How to Clean Your Gold Jewellery at Home

Yes, it is true. Gold jewels do lose their glitter over time. But, there is nothing to worry about that. You can restore the shine on your gold jewellery. All they need is a proper cleaning. Want to know how to clean gold jewellery at home? Well, here it is. The good news is you don’t need some expensive gold cleaning commercial products. An effective dishwashing liquid will do. At the end of it, your gold jewellery will start shining like brand new.

What Cause Gold Jewellery to Tarnish?

The purest form of gold is 24K. On its own gold does not react with other elements. But, 22K, 18K and 14K varieties of gold ornaments have other metals in them. These metals are used to make the ornament stronger. Some of the common metals used in gold ornaments are silver, palladium, nickel, zinc and manganese. The discoloration or darkening of your gold jewellery is because of these metals. They react with the sweat, perfumes, water and body lotion throughout the day. Gold jewellery worn on a daily basis is more likely to lose its shine over time. In this article, we tell you how to clean your gold jewellery at home and some preventive tips.

How to Clean Gold Jewellery at Home?

Ingredients to Keep Handy:

a) Dishwashing liquid

b) Bowl of warm water

c) Soft bristle brush

d) Microfibre cloth

e) Baking soda

f) Undiluted white vinegar

g) Cotton cloth

Method 1: Using Dishwashing Liquid

1. Step 1: Prepare Cleaning Solution

   Take a bowl of lukewarm water. Add 2 drops of dishwashing liquid to it. Lukewarm water when combined with dishwashing liquid helps loosen dirt.

2. Step 2: Soak the Gold Jewellery

   Immerse your gold jewellery in the soapy solution for 10-15 minutes.

3. Step 3: Scrub the Jewellery

   Use a soft-bristle brush to scrub out the dirt particles from in-between the intricate crevices and engravings of your jewellery.

4. Step 4: Rinse and Dry

   Rinse the gold item under tap water. Ensure that there is no soapy residue. Use a microfibre cloth to buff the jewellery. It should be dried completely.

Method 2: Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. Step 1: Make a Cleaning Paste

   Take a bowl and mix 3 tbsp. of baking soda with 1 tbsp. of water. Mix it well to form a paste.

2. Step 2: Apply the Paste

   Use a soft-bristled brush to apply this paste onto the entire surface of your jewellery. Then place it in a bowl.

3. Step 3: Coat with Vinegar

   Now, take 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar. Using a soft-bristled brush and apply a coat of vinegar over baking soda. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes.

4. Step 4: Rinse with Warm Water

   Then, take out the jewellery from the bowl and thoroughly rinse with warm water. Warm water will help remove the baking soda and vinegar mixture thoroughly. Use your fingers to rub the surface while rinsing. Never use a toothbrush or any abrasive scrubber on gold jewellery.

5. Step 5: Pat Dry

   Once the rinsing is done, pat the jewellery dry with a cotton cloth.

How to Clean Gold Jewellery With Gemstones?

Women love jewellery that is studded with precious stones like diamond, rubies or semi-precious stones like topazes and tourmalines. They add a modern touch to your jewellery. Gemstone studded gold jewellery go well with everyday office wear too. However, they need extra care while cleaning. Before washing your stone-studded gold jewellery, ensure that the stone is not lose or shaky. You can use dishwashing soap to wash such items. But, never soak your gemstone embedded gold jewellery. Prolonged exposure of gemstones to water can cause them to develop rust stains. Use baby toothbrush to scrub your gemstones. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat them dry thoroughly before storing them.

Does Your Gold Jewellery Need Machine Cleaning?

If you’ve cleaned your gold jewellery at home multiple times and it continues to look dull and lackluster, you may consider machine cleaning. There are many types of gold cleaning machines using different types of cleaning methods like ions, steam or ultrasonic. Take your jewellery to an expert as he/she would be the best person to recommend the type of machine cleaning suitable for your delicate gold jewellery.

Things to Keep in Mind While Cleaning Gold Jewellery

Do not use a hard bristle brush to scrub off stains from your gold ornament. When it comes to cleaning your gold jewellery at home, gentle cleaning is key. To that effect, it is also important to purchase special cloths for cleaning and polishing your gold jewellery. These cloths should be replaced regularly. Always ensure that you know the ingredients of the soap you are using to wash your gold jewellery with. Never use any bleach-based detergent to wash your gold items.

Prevention

You must wash your gold jewellery every few weeks to keep them shining like brand new. However, do not polish them so frequently as polishing wears out the metal. Consider polishing your gold jewellery once in every few months. 

Key Tips:

1) Use a bowl to wash your delicate gold jewellery like a chain or bracelet. Do not rinse it directly under tap water in the kitchen sink. And if you are, ensure that the drain is closed. You do not want your favourite gold chain to seep into the drainage pipe.

2) Purchase gem cloth as each gem has its own cleaning and polishing requirement. Gem cloths are easily available at your local jewellery stores. You can also easily order them online.

3) Ensure that your tap water is not flowing in a powerful stream while rinsing your gemstone-studded gold ornament. Too much pressure can damage your delicate gemstone.

Gold jewellery is passed on from one generation to the other. In India, it is a matter of pride. Keep your gold jewellery shining for decades using the simple cleaning method given here.

Never use hot water to wash your delicate gold items. The water should be slightly warm.