How to Clean Gold Jewelry the Right Way

By
Ashlyn Needham
ashlyn needham
Ashlyn Needham
Ashlyn is a writer with 6 years of experience covering home-related content. She holds an English degree from Appalachian State University, and loves blending her passions of writing and home decor into compelling, helpful reads. 
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and
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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Updated on 10/22/22
Gold bracelet and ring in black encased box next to tooth brush and dishwashing liquid

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

In This Article
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 20 mins
  • Total Time: 35 - 40 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $10

Learning how to clean gold jewelry at home is a simple task that can be done with common kitchen items. Dish soap and warm water easily remove the build-up of oils, germs, and bacteria on gold jewelry, especially pieces embellished with gemstones or pearls. Regain your gold jewelry's luster with regular cleaning, whether with a homemade solution or a commercial cleaner specifically for gold jewelry. Read on for the best way to clean gold jewelry at home with these simple steps for a DIY cleaner.

Tip

Avoid using toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, ammonia, or a commercial metal cleaner on gold jewelry. These abrasives and caustic chemicals scratch, damage, or eat away at gold alloys, gemstones, and pearls.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Soft-bristled brush
  • Soft cotton cloth
  • Small bowl
  • Cotton swab (optional)

Materials

  • Dish soap
  • Warm water
  • Distilled white vinegar (optional)

Instructions

How to Clean Gold Jewelry

Supplies and tools laid on white surface for cleaning gold jewelry

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  1. Look for Loose Gemstones and Embellishments

    Check each piece for loose gemstones and embellishments. Put aside pieces with loose gemstones or embellishments for repair as soon as possible to prevent loss.

    Put plain or securely embellished gold jewelry aside to clean.

    gold-plated jewelry

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

  2. Mix the Dish Soap Cleaning Solution

    Fill a small bowl with warm water and add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap. Mix the water and soap thoroughly.

    Small white bowl with water mixed with dishwashing liquid to clean gold jewelry

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    Tip

    Only add vinegar to your soap and water cleaning solution if your gold jewelry is free of pearls and gemstones as vinegar will harm these materials. Avoid cleaning plated gold with vinegar, as well.

  3. Soak for 10 to 20 Minutes

    Add the gold jewelry pieces one at a time to the bowl and allow the jewelry to soak for 10 to 20 minutes. It is best to clean only one or two pieces of gold jewelry to the bowl to prevent them from rubbing against each other and causing scratches.

    Gold bracelet soaking in cleaning solution in white bowl

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  4. Scrub With a Soft Toothbrush if Needed

    Inspect gold jewelry pieces and lightly scrub visible build-up with a soft-bristled toothbrush. An eyebrow brush with soft bristles is another useful tool for cleaning jewelry. Stiff bristles can scratch the gold. Cotton swabs can also reach into nooks and crannies to eliminate grime.

    Old toothbrush scrubbing gold bracelet for cleaning

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  5. Rinse and Dry

    Remove pieces from soapy water and rinse them with plain water.

    Dry pieces one at a time with a soft cotton cloth. Avoid using paper towels to dry your gold jewelry as it can scratch the surface easily, especially on higher karat gold.

    Gold bracelet dried and buffed with white cotton cloth

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Tip

If you accidentally cleaned your gold with silver polish or another cleaner and your pieces are dulled, fix it with a dish soap and water solution. Submerge your jewelry, wait five minutes, and wipe away the film using a soft cotton cloth. Return the jewelry to the soap-and-water solution to soak for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.

How Often to Clean Gold Jewelry

Frequently worn jewelry should be cleaned monthly or more often if the finish looks dull. Gold does not tarnish easily like silver, however frequent wearing and handling leaves a dull finish. Lower karat gold contains a higher concentration of alloys that will tarnish if exposed to excessive chemicals like chlorine, alcohol, acids, and sulfur compounds.

Tips to Keep Gold Jewelry Clean Longer

  • Remove gold jewelry when washing your hands or bathing to prevent soap scum from forming on the surface.
  • Take off all jewelry before entering a hot tub, swimming pool, or the beach. Harsh chemicals like chlorine, acids, sulfur, and salt can damage or discolor gold, particularly items with less than 24 karats. Chlorine weakens gold jewelry’s structure and eventually leads to breakage. 
  • Avoid exposing gold jewelry to hair sprays, make-up, medicated lotions, and creams.
  • Carefully store gold jewelry in separate compartments of a fabric-lined jewelry box to prevent items from scratching each other and dulling the finish.

When To See a Professional

If your gold jewelry is still dull or discolored after cleaning, a professional cleaner can help restore its original beauty. A jeweler cleans and checks for loose prongs and stone settings. Many jewelry stores offer simple cleanings at a minimal or no charge.

FAQ
  • What is the best homemade gold cleaner?

    The best DIY cleaning solution for gold jewelry is warm water and dish soap since it's gentle and free of harsh chemicals.

  • What not to use to clean gold jewelry?

    Avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach or toothpaste as they strip the alloys in gold. Never use rough applicators like paper towels or brushes with metal bristles to scrub gold jewelry to prevent scratches.

  • How do you make tarnished gold look new?

    To make tarnished gold look new, mix warm water and a few drops of dish soap to soak your jewelry for 20 minutes. If you still notice dirt or grime, scrub each piece gently with a soft toothbrush to remove excess particles. To finish, buff each piece dry with a cotton cloth to make it shiny.

  • Is it safe to use vinegar to clean my gold jewelry?

    Use vinegar cautiously to clean gold jewelry. Only use diluted distilled white vinegar on real gold but do not use it on gold-plated or pieces with gemstones or pearls. Use a solution of 1 part vinegar and 2 parts warm water and soak the piece of jewelry for 10 minutes maximum.

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  1. Jewelry Care. Jewelers of America.