From time immemorial Gold has been precious for many reasons. Lustrous shine with unique metallic qualities has made it a premium choice for jewelry. The difficult extraction process has made it scarce. Gold is considered a valuable investment. Its increasing value forecasts that Gold will remain costly in the future. Since gold is easily tarnishable over time, the cleanliness of gold is essential. Let’s take a look at the secret of how to clean gold jewelry properly and preserve the shine forever.
When to clean gold jewelry
You need to clean the Gold jewelry that you wear regularly. Gentle weekly cleaning is good if a piece of jewelry seems dirty. The jewelry that you use on special occasions should be cleaned to get rid of dirt, smudges, or damage. However, deep cleaning is recommended after exposure to serious dirt, debris, or chemicals.
Gentle frequent cleaning of gold jewelry helps extend the life of the jewelry and keeps it looking shiny and new.
How to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home
If you don’t like to spend money on commercial products, you can clean your gold jewelry at home. At home, you clean your gold jewelry in two ways:
Mild Clean
First, take a little dishwashing liquid and mix it well with a bowl of water. Sink the gold jewelry instantly and then gently clean crevices and design details with a soft toothbrush or eyebrow brush. Then put the jewelry in a wire strainer and rinse under cool running water. Next, dry it with a soft cotton cloth or tissue.
Strong Clean
First, mix a bit of soft detergent in warm water in a shallow dish. Never use hot water. Then add a few drops of ammonia to that water. Now soak your jewelry in the bowl for 15 minutes.
Take a baby-size soft toothbrush and lift each piece of jewelry out of the bowl to brush piece by piece, and brush any links, clasps, and tight chains gently with the toothbrush. When your brush is done, rinse the cleaned jewelry quickly under cool running water. Finally, dry your cleaned jewelry carefully with a paper towel or regular cloth.
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Professional Cleaning of Gold Jewelry
Although professional cleaning of gold jewelry is an expensive method, it is the safest and the most effective way of cleaning gold jewelry.
For professional cleaning, you need to take your jewelry to a jeweler and they clean with an ultrasonic cleaning machine. They soak the jewelry in a container of liquid, send high-frequency vibrations through the liquid, and, almost instantly, the dirt and grime drop off.
You can save some money by cleaning several jewelry items at a time.
How to Clean White Gold or Gold-Plated Jewelry
You must clean the white gold or gold-plated jewelry with a mild dish soap soak but don’t scrub or rub with anything that is harsh. You can clean all colors of gold like rose gold and white gold in the same way.
The following steps can help you:
-Mop down after each wear with a soft cloth or a jewelry cloth.
-Bathe the jewelry in a small bowl with warm water and a few drops of mild soap.
-Remove dirt.
-Dry thoroughly.
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Cleaning gold jewelry with gemstones
The usual stones can withstand the above-mentioned gentle cleaning process of gold ornaments. However, if your jewelry contains diamond, ruby, sapphire, and most semi-precious gemstones including amethyst, aquamarine, or rose quartz, you should be more careful and attentive while cleaning your jewelry because a softer and gentler cleaning is needed to keep the stones safe.
Some extra care is needed to clean the prongs and areas behind or under the gemstones to get them extra clean.
Do not sink or expose emerald, pearl, and opal jewelry in liquid. Because soaking water and any chemicals can cause permanent discoloration or damage to the silky textures of these stones.
So, it is recommended to avoid submerging any treated gemstones, particularly those with a non-permanent coating. You can just clean the stone-embedded gold jewelry with a soft cloth. It would be safe to clean the jewelry through a professional cleaning service.
Some stones like cubic zirconia or crystals can withstand a brief gentle cleaning. However, should not sink them in water or scrub them with harsh things. But if you think a deeper cleaning is required, bring them to a professional.
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Hazards to Avoid When Cleaning Gold Jewelry
You have to avoid particular substances while cleaning gold jewelry as the metal gold has a high chance of tarnishing:
Soap
Avoid soaps whose ingredients are unknown to you. First, know about the ingredients and then use the soaps. It is safer to use basic dishwasher soap to clean gold jewelry.
Chlorine
In high temperatures, Chlorine can permanently damage or discolor your gold ornaments.
Bottom Line
Gold jewelry’s cleaning process is simple and easy. By using a few household products and tricks, you can clean gold jewelry at home. Following the above-mentioned tips to clean gold jewelry, you can get your gold sparkling and shining like new. Make sure you practice good hygiene during the cleaning process. You can also use commercial jewelry cleaners.