Things You'll Need:
- Liquid disinfectant soap
- Q-tips
- Cleaning solution
- Distilled water
- Sea salt
- Cotton balls
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Step 1
Wash your hands with liquid disinfectant soap. Use hot water and make sure to remove any dirt from under your nails.
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Step 2
Clean your belly-button ring by running warm water over the piercing. After a few seconds, use a Q-tip to remove any crust or buildup around the piercing. Gently move the jewelry around to release any debris and loosen any skin that has attached to the ring during healing.
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Step 3
Apply special disinfectant cleaning solution (sold by most piercing shops). Apply a generous amount on and around your piercing. Once again, gently move the jewelry around to ensure the cleaning solution works its way inside the pierced skin. Allow the solution to remain on the piercing for a few minutes.
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Step 4
Rinse away the cleaning solution. Rinse your piercing with warm water. Refrain from rubbing or causing any other friction. Ensure all of the solution is washed away by moving your belly-button ring around to work clean water through your piercing.
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Step 5
Dry and repeat. Use a clean paper towel or washcloth to pat dry the belly button and surrounding area. Repeat this cleaning process twice a day while you are healing.
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Step 6
Perform a sea-salt rinse once a day. This will speed the healing time of your belly-button piercing and help reduce irritation. Disinfect your hands before preparing the sea-salt rinse. Fill a clean cup with 8 oz. of warm distilled water. Mix in 1/4 tsp. of salt and stir well. (Do not use more salt, as this could irritate the piercing.) Once the salt dissolves, drench a clean cotton ball with the salt-water mixture and hold it over your piercing for three to five minutes.
