Gold jewelry often has a very special meaning for us. Whether it is a precious heirloom or whether we have treated ourselves to a fine piece of jewelry: our gold jewelry should accompany us throughout our lives and bring us joy.
Even though gold is very high quality and generally a robust material, dust, dirt , cream residue, grease and small skin flakes can settle on your piece of jewelry through daily wear and reduce its beloved shine. Depending on the alloy, it can also 'tarnish', but this is completely normal (more on this below!).
So that your jewel can continue to shine with you, we recommend that you clean your gold jewelry every now and then and take good care of it. In this short blog article we would like to give you some valuable tips for this. The good news first: you usually don't need to buy expensive cleaning products or special solutions to clean your jewelry. With a few things that you definitely have at home, you can make your jewelry shine again in just a few minutes!
Why can gold jewelry tarnish?
"Tarnish on jewelry - that only happens with silver, right?" No, gold jewelry can actually tarnish over time too! But that's no reason to worry, it's a natural process and can be quickly remedied with cleaning.
So that gold can be processed into sparkling jewelry, so-called alloys are used (eg 585 gold or 750 gold). Pure 24 carat gold is much too soft for jewelry making. If you were to make a piece of jewelry out of it, it would quickly develop unsightly scratches and deformations. That is why fine gold is mixed with silver or copper, among other things, to make it harder and more durable.
These "mixed" materials, especially silver, can oxidize over time in the air and you will then see this oxidation as tarnishing on your jewelry. The rule of thumb is: the less fine gold the alloy contains, the more likely it is to tarnish.
How do I clean my gold jewelry?
You usually don't need any special cleaning products to clean your real gold jewelry - there are a few simple and inexpensive household products that will make your jewelry sparkle again in no time.
Easy jewelry cleaning at home in just 3 short steps
1) All you need for cleaning is regular dishwashing liquid or a mild soap, a soft toothbrush and a dry cloth. Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid or soap. Place your gold jewelry in the soapy bath and let it soak for about 5-10 minutes.
2) You can then gently rub the piece of jewelry with the toothbrush to remove the dirt . Make sure to clean the hard-to-reach spaces - you can also do this with a small dental brush.
3) Then rinse your piece of jewelry with clean water until there is no soap residue left on it. Now dry the jewelry with a cloth and you can enjoy its shine again!
For stubborn dirt - baking soda & baking powder
Baking soda and baking powder are often used to clean gold jewelry that is somewhat dirty. To do this, simply add a teaspoon of baking soda or baking powder to lukewarm water and let your jewelry soak in the water bath for around 20-30 minutes. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops of water with baking soda or baking powder to create a creamy paste. Then spread this carefully over your jewelry and let it take effect.
After the exposure time, clean your piece of jewelry again with a soft toothbrush and rinse it with water. Please dry your piece of jewelry thoroughly afterwards, for example with a microfiber cloth, to prevent water stains.
If you want to clean jewelry without gemstones or diamonds, you can mix baking soda with vinegar instead of water to clean your gold jewelry.
Other cleaning methods for gold jewelry
Aluminium foil & salt
This method is often used to clean silver jewelry, but can also be effective for gold jewelry. Please do not use this method for jewelry with gemstones or diamonds to avoid damaging them.
Take a piece of aluminum foil and place it in a small bowl. Then fill it with hot water and add a teaspoon of salt. Place your jewelry in the solution and leave it for a few minutes. You will see that the aluminum foil turns black - this is the dirt coming off your jewelry. Then wash your jewelry with clean water and dry it carefully.
Can I clean diamond jewelry myself?
Did you know that diamonds really collect dust and grease? You can and should clean your diamond jewelry regularly - ideally using the methods mentioned above.
Please do not use harsh cleaning agents on diamond jewelry or precious jewelry with colored gemstones or pearls. There are gemstones that are very sensitive to certain chemicals and you could otherwise damage them. Before cleaning, also check that the setting of the stones is secure and tight. A loose setting can be damaged during cleaning or, in the worst case, lose the stone.
As always, if you are unsure, take your piece of jewelry to a trusted jeweler nearby and get help with cleaning and caring for your treasures.
By the way, it is worth having your diamond jewelry checked by a local jeweler every 2-3 years. This way, loose settings or small blemishes can be quickly discovered and repaired, so that you can continue to enjoy wearing your jewelry for many years to come.
What should I pay attention to when cleaning gold jewelry?
The higher the alloy of your jewelry, the more fine gold it contains. This makes your jewelry a little softer. We therefore generally recommend that you do not use harsh cleaning agents or chemicals.
Every now and then you read about toothpaste as a tip for cleaning jewelry - but you should be careful with this because it often contains small microbeads that could damage softer alloys in particular. So if possible, use one of the methods mentioned above. Then you'll be on the safe side!
- 14 carat gold (58.5% gold): Harder and more durable, but more susceptible to discoloration due to the higher proportion of other metals.
- 18 carat gold (75% gold): Softer and more susceptible to scratches, but less reactive and more resistant to discoloration.
Professional cleaning in an ultrasonic bath
If you are unsure about how to clean your jewelry, if you have a very valuable treasure, or if you still notice dirt on your jewelry despite using home remedies, we recommend that you have a professional ultrasonic cleaning done by a jeweler near you. This will clean your jewelry thoroughly and without chemicals, just through mechanical movement.
A jeweler or goldsmith can use their expertise and tools to ensure that your jewelry is thoroughly cleaned and polished without causing any damage. With a trained eye, the experts on site will advise you and may even see small blemishes that you would not have noticed with the naked eye from a distance.
Find out about the costs in advance, as these can vary from provider to provider. In most cases, your investment will be between €25 and €80 - depending on the type, degree of dirt or complexity of your piece of jewelry.
Professional cleaning is therefore only worthwhile if you have jewelry that is particularly valuable, heavily soiled or damaged.
Why you should clean your jewelry regularly
There are several reasons why you should clean your jewelry regularly.
1. Maintaining shine and beauty
So that your piece of jewellery always shows its full effect!
2. Hygiene
Over time, dirt, bacteria and contaminants can build up in your jewelry. Regular cleaning helps remove these deposits and keep the jewelry hygienically clean.
3. Avoiding damage and maintaining value
Dirt and debris can scratch the surface of the gold and cause long-term damage to the jewelry. Regular cleaning will prevent these particles from accumulating and wearing down the jewelry.
Gold jewelry is also often a valuable investment. Regular care and cleaning help to maintain the value of the jewelry. Well-cared-for jewelry not only looks better, but also retains its financial value.
4. Better visibility of gemstones and diamonds
Many gold pieces of jewelry contain gemstones. Dirt and deposits can cover the stones and reduce their shine. Regular cleaning can help the gemstones shine in their full splendor.
