How to Clean Gold Jewelry

Gold jewelry should be properly maintained so that it will exude sheer beauty every time you willwear it. If you want to keep your gold jewelry clean, it is a very simple process that you can do on your own at home.

Even though gold does not easily tarnish unlike other metals, there is still the possibility that dirt and grime will accumulate over time, thus making the jewelry dull. Learn more about why gold tarnishes by reading our article: “Does Real Gold Tarnish.”

Cleaning gold jewelry at home is simple and will not cost a lot. It can help restore the beauty and luster of your jewelry and the steps are simple to follow, whichever method you choose.There are several effective methods that can maintain the shine and beauty of your gold jewelry.

METHOD ONE

One of the effective cleaning methods for your gold jewelry is to use warm water and soap. You might be skeptical at first, but you can clean your gold jewelry using soap and water only. This method works best on gold pieces that are plain and without any gemstones. There are certain steps to follow if you are going to use soap and water.

1. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a mild soap
2. Dip the gold jewelry into the mixture
3. Allow the jewelry to soak for about 20 minutes
4. After soaking, dry the gold jewelry using a clean dry cloth
5. Allow the gold jewelry to air dry on a towel completely before wearing it

With this cleaning method, it will effectively eliminate all the oils and dirt that accumulated from beauty products or from daily wear that lead to a duller appearance.This method is a fast and easy way to restore the beauty of your jewelry without a lot of hassle.

METHOD TWO

If you have gold jewelry that is embedded with gemstones, you can still clean them at home without causing any damage to the gemstones. An important consideration with such jewelry pieces is that you should never submerge them into the water since water can end up trapped in the setting, thus causing rust or the discoloration of the setting or stones as well as causing the stones to fall out aftersome time.

If you are going to clean your gold jewelry embedded with stones, simply follow the steps of Method One but instead of dipping your jewelry in the bowl of water; use a clean dry cloth that has been dampened with the mixture of warm water and soap.

All you have to do is to use the cloth to clean the jewelry by rubbing gently over the setting and gemstones. Use a different damp cloth to rinse and dry the jewelry.

METHOD THREE

Another method to clean your gold jewelry is by using ammonia solution.

With this method, any cleaning should be carried out cautiously. Even though it is effective in removing grime and dirt, cleaning your jewelry with ammonia frequently will cause damage or even leave it tinted. The materials needed for this cleaning method includes a soft polishing cloth, small bowl, water and ammonia. You should take note of the steps to effectively clean your gold jewelry.

1. Start by combining a solution that is comprised of 1 part ammonia with 6 parts water in the bowl
2. Soak the gold jewelry in the solution for about 1 minute
3. Rinse the jewelry thoroughly under running water to make sure that the cleaning solution is completely removed
4. Dry the jewelry using a soft polishing cloth
5. Position the gold jewelry upside down so that it will air dry. In doing so, it allows any remaining water to drain away without producing damage to the stone or end up stuck in the setting.

For those hard-to-reach spots that are difficult to clean with just a simple soak or rubbing, you can use a soft bristled toothbrush and dampen it with warm water. Use the toothbrush to clean the hard-to-reach areas such as the gold engravings in which dirt and grime can accumulate.

Always take note that you should only use a toothbrush with soft bristles and be gentle with the scrubbing so as not to cause damage. In case your jewelry entails extensive cleaning, it is best totake it to a professional in order to avoid any damage.

POST-CLEANING

Once you have effectively cleaned your gold jewelry, you can wear it again or store it.

If you decide to store it, make sure that every piece of gold jewelry is separately stored in order to avoid scratching or damaging. Those that have a delicate gold chain should be hanged from a hookto prevent tangling.

Another option is to stretch out the chain of a necklace or bracelet in an anti-tarnish tissue and roll it up and position in your jewelry box in a flat position.

This can help prevent the chains from getting knotted and minimize the occurrence of tarnish. You can even store the jewelry in a plastic zip bag. Just make sure that you will squeeze out all the airbefore closing it.