when flying, not checked luggage
- Clean before packing for a trip so you don't have to deal with saliva residue in transit
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store grillz in a zip-lock bag? It's better than nothing but not ideal. The plastic doesn't protect against impact or provide cushioning, and a loose piece can slide against the bag surface and create fine surface scratches over time. Use the provided case where possible.
How often should I clean my grillz before storing? After every single wear. Even a short wear session deposits saliva on the piece. Cleaning takes less than a minute and makes a significant difference over time.
My silver grillz are tarnishing quickly — what am I doing wrong? Most common causes: storing before fully drying, storing in a humid environment (bathroom), or storing in contact with air for extended periods without a closed case. See our do silver grillz tarnish guide for solutions.
Can I store my grillz in water to keep them from tarnishing? No. Water accelerates tarnish on silver, not the reverse. Keep silver dry and sealed in a case.
How long can I store grillz without wearing them? Indefinitely, provided they're stored correctly. Gold pieces can sit unused for years without issue. Silver pieces stored correctly will develop tarnish slowly but it's always removable when you return to wearing them.
More Care Guides
- How to Clean Grillz →
- Do Silver Grillz Tarnish? →
- How Long Do Custom Grillz Last? →
- Are Grillz Bad for Your Teeth? →
- Contact Us on WhatsApp →
