How to Clean Gold Jewellery Like a Pro | 2024 guide

They say all that glitter is not gold, but the sparkle in clean gold jewellery can make them look even more precious and more golden. As gold lovers, we all like to keep shinin' our best selves when we go out and about wearing our beloved gold jewellery, whether it is for a birthday party, business meeting, night out with the girlies, or a romantic date. So, we know how important it is to you to keep all your gold jewellery bright and nice every day.

Lucky for you, we have brought you the perfect 2024 guide where we break down every detail down to nitty-gritty details that will tell you how to clean gold jewellery like an absolute pro! Here, we will discuss all the things you need to know about cleaning your gold jewellery, from what to use, what to do, how to do it and more bonus tips.

Understanding the Different Types of Gold Jewellery.

When it comes to attempting to clean gold jewellery, different types of jewellery yearn for different cleaning methods. This is because the individual combinations in manufacturing and designing require special care in order to maintain their longevity while looking their best.

Yellow Gold Jewellery.

Yellow gold, being around for centuries has won the hearts of gold lovers with its warm shine. Made of a mix of metal alloys such as nickel, copper, zinc and palladium with pure gold, yellow gold jewellery can last a long time with proper care. You can easily clean this type of gold jewellery using a few things in your kitchen as they do not require specific considerations. It is ideal to clean gold jewellery of this kind every fortnight to remove the dirt and oil accumulated during daily wear.

White Gold Jewellery

Unlike yellow gold, white gold has an extra layer of protection because of its rhodium finish. However, this does not mean that your white gold jewellery is immune to losing its sparkle and modern look. If you notice your white gold rings and necklaces getting a bit dull, turning yellowish or displaying spots, then it is better to do a simple cleaning at home. White gold may not need cleaning as frequently as yellow gold requires; taking the time to do it once a month is enough.  Jewellery. If you love wearing your white gold often, then the rhodium finish might need retouching around every three months; you can go to a trusted jeweller for this.

Rose Gold Jewellery

Compared to yellow and white gold, rose gold jewellery demands a lower level of maintenance. Because of its high percentage of copper mixed with pure gold, rose gold jewellery tends to have longer lives, even when you wear it on a daily basis. Therefore, the only thing it needs is a good old cleaning regularly to keep glistening and shining, which will take very little effort and almost no time at all.

Solid Gold Jewellery vs Gold Plated Jewellery.

As an inherently non-reactive metal, pure solid gold jewellery does not need much deep cleaning. The truth is that genuine solid gold jewellery might lose its shine but will not tarnish, leave green marks or cause allergic reactions on the body, unlike gold-plated jewellery, making them perfect for gold lovers with sensitive skin. Gold-plated jewellery, on the other hand, only has a gold coating; therefore, wear and tear damage and rusting can cause disturbances to its appeal. In that case, it is better to bring them to your jeweller to get them related to achieve clean gold jewellery.

Essential Cleaning Supplies.

Just like any task, turning your dirty gold jewellery into clean gold jewellery has many levels, making it a proper process. And just like to make Chili crab, you definitely need fresh crabs and mouth-watering chilli paste. To clean gold jewellery, there are some basic materials you need to have at hand, no matter what type of jewellery you have in your jewellery.

• Water - This one is surely a no-brainer for cleaning anything from ourselves to our beloved gold. You can use clean water which is in a lukewarm temperature. This will act as the main cleaning solution in which you use to clean gold jewellery.
• Mild soap - this is ideal for cleaning gold jewellery as it will be strong enough to do the job properly but not strong enough to cause damage to the jewellery. Look for a soap with natural ingredients and a pH level between 4.5 and 6.5 for optimal effectiveness. Your everyday dish soap should be fine as well.
• Soft-bristled brush- This will be the agent that will act as the element providing the friction to get all the dirt, germs and oils out of your gold jewellery. The emphasis on the soft bristles is important as they will clean gold jewellery, unlike hard and rough bristles that will cause abrasions on the metal and damage it. You can use a make-up brush or an old, worn-out toothbrush for the task if you do not have a separate one to clean gold jewellery.
• Microfiber Cloth - This is used to dry your clean gold jewellery to give it the rebirth that it deserves after a long wear. Microfiber cloths are better at collecting dirt and residue from the material than any other cloth type. The bonus is that you will be able to use your microfiber cloth numerous times before it loses its effectiveness in cleaning.

The Cleaning Process.

Now that you know what you need to have at hand to clean gold jewellery let's get down to the process step by step, shall we?

Step 1: Prepare the Cleaning Solution

Firstly, you can take a clean bowl and pour your lukewarm water into it. Lukewarm water should feel warmer against your skin as it is hotter than your body temperature but not too high to be boiling hot. Depending on how much jewellery you plan to clean, you can use a small, medium or large bowl of water.

Now add some dish soap or any kind of mild soap you wish to use and mix until everything is equally dissolved and place the jewellery inside. This will be your cleaning solution to clean gold jewellery that will get it shining bright once again.

Step 2: Pre-Soak the Jewellery (optional)

This step will loosen up all the filth you want to get out to properly clean gold jewellery. Pre-soaking preps your gold jewellery to be brushed, also promoting the resurfacing of the gloss of the metal. Ideally, you can pre-soak the jewellery in the soap-water mix for five minutes; this will definitely help if you need to remove rusted spots to clean gold jewellery.

It is important to note that pre-soaking should be done with caution as it is not for all jewellery and should not be done for prolonged times. You will not get more clean gold jewellery just if you leave them in the solution for longer. To make sure everything goes smoothly, we at Starlight Jewellery advise you to skip over the soaking step if your gold jewellery has inclusions such as gemstones and pearls.

Step 3: Gentle Cleaning

Now this is where the soft bristles come in to save the day! or to save the gold in this case. If you a soft-bristled brush to clean gold jewellery. To avoid damage, make sure that you use small circular motions to clean gold jewellery with mild force. don't forget to pay special attention to all the nooks and corners of the design when you clean your jewellery.

Step 4: Rinsing and Drying

As the final step, carefully wash off the brushed dirt and rust to clean your gold jewellery by running it under clean water or by using another clean, lukewarm water bowl. Thoroughly rinse the gold until you are sure all the dirt and soap are gone for good. Now, you can use the clean cloth to gently pat it dry to get all the moisture out and clean gold jewellery.

Additional considerations to get clean gold jewellery.

• If your jewellery has gemstones, diamonds and gemstones, we recommend you consult your jeweller regarding professional cleaning.
• Make sure to avoid harsh cleaning solutions and chemicals, as they will cause permanent damage to your gold.
• If you want to use solutions like lemon juice or vinegar, dilute them with lots of water before making the solution.
• For intricate designs, use a cotton swab dipped in the cleaning solution to get better results.
• Avoid cleaning them too often (every other day) as it might result in them losing their shine.
• Remove your gold jewellery before you get in the shower, and take a dip in a pool or in the ocean to preserve your life.

Finally,

By following this comprehensive guide to achieve clean gold jewellery, you can get all your gold to shine even brighter. Ensure that you are aware of the type of gold in your jewellery and what kind of care and maintenance they require to stay the best that they are. You can protect them even further by storing them in a cool and dry place like an enclosed jewellery box or air-tight container. Remember that even tangling and friction caused by poor storage can also cause physical damage to your clean gold jewellery.

If you feel unsure or not confident about doing the cleaning of your gold jewellery yourself, do not be hesitant to take them to your reputed and trusted professional, where you can learn more about clean gold jewellery on top of getting a makeover for your gold. This way you will be able to wear your gold for a lifetime shining brighter than ever.