by Jesús Zabala - 4 min read

How to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home

How to clean gold jewelry at home is a question that often pops up in the minds of jewelry owners who want to keep their precious pieces sparkling and shiny.

With a few household items and some simple steps, you can restore your gold jewelry's brilliance and shine, giving it the care it deserves. So, let's explore some easy and effective ways to clean gold jewelry at home.

Learn the Right Way to Clean Gold Jewelry

Gold is simply beautiful in virtually all of its many forms. That said, keeping gold clean and attractive can be easy and convenient if you simply know the right way to clean this type of precious metal.

Because gold jewelry is so incredibly popular, it's worth taking the time to learn the best ways to clean it.

Perhaps first, it is worth understanding the actual properties of gold and jewelry made of gold, so you can find the appropriate gold jewelry cleaner.

For example, most people already know that 24-karat gold is the purest form of gold available.

Anytime a piece of jewelry is less than 24-karats, you can expect it to be mixed with other types of metals.

These are often referred to as alloys and are frequently used to increase the overall durability and hardness of gold jewelry.

When gold jewelry is less than 24-karets it does not always indicate that the jewelry is inferior.

In fact, mixed alloys are often used to create jewelry for those with a more active lifestyle.

Excellent Gold Cleaning Solution

This is simply due to the fact that gold is a soft and pliable metal that can easily become scratched. When gold is mixed with other alloys it increases the overall longevity of the piece of jewelry in question.

Knowing how to properly clean gold jewelry is the first step in ensuring that your gold pieces last a very long time and always look their best. One example of an excellent gold cleaning solution that can be made at home and that will help to maintain the shine of your jewelry is listed below.

Without the need for expensive commercial products, consider mixing the following ingredients at home but always keep in mind that gold is a soft metal so it's recommended to be gentle during the cleaning, brushing and even drying process.

Mix warm water with just a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Make sure the water is not too hot.

Add just a few small drops of ammonia.

Brush the gold piece with great care using a new child's soft toothbrush.

Rinse in clean lukewarm water.

Finally, air dry or pat dry very carefully with a soft nonabrasive cloth.

worn jewelry ring having an open eye design with minimal band width

Things to Avoid

As with sterling silver and other precious metals, gold can tarnish quite easily. If you want to know how to clean 14k gold jewelry at home properly, there are a few substances that must be avoided as a way to ensure that your gold jewelry does not become unsightly or to remove tarnish from gold.

For example, chlorine is no friend of gold. This is especially true when chlorine exposure involves high temperatures such as in a hot tub or hot bath.

Chlorine under these conditions can permanently discolor or damage jewelry made of gold.

Always remove your jewelry while using chlorine bleach to clean around the house.

Equally important is to avoid the use of soaps and detergents or cleaners where the ingredients are simply unknown.

Using the most basic of liquid dish soap is generally okay.

It is also a good idea to make it a habit of removing all jewelry that is made of gold prior to showering.

This will help to reduce the chances of film accumulating as a result of using body washes and shampoos.

One other consideration when it comes to cleaning gold-based jewelry is that of embedded gemstones.

a man having a jewelry bracelet with an uneven, rugged, abstract style

Embedded Precious Stones

Always exercise caution when cleaning jewelry that features embedded precious stones or gemstones. Ask your jeweler if you are not sure and refrain from cleaning this type of jewelry at home until you have consulted with a professional.

While diamonds are quite resilient and will not become damaged by chemicals, many other gemstones are not so fortunate.

This is especially true considering the fact that modern gemstones are often enhanced or treated following extraction. This will have an impact on how this type of jewelry should be cleaned.

Finally, at the end of the day any time you are not sure when it comes to cleaning your own jewelry it is always good to talk with your jeweler.

If you don't know how to make gold shiny again, requesting a professional cleaning is the best choice. It is very inexpensive and sometimes free depending on the jeweler.

Keep in mind that professional jewelers will take the proper precautions and use the right type of procedures for the specific kind of metal jewelry or gemstones at hand.

This will put your mind at ease knowing that your jewelry is always in good hands.

Contact JewelryLab.co today to learn more about the best way to care for modern gold jewelry.

Also see our tips on how to clean silver jewelry or cleaning brass jewelry.