How To Clean Gold Jewelry Without Damaging It

Cleaning your gold jewelry regularly will increase its lifespan. Cleaning your jewelry will keep it shiny and help you get rid of films, dirt and dust that can accumulate on it, especially if this is an intricate piece. Here is how to clean gold jewelry the right way.

Cleaning Gold Jewelry

Mix a few drops of a quality dish detergent in some lukewarm water. Dip a small soft toothbrush in the water and use it to gently brush your jewelry. Rinse the piece of gold jewelry with some lukewarm water and let it air dry or pat it gently with a clean towel. If the piece of jewelry you want to clean is particularly dirty, you can add a few drops of ammonia to the mixture to break down dirt buildups. Remember that pure gold is not as durable as alloys and you should be very carefully when brushing and drying your 24K gold jewelry. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean and disinfect your gold jewelry, but avoid using rubbing alcohol if there is a gemstone glued to the jewelry.

Cleaning Gold Jewelry With Diamonds

Dirt and grease tend to build up on diamonds and around them. You need to be especially carefully when cleaning diamond rings and other jewelry with stones since settings can be easily damaged. It is best to let your diamond jewelry soak in some lukewarm water mixed with a few drops of a mild degreasing dish soap to break down the dirt and grease that have built up on the diamond and in the setting. Use a soft toothbrush to gently clean your diamond gold jewelry if needed. Ammonia can be used on diamonds and sapphires but can damage pearls, turquoise, opals and other types of gemstones. Check with your jeweler before using a cleaning product that contains ammonia.

What To Avoid

Always be gentle when handling and cleaning your jewelry, especially if the piece is old. Check the ingredients of the dish soap or cleaning solution you want to use to make sure you won’t be exposing your gold jewelry to abrasive chemicals. Remember that pure gold and gold-plated jewelry is more fragile than alloys that contain nickel or other metals. Make sure the water you use is lukewarm and not hot since the temperature shock could crack a diamond or gemstone. Ultrasonic cleaners designed to eliminate the dirt that builds up on diamonds can be a good option but they can cause settings to become loose. Try using a gentler method before taking your gold jewelry to a jeweler who will use an ultrasonic cleaner.

You can keep your jewelry clean and shiny now that you know how to clean gold jewelry without damaging it. Invest in a soft baby toothbrush and in a quality jewelry cleaning solution if you don’t want to use mild dish soap. Be careful when handling your jewelry so you don’t have to clean it too often and remember to be gentle.