How to clean gold jewelry at home, including inlaid with stones? Causes of pollution, rules of care and home remedies for cleaning gold items. Helpful hints. Gold is a noble metal, but even it tends to get dirty and darken, from which it ceases to shine and shimmer. To eliminate such a defect, gold jewelry should be periodically cleaned without damaging their surface. Products can be taken to the workshop for professional grinding, or they can be cleaned at home on their own. In this review, you will learn how to clean gold jewelry with the help of available tools, including products with stones, how not to damage them, not to scratch them, and much more.
Causes of contamination of gold jewelry
Gold is a soft metal that can easily deform, so jewelry of the highest standard is not made. To give the product hardness, other metals are added to the alloy: silver, zinc, copper, cadmium, and so on. These additives oxidize when in contact with water or air, from which a film of dark and dull oxide appears on the products. In domestic conditions, gold products can become contaminated from dust, grease, body sweat, cosmetics, creams, etc. Another reason is contact with chemical vapors, medications.
Rules for the care of gold jewelry
In order to clean the gold in the future, as rarely as possible and to protect the metal from damage, it should be properly looked after. To do this, be sure to remove gold jewelry before:
- House cleaning.
- Hand wash with detergents.
- Taking a shower.
- Going to the bathhouse and sauna.
- Going in for sports.
- A visit to the solarium.
- The use of cosmetic and medical products.
- When working with paints and abrasives.
Also, do not allow jewelry to come into contact with alkalis, acids, thinners, nail polish remover. Do not store items in cardboard boxes, as cardboard contains sulfur, which causes gold to blacken over time. Keep them away from heat and light by wrapping them in soft flannel in a casket.
Home remedies for cleaning gold
The easiest and most inexpensive way to clean is to use a fabric such as a soft-bristled fleece. They need to rub the gold to shine and cleanliness. This is the gentlest and most suitable method for any product that should be used regularly. But if the pollution is old, and the dark oxide film is in hard-to-reach places, then this method is not suitable. Then more effective fluids should be used.
Soapy water
- First option - Dissolve dishwashing detergent or soap in warm water. Place jewelry in the soapy water. After a few hours, use a toothbrush to clean the items and rinse with running water.
- Second way - prepare the solution as in the first case, lower the gold and boil for 2 minutes. Then clean it with a soft brush as in the first case.
Soda water
Fill the gold with water and heat. Then add baking soda (200 ml of water 1 tablespoon) and boil for 2 minutes. Remove jewelry, brush and rinse.
Sugar solution
Dissolve 1 tbsp in 200 ml of water. l. sugar and place the gold for 3-4 hours. Rinse the jewelry afterwards so that it is not sticky. This method will remove grease and dust, but will not cope with heavy dirt.
Toothpaste
Cover the gold with paste and use a soft toothbrush to brush like teeth. The duration depends on the degree of pollution. The toothpaste contains an easily abrasive substance, the action of which softens the foaming substances. Therefore, the jewelry will be cleaned without damage.
Onion juice
Cut the onion and grate the decorations with a cut. Leave the gold on for 2 hours for the juice to take effect. Rinse afterwards.
Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia
Pour 200 ml of water, 3 tsp into a glass or enamel container. ammonia, 2 tbsp. l. peroxide and a drop of liquid soap. Leave the gold in the solution for 2 hours. Ammonia and peroxide react with oxides, from which the gold is purified. This method is not suitable for products with stones and containing chemicals that are sensitive to ammonia and peroxide.
Salmon and washing powder
Pour laundry detergent and ammonia into 200 ml of hot water. Place the gold in the solution for 2 hours, then rinse.
Rules for cleaning gold jewelry inlaid with stones
For each particular type of stone, certain means for cleaning jewelry are used.
Pearls, turquoise, coral
Gently wipe the gold frame with ammonia so that it does not get on the stone. And wipe the stone itself with a cotton swab dipped in soapy water.
Zirconium, cubic zirkonia, diamond
On the contrary, these stones are not afraid of ammonia, it will return their shine and transparency. Jewelry with zirconium, cubic zirconia or diamond can be cleaned with a solution of ammonia and soap using a soft cloth. It is important not to boil or soak such jewelry for a long time if the stone is set on glue.
Diamond
Diamond is the hardest gem. Products with it tolerate any means and methods of cleaning.
Sapphire, ruby, emerald
Clean these stones with soapy water. Then they will not become cloudy and will not lose their beautiful bright color.
Helpful advice from the gold cleaning experts
- Do not rub the gold with baking soda, as this will damage the surface of the product. Soda leaves deep scratches. Moreover, the higher the sample of jewelry, the more mechanical damage.
- For cleaning, do not apply any acid to jewelry with stones.
- Gold is a soft metal, therefore, do not use coarse abrasive products (metal sponges, needles, sharp objects).
- Clean the clogged dirt in the engraving, openwork pattern or on the wrong side with a wooden toothpick with a thin layer of cotton wool wrapped around the tip.
