How to clean gold jewelry yourself?
The different methods for cleaning gold jewelry
Gold is a material that does not oxidize. However, wearing jewelry on a daily basis can tarnish the material. Sweat, different shower gels and shampoos, perfume and pollution have an impact on your jewelry. This is why it is advisable to clean them from time to time.
To clean your gold jewelry, you must first make sure that it is indeed gold: to do this, consult our article how to recognize gold . Once the precious material has been determined, here are our simple tips for cleaning your jewelry.
Clean your jewelry with soapy water
Once the precious metal has been identified, you can use the soapy water technique for cleaning jewelry, it is the least risky for your jewelry.
If it is a gold jewel without a precious stone, simply bathe it in hot or warm water with a little Marseille soap. Leave it to act for a few dozen minutes. Then, take a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush the dirty parts. Also brush the parts that do not appear dirty. Rinse your jewel, then dry it gently with a soft cloth. Finally, if you have a small soft cloth (a microfibre cloth or a chamois leather), do not hesitate to gently rub your jewel to revive the original shine of the gold. There you have it, your jewels are clean and with a beautiful shine!
Ingredients: warm/hot water + Marseille soap + soft-bristled toothbrush + soft cloth or chamois leather
Clean your jewelry with dishwashing liquid
To clean your antique gold jewelry set with diamonds, sapphires and rubies, use a small toothbrush (with soft bristles) previously dipped in water with a dash of dishwashing liquid. Brush your jewelry completely as indicated above. Then clean the gemstone: at the setting, brush the back of the gem (lightly to vigorously) from left to right, from top to bottom and vice versa. Rinse and repeat the operation two or three times. Dry your jewelry and remove the last drops of water by suction with the corner of a tissue or a cotton swab. Lightly rub the front of the stone with a soft cloth or chamois leather. That's it, your antique jewelry regains its original shine!
Ingredients: toothbrush + warm water + dishwashing liquid + clean cloth + tissue or cotton swab
Clean your jewelry with toothpaste
To clean your antique gold jewelry, use a soft-bristled brush soaked in water with a dab of toothpaste. Brush the jewelry evenly. Brushing can be light to vigorous depending on the degree of dirt. Rinse your jewelry and dry it gently with a soft cloth. If your jewelry has any dents, let it dry on the cloth all day so that it can drain and dry.
Ingredients: warm/hot water + toothpaste + soft-bristled toothbrush + clean cloth + original cases
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Jewelry
Can you clean your jewelry with ultrasound?
Ultrasonic cleaning is convenient because it allows for very effective cleaning of gold. However, it can be too harsh for some jewelry:
There are several reasons why you should be careful when using ultrasound to clean jewelry:
- Stone Damage: Some stones are fragile and can be damaged by the vibrations produced by ultrasound. Stones that are sensitive to ultrasound include rubies, emeralds, opals, moonstones, pearls, and coral. Synthetic or treated stones can also be damaged by ultrasound.
- Damage to metals: Ultrasound can cause damage to some metals, such as fragile metals, such as gold and silver plated, which can be damaged by the vibrations of the ultrasound. Fragile metals may chip, crack, or lose their luster.
- Damage to settings: Ultrasound can cause damage to settings and attachments, such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The vibrations from ultrasonic waves can cause damage to attachments, such as clips, clasps, and clasps, which can loosen or break.
It is therefore important to check whether the jewelry you want to clean is suitable for ultrasonic cleaning before proceeding, and to ensure that there is no risk of damage to your jewelry. It is best to ask a jeweler before using this method for cleaning your antique jewelry.
You may also be interested in our article “ How to clean silver jewelry ”.
Our categories “ Antique earrings » and « Antique Rings » may also interest you.
