OK I have just got my cartilage pierced at claires had it for about a week and a half, it had become swollen and red and hurt to touch but I could turn it. Well it started hurtn bad so I had taken it out because it hurt, well I then decided to try a smaller stud, because I was afraid the earring was too big and the piercing was suffocating.. I put this new one in and its much smaller and the redness has went down a little and it stopped hurtn so bad.. my question is what is the best way to clean my piercing, the claires people told me don't use alchohal or sea salt, or get soap around it... well the claires cleaning solution don't seem to be doing the job, can you please help me find a better way to clean it??

They probably wanted you to buy their cleaning solution. Bath in salt water, doesn't have to be sea salt with a clean cloth. About a teaspoon of salt in a glass of hot water.