How to Clean Gold Jewelry
Gold is one of the most popular metals used all over the world for making jewelry. Even though platinum and diamonds have gained more popularity in recent years, there is no dearth of people opting for exclusive gold jewelry. Gold is one such metal that can be made into different patterns, due to its malleability and ductility and it never fails to look stylish. However, if you own an envious collection of gold, it is equally essential to know how to maintain it. Here are different ways and techniques for the same.
Cleaning Gold Jewelry at Home
Gold jewelry that is used for daily-wear tends to get spoiled quickly as it comes in contact with oil on the skin, dust, etc. Therefore, over time, it looks dull as it loses its luster. Gold jewelry needs polishing from time to time to make it appear glossy and shiny. Before understanding the process, one should remember that these cleaning tips are meant exclusively for jewelry made of gold. If your pieces of jewelry contain other stones, it is advisable to have it cleaned professionally.
Method 1
- Add 1/5 teaspoon mild dish detergent to a large bowl of warm water.
- Dip your gold jewelry in it and keep for 15 - 20 minutes.
- Take out the jewelry from the water and clean with a soft toothbrush.
- Once the jewelry is clean, rinse it with clean water and dry it with a clean cloth.
- Add 1 part ammonia to 6 parts of water.
- Put gold jewelry in it for 1 minute.
- Now rinse the jewelry with clean water and dry with a clean cloth.
The following are some more tips and things to remember:
- Gold plated jewelry should be cleaned only with a damp cloth. Do not keep it submerged in water as it may tend to get spoiled.
- There are several non-abrasive jewelry cleaners available in the market that can be safely used. However, it is essential to read the instructions carefully before use.
- You should not use harsh cleaners like bleach, toothpaste and ordinary soap for cleaning gold.
- Scratches on gold jewelry cannot be cleaned or repaired at home. It is always advisable to have it repaired at the jewelers.
- For superficial cleaning, you can merely clean jewelry with warm water and a cotton cloth.
- You should not scrub gold jewelry with harsh or rough brushes vigorously as it can spoil the jewelry.
- It is essential to dry jewelry before storing it. Also, gold jewelry should always be stored in soft velvet cases.
- It is advisable to store gold pieces and jewelry separately, apart from other pieces of jewelry and stones in order to avoid scratches on it.
- It is also recommended that gold jewelry should not be worn while having a bath or swimming everyday, as daily exposure to soap and chlorine can dull gold quickly.
- Lastly, if possible, one should wipe jewelry made of gold with a clean cotton cloth every time after use, to retain its luster.
