How to clean gold: step-by-step guide, useful tips and tricks

In this article we will explain step by step how to clean gold correctly so that your best pieces shine, improving their aesthetics and extending their life.

Gold is a precious metal recognized for its beauty and value. However, despite its durability, gold can lose its luster and tarnish over time if not properly cared for.

Fortunately, learning how to clean gold is not a complicated task. This guide will provide you effective techniques, tips and tricks to keep your gold jewelry looking like new.

Table of Contents

How to Clean Gold: The Basics

Know the Type of Gold

Before learning how to clean gold, it is important to understand the composition of your jewelry. He pure gold, or 24 karatis too soft to use in jewelry, so it is usually mixed with other metals to give it strength.

This process is known as alloying. Common metals for these alloys include silver, copper, nickel and zinc. Depending on these mixed metals, your jewelry may require special care.

For example, the white gold can have a rhodium plating which could be damaged if cleaned incorrectly. That is why before cleaning gold, it is crucial to know its purity and the secondary metals included.

An additional note, lower karat gold, for example 10 or 14 karat, tends to be more resistant to tarnish and wear due to the greater amount of hard metals in the alloy.

Prepare Cleaning Materials

To learn how to clean gold, you’ll need some basic cleaning materials that you probably already have at home. These include a small bowl, a soft cloth, a soft-bristled toothbrush and a solution of warm water with a few drops of mild phosphate-free detergent.

Using a small container ensures that the jewelry is completely submerged in the solution, and a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, can provide scratch-free drying. It is vital to avoid detergents with phosphates, as these can cause discoloration of the gold.

How to Clean Gold: The Cleaning Process

Gentle Cleaning Process

To know how to clean gold, you must understand that the cleaning process must be gentle to avoid damaging the jewelry. Start by filling the bowl with the warm water and detergent solution.

The water temperature should be only slightly warmer than room temperature, as water that is too hot can damage some gemstones that might be set in your gold jewelry.

Immerse your gold jewelry in the solution and let it sit for about 20 to 30 minutes. This time will allow the detergent to soften any grease or dirt trapped in the jewelry.

Rub Carefully

After soaking, use the soft toothbrush to carefully clean the gold. Be sure to rub gently to avoid scratching the surface. When cleaning, pay special attention to the areas behind the set stones and engraving areas, where dirt and debris tend to accumulate.

This is one of the most crucial aspects to remember when learning how to clean gold: Smoothness is key.

Rinse and Dry

The last step in the process of how to clean gold involves rinsing and drying the jewelry. Rinse the gold under warm water to remove any detergent residue. Then, dry it gently with a soft cloth to avoid scratching the metal.

Make sure the jewelry is completely dry before storing it, as remaining water can cause stains or, in the case of jewelry with stones, can weaken the glue that holds the stones in place.

How to Clean Gold: Mistakes to Avoid

It is equally important to know the mistakes to avoid when learning how to clean gold. Never use abrasive cleaning products or hard brushes to clean gold, as they can scratch and damage the metal.

Also, avoid using ultrasonic cleaners on gold jewelry with gemstones, as the vibrations can loosen the stones. Remember that the value of a gold piece of jewelry lies not only in the metal itself, but also in the integrity of its construction and the value of the stones set in it.

Aggressive cleaning can compromise these factors, thereby reducing the value of your jewelry.