Gold jewellery is always a great addition to your outfit, but in order for it to shine the way you want it to, it needs to be cleaned and looked after. Chances are you paid a generous amount of money for your gold jewellery, or it was a gift given to you on a special occasion. Either way, making your gold sparkle again and keeping it in the best condition possible will give you a confidence boost whenever you wear it.
You’re probably wondering whether gold can be cleaned at home or what the best homemade gold cleaner is. We’re here to help by showing you the best household products that clean gold jewellery, and the best ways to clean your gold jewellery at home.
What Type Of Gold Do You Have?
Your first step in the cleaning process is figuring out what type of gold jewellery you have. This will determine what cleaning method you should use. If your piece is made of 24-karat gold it means you have pure gold mixed with no other metals. Most people, however, have 10, 14, or 18-karat gold pieces. These can all be cleaned the same way. If you have gold jewellery with gemstones, gold-plated, or white gold jewellery, then it’s best to use a different method listed below.
2 Ways To Clean Gold Pieces
As mentioned above, if your jewellery is not gold-plated or made of white gold, and if it does not have any gemstones attached to it, use one of the following homemade gold cleaners to bring the shine back to your prized piece.
Dish Soap:
Out of the two, this method of cleaning is better to be used more frequently.
What You’ll Need:
- Dish soap
- Lukewarm water
- A soft cloth or towel
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
- Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a few drops of dish soap. Do not use hot water as it could damage the jewellery.
- Allow your jewellery to soak in the mixture for 30 minutes.
- Once the time has passed, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub your jewellery. Make sure to get behind and underneath all the small spaces.
- Rinse your jewellery under warm running water. If you’re doing it over a sink, make sure to plug the drain in case you drop your gold piece.
- Blot your jewellery dry with a clean towel or soft, clean cloth.
Ammonia:
Use this method of cleaning less often than you do the dish soap method. Avoid using this method when cleaning gold pieces that have platinum or pearls as the ammonia could damage them.
What You’ll Need:
- Ammonia
- Lukewarm water
- A soft cloth or towel
- Fill a bowl with 6 parts water and 1 part ammonia.
- Place your jewellery inside the bowl for 1 minute. Don’t let it sit for longer than that as the ammonia could start eroding the gold.
- Rinse your jewellery under warm running water. If you’re doing it over a sink, make sure to plug the drain in case you drop your gold piece.
- Blot your jewellery dry with a clean towel or soft, clean cloth.
How To Clean Gold Jewellery With Gemstones
If your piece of jewellery has a diamond, ruby, sapphire, or rose quartz stone, it can be cleaned using the first method above. For other types of stones, you can gently wipe them with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth, but rather take them to a professional for a deeper clean.
How To Clean Gold-Plated Or White Gold Jewellery
If your piece of jewellery is gold-plated or made of white gold jewellery, use the first cleaning method noted above but avoid scrubbing or rubbing with a toothbrush. Rather use a cotton bud to wipe your jewellery down after soaking it. This also applies to rose gold or other pieces of different colours.
Your prized pieces of gold jewellery are now ready to be taken out on the town again to make a fashion statement. Enjoy the shine and sparkle that these cleaning methods bring to your jewellery and entire outfit worn with them. If you would like your house or garden to sparkle as much as your gold does, check out our indoor cleaning services or outdoor cleaning services for services of the highest quality.
