Jewelry cleaning – to protect your precious jewelry
The luster and durability of gold jewelry have been a symbol of wealth and status for thousands of years. The amount of gold in a piece of jewelry can range from 24 karats of solid gold to a thin layer of gold plating. Pure gold is 100 percent gold, including 24 karats, but it offers a soft metal that tends to scratch easily.
To prevent gold from being too soft for jewelry, alloys are used (mixtures of different metals in addition to pure gold). You can find many pieces of jewelry on the market marked as 21 karat, 18 karat, or 14 karat - even though this is gold mixed with other alloys (ligures) to increase its hardness and durability, these are still considered real gold.
So how do you clean gold?
It is important to clean gold jewelry that you wear frequently at least once a month, or more often if it starts to look less shiny.
What equipment and materials are required to clean gold jewelry?
- Equipment – a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush, for example), a soft cotton cloth, a small bowl (large enough to hold your gold jewelry).
- Ingredients – dish soap (this soap is more active against fats than other soap), lemon salt, hot water.
How do you clean gold jewelry?
Since we wear most of our jewelry in contact with the skin, it can accumulate body oils, be affected by the wearer's natural acidity, alcohol in perfumes and lotions, bacteria, and various impurities. This causes the gold to lose its shine over time. Of course, daily use causes scratches and dulling. Regular cleaning of gold jewelry will keep it sparkling for many years. Therefore, it is important to learn the best technique for cleaning your gold jewelry at home.
How do you clean gold jewelry at home?
The recommended frequency for cleaning gold depends on how often you wear the jewelry. Unlike silver, gold does not tarnish or oxidize easily. However, wearing gold jewelry too often can cause it to lose its shine and appear dull.
When considering how to clean gold jewelry, keep in mind: lower karat gold jewelry (which contains a higher concentration of alloys) will tarnish if exposed to excessive levels of chemicals such as acids, chlorine, alcohol, and sulfur compounds.
Cleaning instructions for gold and diamond jewelry at home
For example, to clean a diamond ring :
- Fill a small bowl with warm water. Add a few drops of dish soap, lemon salt, and mix well. It is best to clean one or two pieces of jewelry at a time to prevent the gold pieces from scratching each other.
- Place the jewelry in a bowl – leave the jewelry to soak in the liquid for 20 minutes. This will allow the dishwashing liquid to break down any grease that has stuck to the surface of the jewelry.
- Scrub with a brush – If the jewelry is carved or particularly dirty, you may need to scrub it lightly with a soft-bristled brush (such as an old soft toothbrush or a jeweler’s brush). The gentle scrubbing will remove any dirt that has settled into any crevices in the surface of the jewelry.
- Rinse and dry – After soaking, rinse the gold jewelry with plain water and use a soft cloth to dry it. It is best not to use a paper towel because the fibers can scratch the surface, especially if it is high-karat gold.
Tip: You can use a soft-bristled eyebrow brush, which is a great tool for cleaning gold jewelry set with diamonds. Be careful, any brush with stiff bristles can scratch the gold.
How do you clean white gold jewelry?
White gold is cleaned in the same way as yellow gold. Since white gold jewelry is often rhodium-plated, you may need to have the plating professionally replated by a jeweler. Rhodium plating will give the jewelry a whiter, shinier appearance.
How do you clean gold jewelry with stones?
If your gold jewelry is set with gemstones, start with these tips for properly cleaning and maintaining gold jewelry with stones. You can do this by:
- Removing gold jewelry set with stones when washing hands or bathing, to prevent soap residue from accumulating on the jewelry.
- Remove all jewelry before entering a hot tub, pool, or ocean. Harsh chemicals like chlorine, acids, sulfur, and salt can damage or discolor gold. Chlorine can weaken the structure of gold and eventually lead to breakage.
- Avoid exposing gold jewelry and stones to hair sprays, makeup, creams, etc.
- Store gold jewelry set with stones carefully, in separate compartments in a fabric-lined jewelry box, to prevent the items from scratching each other and damaging the finish.
- Avoid cleaning gold with ammonia. You can use ammonia, but keep in mind that it is a strong chemical that is caustic. Some people use it to deep clean jewelry. But use it wisely. If you use this substance too much, it can erode the gold. Additionally, ammonia is not safe for certain types of jewelry that include platinum or pearls, so if you use ammonia to clean your jewelry, be careful!
- Please note that jewelry set with emeralds and tanzanites is extremely sensitive. These stones are sensitive to heat and are very brittle. Therefore, "throw" them into hot water to avoid creating a thermal shock.
How do you clean a diamond ring?
If your diamond ring has become dirty, for example, from body lotion, makeup, perfume, or hairspray, a simple cleaning at home will restore its sparkle and shine. The best way to clean a diamond ring is to prepare a solution of warm water, lemon salt, and dishwashing liquid, and soak the ring in it for about 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a very soft toothbrush, and rinse the ring with warm water. If additional cleaning is needed, repeat the process.
How often should you clean your diamond ring?
The way we suggest cleaning your jewelry at home does not harm the jewelry, so you can clean it as much as you want. To keep your ring looking its best for many years, it is recommended to clean it at least once a month, depending on how you use it. This will help remove the oil and dirt that collect on the ring every day.
By the way, sometimes it is better to do this more often, especially if your diamond ring is exposed to high levels of debris, such as sea sand, dust, soil, sweat. If you are very active in the kitchen and love to cook, but do not bother to remove your diamond ring while cooking, keep in mind that a hard, dense layer of oil or dirt will accumulate on the ring over time.
What if I want to clean the scratches left on the jewelry and not just the grease?
If you want to restore the beauty and shine to your diamond jewelry and make it look like new; if you are worried that your gold jewelry set with diamonds will be permanently ruined; if the jewelry remains faded and dull after home cleaning – it is worth bringing it to a professional jeweler. The professional will know how to restore your jewelry to its original beauty.
Of course, the jeweler will be able to give his opinion on whether the stones in the jewelry need to be strengthened as a result of wear.
