HOW TO CLEAN GOLD JEWELRY?

Gold can and should sparkle or at least have that special shine that only gold can have. Most of us have gold jewelry, some of which stays in the locker while others stay nearby to be worn as often as possible. Our everyday gold jewelry gets rinsed more often and is also easier to spot when it comes to dirt or tarnish. You might think that gold doesn't tarnish, but although tarnish isn't the same as silver or bronze, even gold jewelry can show signs of tarnish with regular use or over time. . It used to be that we washed and cleaned our gold jewelry almost as a ritual every few weeks. But with little time available, it has become a habit to take our gold jewelry to an expert gold cleaner.

Yet, not all of us are comfortable with our jewelry leaving our hands for some reason and going somewhere else. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that cleaning can be done just as professionally in our homes. Here we are going to explore some tips to keep our jewelry looking shiny and new. But first, let's understand what causes our gold jewelry to tarnish.

WHY ARE GOLD JEWELRY TARGETED?

Did you know that with regular use, our gold jewelry will lose its natural shine? It's correct. You'll find that pieces you wear daily or more often start to feel a bit dull over time. This is also due to pollution, cosmetics, and various lotions and moisturizers that build up on our jewelry. We know that the purest form of gold is 24 karat and is considered very soft. Jewelry makers often add other metals to make the gold strong enough to be made into jewelry. Metals like silver, palladium, nickel, and even zinc are mixed with pure gold to make them strong and stand the test of time. The purity of gold jewelry varies between 24 karats and 14 karats, depending on the ratio of gold to metal added. Gold itself is inert and does not tarnish. Other metals used in our gold jewelry react with air and moisture resulting in a dull or tarnished appearance.

CAN YOU CLEAN YOUR GOLD JEWELRY AT HOME?

Of course, you can clean your jewelry at home. You don't need to take them to professionals every time you find your gold chains like Perrin geometric gold chains, bracelets, earrings, or other gold jewelry dull.

Soap and water are enough to clean your jewelry. Sounds pretty easy, right? You can do this fairly quickly as long as you're working with plain gold jewelry, whether it's bracelets, bangles, pendants, or other adornments. A soap and water solution may be more effective at removing accumulated oils, dirt, and other elements that have tarnished the gold. You may need to use a soft brush to remove any dirt stuck to the grooves or curves of the piece, such as a gold band. Soaking in the solution for a few minutes will loosen dirt faster. But as mentioned above, this method is only suitable for gold coins without gemstones. Here's a step-by-step guide to using soap and water to clean your gold jewelry at home.

Step 1: Fill a shallow bowl with lukewarm water. Add a few drops of mild soap to the water and mix gently to form a solution. Mild detergents or liquid dishwashing detergents are sufficient.

Step 2: Place your gold jewelry in the tray. Keep in mind that these coins should not contain gems. Leave them in the soapy solution for about 20 minutes. You shouldn't have to soak for longer.

Step 3: Once the dirt and grime are loosened and dropped into the water, you can take off the jewelry and rinse in cold water until the soap is completely gone. Lay the freshly rinsed parts on a soft cloth or towel and allow them to air dry.

Step 5: Once your gold jewelry is completely dry, you can put your favorite pieces back or put them back in your jewelry box.

You can use the above cleaning method on any gold, yellow, pink, or white jewelry. You should avoid cold or boiling water to soak your jewelry; You can use club soda or sodium-free seltzer water. Sparkling water can loosen dirt from jewelry more easily. You can also buy commercially available jewelry cleaning solutions.

Do you want to clean gold jewelry with precious stones?

Who doesn't like wearing gold jewelry with diamonds, precious or semi-precious stones? Sheer sequins are a delight to wear every day or on special occasions. While you can use a soapy water solution for gold jewelry, you cannot and should not soak gem-laden jewelry in water. Soaking can trap the soapy solution in the decor, causing the stones to become cloudy and dull. You can use a soft bristle brush to remove dirt in the gold and around the stone setting. But before you start brushing off the dirt, make sure the stones aren't loose so they don't fall off. The rest of the cleaning process is the same as for plain gold jewelry.

DO YOU NEED TO SEND YOUR JEWELRY FOR MACHINE CLEANING?

You may need a professional machine cleaning if you have tried cleaning your jewelry at home and still find some tarnishing or the diamonds and gemstones appear discolored. Antiqa Handcrafted jewelers have automated jewelry cleaning processes using ultrasonic, steam, or ionic cleaners. Also, they have the expertise and experience to know what type of cleaning is required for your particular piece of jewelry.

Important factors to keep in mind

• Do not use a solution that contains bleach as this will stain the gold.
• Use a bowl to clean them and DO NOT wash them directly under the tap as they could slip out of your hands and go down the drain.
• Always be careful when cleaning your jewelry - pure gold or otherwise - to preserve its natural shine.
• There you have it, some simple yet effective ways to keep your jewelry clean, shiny, and looking brand new!