How Do I Safely Clean My Gold Jewelry at Home?

Cleaning gold jewelry at home is an easy process that requires nothing more than some items you probably have in your kitchen.

The natural oils, germs and bacteria are easy to be washed off gold jewelry with some dish soap and warm water, particularly with gemstone or pearl embellished jewelry.

You can restore the shine to your gold jewelry by cleaning it regularly with a homemade mixture or a store-bought gold jewelry cleaner. Keep reading to learn how to clean gold jewelry at home using a quick DIY cleaner.

Never use toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, ammonia or any commercial metal cleaner on gold jewelry. These abrasives and caustic chemicals will scratch, harm or eat into gold alloys, gemstones and pearls.

Look for Loose Gemstones and Embellishments

Make sure that all loose gemstones and embellishments on each piece are intact. Place items with loose stones or embellishments in for repair immediately to avoid losing them.

Remove plain or safely set gold jewelry for cleaning.

Mix the Dish Soap Cleaning Solution

In a small bowl, place some warm water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Combine the soap and water thoroughly.

If your gold jewelry does contain pearls or gemstones, do not add vinegar to your soap-and-water cleaning solution, as vinegar will damage these materials. You shouldn’t use vinegar to clean plated gold, either.

Soak for 10 to 20 Minutes

Place gold jewelry in the bowl one piece at a time, and let sit for 10 to 20 min. To avoid scratching, it is advisable to clean only one or two gold items at a time in the bowl so that they do not rub against each other.

Scrub Gently with a Soft Toothbrush

Examine gold jewelry pieces and gently rub off any buildup with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Also of help with jewelry cleaning can be a soft bristle eyebrow brush. The stiff bristles can scuff the gold. And cotton swabs can get to small crevices and help remove dirt.

Rinse and Dry

Take pieces out of soapy water and rinse with plain water.

Wipe each dry piece individually with a soft cotton cloth. Do not use paper towels to dry your gold jewelry as they can easily scratch the surface, particularly on higher karat gold.

Smart Strategic Tip - If you have inadvertently cleaned your gold with silver polish or some other cleaner and your pieces are dulled, remedy this with a mixture of dish soap and water.

Place your jewelry in the solution, wait five minutes and wipe the film off with a soft cotton cloth. Soak the jewelry again in the soap-and-water solution for 15 minutes and then rinse and dry.

How Often to Clean Gold Jewelry

Pieces that are worn regularly should be cleaned monthly or whenever the finish appears to be losing its luster. Gold does not tarnish like silver but has acquired a dull patina with regular use. Also, lower karat gold has a higher ratio of alloys that will tarnish in the presence of excess chemicals, such as chlorine, alcohol, acids and sulfur compounds.

Tips to Keep Gold Jewelry Clean Longer

Remove gold jewelry before washing hands or bathing as soap scum can build up on the surface.

Remove all jewelry prior to entering a hot tub, swimming pool, or the ocean/bay/any beach. Chlorine, acids, sulfur, and salt will attack and destroy or discolor gold, especially if it is not 24k. Gold jewelry is structurally compromised by chlorine and will eventually break.

Do not allow hair sprays, make-up, medicated lotions, and creams to come in contact with gold jewelry.

Store gold jewelry in individual compartments of a fabric-lined jewelry box so that pieces do not scratch one another and dull the finish.

Smart Tips on Custom Jewelry Care and Maintenance

Your custom jewelry holds a special place in your heart. Maybe it's a family heirloom, or a gift that reminds you of someone dear.

However it came to you, these precious pieces have sentimental value. As treasures, they deserve care and maintenance so their beauty endures.

Follow these tips to keep your cherished custom jewelry sparkling brightly for years to come.

Be Gentle When Cleaning

Regular gentle cleaning keeps your jewelry shining. But take care not to damage delicate materials.

For gold, platinum, and gems, use mild soap and water. A soft brush or cloth works well - no rough scrubbing that could scratch! Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

Diamonds and precious stones need extra care. Use a specialty cleaner or damp soft cloth. Avoid scraping prongs or settings.

Make quick, gentle cleaning part of your routine upkeep. This keeps dirt from building up so your jewels maintain their lustrous shine.

Store in a Dry, Protected Place

When not wearing it, keep custom jewelry somewhere clean and dry, away from sunlight. A jewelry box with compartments prevents scratching or tangling.

For extra protection, wrap each piece in soft cloth or tissue before storing. This isolates them so they don't rub together.

Avoid moisture and humidity which accelerates tarnishing. Never store jewelry in a humid bathroom! Keep it in dry ideal conditions to preserve it.

Proper protected storage shields your custom pieces from damaging elements over time.

Inspect Frequently as Preventative Care

Make regular inspections of your jewelry routine. Check for loose or missing stones, bent prongs, worn areas - anything amiss. Address issues promptly to prevent further deterioration.

Annual maintenance with a professional jeweler is also wise. They'll assess for damage and make repairs like re-tipping prongs or restringing beads to keep pieces sound.

Staying on top of inspections means your special jewelry enjoys a longer lifetime and saves on repairs later. Don't let little issues become expensive problems down the road.

Wear with Care to Avoid Unnecessary Damage

It's tempting to wear beloved custom pieces daily. But frequent wear means more chances for damage.

Avoid wearing jewelry while doing messy or hazardous activities. Harsh chemicals, abrasive surfaces, impacts can wreak havoc.

Apply lotions, perfumes, etc first and allow them to fully absorb before putting on jewelry. Residues can build up and dull shine.

Same goes for showering or swimming - remove jewelry first to avoid moisture exposure which accelerates tarnishing.

Use caution when wearing your precious jewels to minimize unnecessary damage risks.

Trust Experts for Restoration

Even well-cared-for custom jewelry may eventually need professional attention to restore its original beauty and function.

Refinishing scratched metals, replating worn parts, restringing beads - trust qualified experts to handle these tasks meticulously. Their skills will revive and protect your cherished pieces.

Periodic professional care also safeguards your custom jewelry's longevity for future generations to enjoy.

Don't DIY it - specialists are worth consulting to keep your treasures sparkling eternally.

Keep Your Custom Jewelry Shine!

Caring for beloved custom jewelry shows your dedication to preserving personally meaningful pieces.

Follow these key care tips: regular gentle cleaning; dry protected storage; vigilant inspection and preventative maintenance; cautious wearing; and trusting expert jewelers for restoration.

Taking good care of your custom jewelry ensures its beauty lives on as a timeless family treasure.

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