How to Clean Gold Jewelry: A Step-by-Step Guide & Different Methods

Caring for and cleaning your precious gold jewellery doesn’t have to be a chore or stressful. There are simple solutions to keep your white gold, rose gold and yellow gold looking bright and shiny.

How To Clean Gold Jewelry The Right Way In 4 Simple Steps

Fill up a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Just make sure the water isn’t boiling. Put your jewelry into the water and soak for about 10-15 minutes. Next, you need to scrub with a soft brush.

You can use a soft toothbrush or even a paintbrush to dislodge any dirt stuck between the finer jewelry parts.

Lastly, you’re going to rinse the jewelry under the tap and dry it gently by patting it with a kitchen towel. And just like that, your gold jewelry will be looking as good as new. This process works just as well for gold plated jewelry too.

What Are The Different Types Of Soaking Solutions Or Liquids To Clean Gold Jewelry?

You can clean your jewelry safely yourself by using items around the house that you already have. A soft toothbrush does wonders with ammonia, warm water, and dishwashing liquid. Just make sure you don’t use this solution on any gemstones besides diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

These are safe for cleaning but most other gemstones like emeralds are too porous and delicate and the solution would compromise them.

What Types Of Brushes Or Cloths Can I Use To Clean Gold Jewelry?

The main advice here is don’t use a large brush. When cleaning your gold jewelry, it is best to use a new, baby-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush which is gentle and effective for cleaning those hard to reach places. You could also invest in a gold jewelry polishing cloth.

How Often Should You Clean Gold Jewelry?

The suggestion is to clean your jewelry every few weeks to keep it looking sparkly. Avoid constant repolishing as this will wear the metal away more quickly, especially if it’s a soft rose gold. As a rule of thumb, aim to repolish jewelry with a polishing cloth every few months. You don’t want to overdo it.

How To Clean Gold Jewelry With Precious Stones Or Gems

Each gemstone has different qualities, so ask your jeweller about the best cleaning methods for your specific gemstone. If you want to give a gemstone a quick shine, you can wipe it with a gem cloth that is sold by any jeweller. When in doubt, rather ask for a professional opinion.

What Not To Do When Cleaning Gold Jewelry

It’s important to soak gold plated jewelry before and after cleaning. Soak the jewelry first in cold water and afterwards, you can soak it in hot water. You need to purchase special cloths for cleaning and polishing which you can do periodically.

Whatever you do, don’t use harsh cleaning products. The type of cleaning product you use is so important. You want to stay away from any cleaning products that are too strong like bleach. If you’re not sure you can do a test patch first.

Choose your cleaning brush carefully and don’t use soap with unknown ingredients. Read the label when it comes to cleaning products and it’s recommended to remove your gold jewelry before showering to avoid the buildup of body washes and soaps. Just be sure to put them in a safe place.

When To Visit A Professional To Clean Your Gold Jewelry

It’s easy and safe to clean your gold jewelry at home but there’s still no substitute for visiting your jeweller to have a professional cleaning.

They will know the proper procedures depending on the specific type of gemstone and metal and they will check for any damage. A visit twice a year is recommended to keep your gold looking good for many years to come.

Why Does Gold Tarnish Or Change Colour?

In the same way that rust appears on a piece of metal, oxygen and sulfur cause gold to tarnish. Moisture mixes with oxygen and sulfur compounds in the metals mixed with the gold and corrosion takes place on the surface. This is what causes a tarnished look.

Oxidation is a process caused by simple daily exposure to oxygen and this can eventually affect the colours of different precious metals like gold. All colours of gold are subject to tarnishing over time. In some ways, it tells a story about the piece of jewelry, a life well lived.

Does Coke Clean Gold?

This is a handy and maybe unexpected tip, but Coke does indeed clean gold. You can dip your gold in a small bowl of Coke and make sure that it is completely covered. Leave the gold plated jewelry in the solution for 10 minutes and then rub with a soft cloth and rinse. A good reason to pop a can of Coke into your shopping trolley the next time you’re at the shops!

Can You Use Vinegar To Clean Gold Jewelry?

Cleaning your gold and gemstone jewelry is a breeze with white vinegar. Pop the jewelry into a jar of vinegar and give it 10 to 15 minutes, stirring up the solution now and then. Remove the jewelry and scrub with a soft toothbrush. Isn’t it handy that items you likely have in your cupboard already can be used? No expensive investments are needed here.

Can You Clean Gold With Toothpaste?

We’ve all heard that toothpaste is a good way to clean your jewelry right? This is actually false though. Toothpaste is abrasive and hard. Metals like gold and silver are softer, so toothpaste can actually scratch and damage your jewelry.

Caring for gold jewelry is an easy to follow process at home and is inexpensive and time savvy. There is no reason why you can’t keep your gold and gold plated jewelry looking its best. You only need to have a professional once over and cleaning twice a year but otherwise, home care is sufficient. Once you know the basics about which brush is best, what chemicals to avoid and when to remove jewelry for preservation, you are well on your way to preserving your precious metal.