Cleaning your gold jewelry regularly is important to keep it looking its best. Gold is a very soft metal, so it’s important to clean it gently to avoid scratching. With the right tips and techniques, you can easily clean your gold jewelry at home. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to clean gold jewelry the right way.

Supplies Needed for Cleaning Gold Jewelry

Before you start cleaning your gold jewelry, make sure you have the right supplies on hand. Here are the basic items you’ll need:

Mild dish soap – Choose a gentle liquid dish soap without added moisturizers or scents. Dish soaps like Dawn work well.
Soft toothbrush – The bristles will help gently scrub away dirt and oils. Make sure it’s a new toothbrush you haven’t used before.
Soft cloth – A microfiber cloth or flannel works best. Avoid towels, which can be too rough.
Bowl – You’ll need this to mix your cleaning solution.
Distilled water – Tap water contains minerals that can build up on gold. Use distilled water when rinsing.
Drying cloth – Have a lint-free cloth on hand to dry your jewelry after rinsing. A microfiber towel or air drying works best.

Optional items that can help deep clean jewelry include:

Jewelry cleaning solution
Jewelry cleaning brush
Jewelry cleaning cloths
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

How to Clean Gold Jewelry Step-By-Step

Follow these steps to properly clean your gold jewelry at home:

1. Remove Jewelry Before Showering, Swimming, Exercising

Before cleaning, take your gold jewelry off if you’re planning to shower, swim, exercise, sleep, apply lotions or perfumes. Exposure to water, sweat, chemicals, and oils will dirty your gold faster.

2. Mix a Mild Soap Solution

Fill your bowl with warm water. Add a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Swirl the water gently to mix it up. The solution should be sudsy but not thick.

3. Soak the Jewelry

Place your gold jewelry into the soapy solution. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes so the soap can lift and loosen any dirt and grease. This helps prevent scratching when you scrub.

4. Gently Scrub with a Soft Toothbrush

Use your toothbrush to lightly scrub the gold under the sudsy water. Focus on brushing crevices, grooves, and under gallery areas where gunk can collect. The soap and brush will dislodge grime.

5. Rinse Thoroughly

Once scrubbed, transfer the jewelry to a bowl of plain distilled water. Rinse each piece well to remove all soap residue which can dull gold over time.

6. Dry Completely with Soft Cloth

Lay the gold jewelry out on a soft lint-free cloth. Gently pat dry. Or you can let the pieces air dry completely. Make sure no moisture is left behind.

7. Buff Shine with Cloth

Your final step is to buff each gold piece with a clean soft cloth, like microfiber. This helps restore its shine and luster.

Tips for Effective Gold Jewelry Cleaning

Follow these tips to get the best results when cleaning your gold jewelry:

Clean gold weekly or bi-weekly to prevent heavy buildup. Regular light cleaning is better than occasional deep cleaning.
Work in a well-lit, clutter-free area so you can inspect for cleanliness.
Take rings off before cleaning to reach the entire band and prevent damage if you drop them.
Never use bleach, ammonia, acetone, or other harsh chemicals to clean gold. This can damage the metal.
Avoid steam cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners. The heat and high pressure can reshape or pit soft gold.
Dry gently with a cloth. Avoid paper towels, which can scratch. Don’t rub vigorously.
Store cleaned pieces separately so they don’t re-collect oils and dirt. Place in sealable bags or boxes.

Best Practices for Cleaning Gold Jewelry Types

Certain gold jewelry types require some special care when cleaning. Follow these best practices:

Delicate Chains and Strands

Soak delicate chains in soapy water for just a minute or two. Oversoaking can loosen links over time.
Dry individual links carefully with a cloth or air dry flat. Don’t bunch wet chains together.
Store chains untangled and unknotted to prevent stretching and breaking.

Gemstone and Diamond Jewelry

Mix soap solution using distilled water to prevent buildup on stones.
Avoid soaking jewelry with porous gemstones like pearl or opal. Just wipe down.
Clean diamonds separately from gold with a diamond-safe cleaner to avoid scratching.

Textured and Engraved Gold

Use an old toothbrush and soapy water to thoroughly clean engraved designs.
Rinse crevices well to remove all debris. Soak briefly if needed.
Dry fully with a cloth or blower. Trapped moisture can dull textured gold.

Gold-Filled or Gold-Plated

Stick to mild dish soap and avoid lengthy soaking which can damage the plating.
Rinse and dry immediately after scrubbing to prevent plating loss.
Re-plate worn pieces to protect the base metal underneath.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry by Type

Find detailed cleaning steps for specific gold jewelry items:

How to Clean Gold Rings

Gold rings need regular cleaning since our hands pick up dirt and oils quickly:

Remove rings and soak in warm sudsy water for 5-10 minutes. This loosens debris.
Gently scrub the band, sides, and undersides with a toothbrush.
Pay extra attention to engravings, etching, and textured areas.
Rinse under running water until squeaky clean.
Dry with a soft lint-free cloth or towel. Don’t rub too vigorously.
For diamonds or gemstones, use a specialty ring cleaner or take to a jeweler.

How to Clean Gold Necklaces

Follow this process for gold chains, chokers, and pendants:

Remove necklace and clasp before cleaning.
For short soaking times under 2 minutes, fragile chains can be soaked clasped.
Gently scrub pendants, chains, and clasps with a small brush.
Rinse immediately and thoroughly after scrubbing.
Dry individual links of chains carefully with a soft cloth.
Hang chain or lay flat to completely air dry. Don’t bunch wet jewelry together.

How to Clean Gold Earrings

Clean earring posts, wires, chains, and dangles as follows:

Never soak gold-plated earrings which can damage the plating. Just wipe down.
For solid gold earrings, soak 1-2 minutes and scrub gently with a small brush.
Pay attention to the posts, hinges, and backings where dirt collects.
Rinse and immediately dry each earring individually with a lint-free cloth.
Store earrings lying flat or hanging up. Avoid bunching earrings together while wet.

How to Clean Gold Bracelets

Bracelets should be cleaned gently to avoid damaging any clasps or links:

Remove bracelet before cleaning.
Soak for a just few minutes – avoid lengthy soaking of fragile bracelets.
Use a small bristled brush to clean inside links, clasps, and details.
Rinse thoroughly after scrubbing to remove all soap residue.
Dry carefully with a soft cloth. Don’t bunch or twist wet bracelets.
Lay flat or hang to fully air dry bracelets before wearing or storing.

Best Gold Jewelry Cleaning Products

While mild dish soap and water can clean everyday grime, sometimes you need a little extra cleaning power. Here are some of the best gold jewelry cleaning products:

Jewelry Cleaning Solutions

Jewelry cleaning solutions offer mild cleansing for gold and diamonds. Popular brands include:

Connoisseurs Precious Jewelry Cleaner – Formulated for gold, platinum, diamonds. Very mild 2% ammoniated formula.
Weiman Jewelry Cleaning Solution – Contains cleaning conditioners. Safe for fine jewelry.
Goddard’s Fine Jewelry Spray – Foaming spray formula. Good for diamond rings.
Sunshine Jewelry Cleaner – Biodegradable and phosphate-free. Good for sensitive skin.

Always follow label directions closely when using cleaners. Avoid soaking porous stones like pearls or opal. Rinse and dry promptly after cleaning.

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners

Ultrasonic cleaners use sound waves and water to deep clean jewelry. They can be used on gold pieces without gemstones or pearls. Popular ultrasonic cleaner brands include:

iSonic
Magnasonic
GemOro

Do not use ultrasonic cleaning on pearl, emerald, turquoise or other porous stones as it can damage them. Follow manufacturer instructions carefully.

At-Home Jewelry Steam Cleaners

Jewelry steamers use hot steam to clean gold and diamonds safely. Some good steamer options include:

Reliable 2600 Steam Jewelry Cleaner
PureClean XL Home Steamer
DZNYJ Handheld Jewelry Steamer

Avoid using steam cleaners on costume jewelry, gold-plate, or pieces with glue as high heat can damage them.

Jewelry Polishing Cloths and Scrubs

For polishing and adding shine to gold, specialty cloths and scrubs work well:

Sunshine Polishing Cloth – Pre-moistened cloth removes tarnish and polishes.
Connoisseurs Gold Polishing Cloth – Restores shine to gold. Has a scratch-removing sponge side.
Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths – Made of soft cotton for gentle gold polishing.

When using any polishing scrubs or cloths, rub gently in the direction of the grain to avoid scratching gold.

When to Take Gold Jewelry to a Professional Jeweler

While cleaning at home is safe for most gold jewelry, some situations call for professional cleaning:

Jewelry with badly damaged stones or metals. A jeweler can check for loose stones and repair structural damage.
Heirloom or antique jewelry. Jewelers use specialized techniques for vintage pieces.
Jewelry exposed to chemicals, saltwater or chlorine. Jeweler’s ultrasonics can deep clean corrosion.
Very dirty jewelry that needs steam cleaning. Home steamers can’t achieve the high heat and pressure of professional models.
Gold jewelry with stubborn buildup or tarnish that won’t come out with home cleaning.

Visibly inspect jewelry after any professional cleaning. Ensure all stones are still secure. Let your jeweler know if you notice any missing stones or damage.

Storing Gold Jewelry Properly

Storing your gold jewelry correctly after cleaning helps keep it looking its best between wearings:

Place cleaned pieces in sealable plastic bags or tight boxes to protect from air exposure. Air can oxidize and dull gold over time.
Store gold jewelry separate from other metals or gemstones. This prevents scratching gold’s soft surface.
Lay chains, necklaces, and bracelets flat don’t bunch together. Hang earrings or charms on hooks. Proper storage maintains the shape.
Keep jewelry away from other objects in drawers. The rattling can dent and scratch gold. Use compartments or dividers.
Only zip or snap closed fabric jewelry bags or rolls. Keeping them open allows dust and debris to settle inside.
Avoid letting gold jewelry touch perfume, hairspray, lotion, makeup, and other chemicals in storage which can contaminate the metal.

Proper at-home cleaning and storage will help your gold jewelry stay beautiful for many years. Always use gentle dish soap, soft brushes, avoid harsh scrubbing, and dry thoroughly. Taking care of your gold the right way helps preserve its value and sentiment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning Gold Jewelry

Here are answers to some common questions about properly cleaning gold jewelry at home:

Is It Safe to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home?

Yes, cleaning most gold jewelry at home is safe and effective. Use mild dish soap, distilled water, soft brushes, and gentle techniques to prevent scratching or damaging gold. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasives.

How Often Should You Clean Gold Jewelry?

Clean gold jewelry every few weeks for light wearers or weekly or bi-weekly for frequent wearers. Regular light cleanings are better than letting dirt and oils build up heavily over time.

What???s the Best Way to Clean Gold Chains?

Soak delicate chains briefly, gently scrub with a small brush, rinse thoroughly, and dry each link carefully. Avoid harsh scrubbing or soaking which can loosen links over time.

Can You Use Toothpaste to Clean Gold?

No, avoid using toothpaste which can be too abrasive for soft gold. The gritty particles in toothpaste can put fine scratches into gold???s surface. Use mild liquid dish soap instead.

Is Baking Soda Safe for Cleaning Gold?

Baking soda can be used occasionally to help remove tarnish but avoid using it too often. Baking soda has a slightly abrasive texture that can micro-scratch gold over time. Mild dish soap is gentler.

What is the Best Cleaner for Diamonds?

Cleaning solutions formulated specifically for diamonds are safest. Avoid soaking in harsh chemicals or using ultrasonic cleaning on diamonds which can loosen or chip them. Let a professional jeweler steam clean diamonds.

Can You Clean Gold in Vinegar?

Vinegar can remove tarnish from gold but should be used sparingly. The acetic acid in vinegar can damage certain gemstones or enamel work. Rinse thoroughly after using and dry immediately.

What is the Best Way to Clean Gold Without Damaging It?

The safest way to clean gold jewelry without damage is to soak briefly in mild sudsy water, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush, rinse thoroughly, and hand dry immediately with a soft lint-free cloth. Avoid harsh scrubbing, chemicals or ultrasonic cleaning.

Conclusion

Regularly and properly cleaning your gold jewelry helps keep it looking shiny and new. By using mild dish soap, soft brushes, avoiding harsh chemicals, and drying carefully, you can safely clean gold jewelry pieces at home. Taking your time and using proper techniques helps remove dirt and oils without damaging the soft gold metal. Be extra gentle with textured, engraved, and delicate gold jewelry. Store cleaned pieces properly to prevent new buildup before wearing again. With the right methods, you can keep your cherished gold jewelry clean and sparkling for years to come.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry the Right Way

Cleaning gold jewelry regularly is key to keeping it looking beautiful. But cleaning it improperly can damage the soft, precious metal. Here’s how to clean your gold jewelry safely and effectively at home.

What You’ll Need

Mild liquid dish soap
Warm water
Soft-bristled toothbrush
Soft cloth
Bowl

Avoid abrasive cleaning products or tools that could scratch gold. Harsh chemicals can also damage certain gemstones.

Step-By-Step Cleaning

Follow these steps to properly clean gold jewelry:

Remove jewelry before showering, exercising, cleaning, applying lotions or perfumes. Exposure to chemicals and moisture can cause buildup.
Fill a bowl with warm water and add a drop of mild, fragrance-free liquid dish soap. Swirl gently to mix into sudsy solution.
Soak jewelry for 5-10 minutes so soap can lift dirt and oils. Rings and earrings can soak less time.
Dip soft toothbrush in solution and gently scrub entire surface, crevices and undersides to dislodge gunk. Avoid rough scrubbing.
Rinse jewelry thoroughly in plain water to remove all soap residue. Pat dry with soft cloth. Air dry or polish with microfiber cloth.
Store cleaned pieces separately in sealable bags or boxes to prevent new dirt and oils from collecting.

Tips

Clean gold biweekly or monthly to prevent heavy buildup.
Take rings off before cleaning to fully clean band undersides.
Dry thoroughly after rinsing to prevent spotting or water stains.
Clean diamonds and gemstones separately from gold mounting using specialty cleaner.
Use shortened soak times for fragile chains, gold-fill or plated pieces.
Have jeweler steam clean heirloom or antique pieces using professional methods.

By Type

Chains – Soak briefly, dry each link carefully.

Rings – Scrub band undersides and engravings.

Earrings – Clean posts, wires and backings well.

Bracelets – Clean gently inside links and clasps.

When to See a Jeweler

Take gold jewelry to a professional jewelers for steam cleaning if:

Jewelry is antique, vintage or has significant sentimental value.
Pieces are heavily soiled and home cleaning methods are ineffective.
Gunk is stuck in crevices or under stones that’s difficult to dislodge.
Metals are badly scratched, warped or pitted. Jeweler can polish out some light damage.
Stones are loose, missing or damaged. Jeweler can check settings and repair.

Keeping Gold Sparkling

With the proper cleaning techniques and products, you can keep your gold jewelry looking its best for years to come. Avoid harsh scrubbing, chemicals