Since gold jewelry is so popular, let’s review how to clean gold jewelry at home..

Properties of Gold Jewelry

Pure gold is always 24 karat gold. If your piece is less than 24 karats, this indicates it’s mixed with other metals – called alloys – to increase its hardness and durability. This is not necessarily a bad thing. The more active your lifestyle, the less pure gold you’ll want in your jewelry. Gold is a soft metal and is prone to scratching, so mixing it with 10 or more parts alloy will increase its longevity.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home

A jewelry cleaning solution specifically created for gold is a safe and effective way to keep your gold in tip-top shape. Just make sure it indicates gold as an intended use!

Without any commercial products, you can clean your gold jewelry at home following these simple steps:

1. Mix a bit of Dawn dish detergent in warm, not hot, water.

2. Add a few drops of ammonia.

3. Carefully brush with a new, baby-size soft toothbrush.

4. Place in lukewarm water to rinse.

5. Air dry or carefully towel-dry with paper towel or regular cloth.

Remember: gold is a soft metal. Be gentle during the brushing and drying processes.

Another quick and safe way to clean your gold jewelry is using an ultrasonic cleaner. This might be advisable if the item is very dirty. The ultrasonic frequencies will loosen the dirt and restore the shine in a few minutes.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Gold Jewelry

Because of gold jewelry’s high chance of tarnish*, there are a couple specific substances to avoid:

Soap – Steer clear of any soap with unknown ingredients. Basic blue Dawn dish soap is fine, but remove your gold jewelry before showering to avoid accumulating a film from other body washes.

Chlorine – Chlorine, especially at high temperatures like in a hot tub, can permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry. Remember to remove it when cleaning with chlorine bleach, too!

While pure gold does not tarnish, almost all gold jewelry is an alloy, as mentioned above. Depending on the percentage of other metals mixed with the gold, there is chance for tarnish. Better safe than sorry!

How to Clean Gold Jewelry with Colored Gemstones

Due to the characteristics of many colored gemstones, we advise you check our gemstones cleaning guide for the safest at-home cleaning methods, for any pieces with stones other than pure diamonds. Many natural gemstones are treated or enhanced after extraction, impacting how you should clean your jewelry.

Cleaning your engagement ring at home? Learn how to clean your diamond engagement ring, how to clean it, when to take it off, and other useful tips by reading this helpful guide!

Last Updated on March 19, 2023 by JewelryNStyle

Looking for the perfect gift idea this holiday season? Try this free Gift Suggestion Tool. Giftly.ai is an intuitive tool personalizes gift suggestions based on a person's interests and your budget, streamlining your shopping experience. Try it now, and experience the ease of finding the ideal gift in seconds!

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All content is strictly for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or other expert advice.

This article was originally published on jewelrynstyle.com. If this content appers on any other site, then it has been copied without permission from the copyright owner jewelrynstyle.com.com.

Check out our Jewelry Gift Guide 2024 for the trendiest jewelry gifts.