Hello! You can clean a gold or silver item that has lost its marketable appearance yourself, or you can entrust this task to a professional. In the second case, the procedure will cost the nth amount of money.
It is much more economical to use folk remedies and return your favorite product to its original shine on your own. If you don’t know how to clean gold with vinegar, soda or other means at hand, this article is especially for you!
Types and causes of pollution
The main reason affecting the contamination of gold products is the presence of impurities in each alloy (silver, copper, etc.). However, there are a number of other factors:
- prolonged contact with skin leads to oxidation of the precious metal;
- components contained in decorative cosmetics, perfumes and creams leave marks on jewelry;
- dirt and street dust quickly “stick” to gold items;
- Increased sweating also negatively affects the appearance of jewelry.
Loss of appearance of a gold-containing product most often manifests itself in two forms: oxidation of the metal or its contamination.
General tips for caring for gold earrings
- Clean your earrings only with a very soft cloth, which will definitely not scratch the gold and will polish it to a shine. Velvet, fleece or soft suede are ideal.
- Use a soft brush to clean hard-to-reach areas. Even a regular toothbrush with soft bristles will do.
- Put the items in the box before doing household chores and cosmetic procedures so that the earring does not come into contact with detergents and cosmetics.
- When storing, wrap each earring separately in a soft cloth or a special bag to prevent them from scratching each other.
You should not start cleaning gold items with improvised means if you doubt the results. It is better to entrust valuable jewelry to jewelers who know how to handle precious metals and stones - they will return the items to their original shine and color.
How to clean gold with vinegar at home
Vinegar is available in almost every home. Using it, you can quickly and easily remove dark spots and dirt from a gold product, add gloss and shine.
Precautionary measures
- Before you begin the cleaning procedure, you should thoroughly wash your hands to remove dirt and grease. Ideally, it is better to wear gloves.
- The residence time of gold in the solution should be strictly observed.
- At the end of the work, it is necessary to rinse the product thoroughly with running water to remove any remaining vinegar.
Cleaning Solution Recipes
Option 1. Pour regular washing powder (2 tablespoons) into water (100 ml) and put on fire. Place gold jewelry in the solution. Bring to a boil and pour in vinegar (2 tablespoons). Boil for 20 minutes. Take out the gold and let it dry well.
Option 2. Pour 9 percent vinegar into a cup and put jewelry in it. After 15-20 minutes, remove them and, if necessary, further treat them with a toothbrush. Rinse with cold water and dry.
Option 3. Pour 0.5 cup of apple cider vinegar into a small container and put gold in it. If there are a lot of decorations, add vinegar until the items are completely hidden under the liquid. In a separate container, mix another 0.5 cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of salt. Add flour (about ¼ cup), stirring the solution until a creamy mixture forms.
Remove the gold from the cup. Using a soft brush, scoop up a little of the resulting paste and gently work the products, then rinse them with cool water. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
Preparation of the solution
- Any container is suitable for preparing a vinegar-based solution. The main criterion is that all products must be covered with liquid.
- When adding powder, soda and other ingredients, make sure that they are well dissolved.
Preparing Jewelry for Cleaning
To obtain a more effective result, it is recommended to treat gold with a special solution before cleaning it. To do this, take 2 tablespoons of table salt per glass of water and mix thoroughly. You need to put the precious metal in the resulting salt solution and leave it there for 8-10 hours. After the required time, pull out the products and rinse with warm water.
Cleaning process
The cleaning procedure itself requires compliance with a few simple rules:
- the prepared solution must completely cover the contaminated surface;
- It is necessary to strictly observe the soaking time;
- For mechanical cleaning, it is recommended to use a soft toothbrush, cotton swabs or soft cloth.
Add soda
Baking soda is perhaps a universal cleaning agent for any metal and more. After the procedure described below, the jewelry will be unrecognizable - it will become exactly the same as when purchased - smooth and shining.
Necessary:
- vinegar 9%;
- water;
- baking soda.
The process itself:
Take the gold item you want to clean and wet it with water. Then dip it in baking soda and add a little vinegar (about 2-3 drops). Gently go over the top with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Again, if the jewelry is inlaid with stones, especially pearls, it is better not to resort to this method. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging their surface.
Other cleaning methods
If vinegar does not suit you for any reason or does not bring effective results, you can always use another of the many traditional methods.
Citric acid
Citric acid is a strong solvent that effectively removes plaque from gold-containing products. To work, it must be diluted in boiling water. The jewelry that needs cleaning is dipped into the prepared solution for 5-6 minutes. After the specified time, pull out the gold, rinse with running water and dry thoroughly.
Baking soda
You can also quickly and effectively clean dirt from precious metals using soda. The jewelry bath is prepared from the following components:
- 250 ml hot water;
- 0.5 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent;
- 1.5 tablespoons of baking soda.
Place a soft cloth in the container with the resulting solution, which will not scratch the metal. Decorations that need cleaning are placed on it. The container is placed on low heat and heated for 25-30 minutes. After the solution has cooled, rinse the gold with plain water and dry.
Eraser
A stationery eraser is used to remove dark stains and plaque from gold at home. With its help, you can rub a pendant or ring until it shines. It is recommended to choose a white tool, without dyes.
Washing powder
Mix washing powder with ammonia in equal proportions and add boiled hot water (1 cup). Place carefully so that there are no lumps left. Immerse the jewelry in the resulting solution and leave for 2 hours. Then pull them out and place them under running water to completely remove any remaining solution. Dry the items carefully with a soft cloth.
Ammonia
A 25 percent ammonia solution can be purchased at a pharmacy. At home, it is poured into a container, then gold items are dropped into it. Soaking time depends on the degree of contamination. In particularly critical cases, it is allowed to leave the jewelry in the “bath” overnight. At the end of the procedure, the jewelry must be rinsed with water and dried thoroughly.
Salt
Table salt also works well at removing stains from yellow metal. To work, it is mixed with water (3 tablespoons of soda per 125 ml of liquid). Gold that needs purification is dipped into the resulting solution for 10 hours. After finishing the product, rinse with running water and dry with a soft cloth.
Zinc
The procedure for purifying gold with zinc is called refining. To carry it out, you need to place the jewelry that needs cleaning in a small glass container. Add 1.5-2 grams of zinc to them and pour in 1-1.5 tablespoons of calcined salt solution. After 10 minutes, pull out the products, wash with water and dry.
NaHCO3, detergent
An easy way to remove dirt and add sparkle and shine to gold jewelry is to clean it using detergent, sodium bicarbonate.
It is not recommended to combine several methods of cleaning products at the same time - this can cause stains. Use only gentle detergents - aggressive compounds are dangerous for gold.
Mixture preparation, cleaning:
- Combine NaHCO3 (30 g), detergent (30 ml).
- Stir the solution, lower the decorations.
- Leave in, remove after 5 hours
- Clean the surface of the jewelry using a clean, soft cloth.
- Thoroughly wash off the soap suds; you can use a brush.
After rinsing, dry. It is not recommended to dry it in the open rays of the sun - it will not be possible to avoid the appearance of stains.
How to clean jewelry with stones
Cleaning jewelry with cubic zirconia, diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones must be approached with extreme caution. Different inserts require different methods for getting rid of dirt.
For example, amber and pearls, as the most fragile materials, are best given to a master immediately.
Topazes and rubies are less finicky, but they should never be washed in hot water.
Turquoise and opal are easily scratched under mechanical stress, so abrasive materials (salt, soda, etc.) are not suitable for cleaning them.
It is best to use gasoline or ammonia when cleaning gold jewelry with stones. In the first case, you need to moisten a soft, unnecessary toothbrush with fuel. The bristles must be soft so as not to scratch the stone. Use gentle movements to cover the entire surface of the decoration.
With an alcohol-containing cleaner (lotion, strong alcohol, cologne, etc.), the principle of operation is the same. The only difference is that the tool used is not a toothbrush, but a cotton swab.
Here is an excellent video that competently explains the nuances of cleaning products with stones:
What to remember
- Always take care of your jewelry, even if it is in a box.
- White, table and apple cider vinegar are suitable for these purposes, but in no case 70% essence.
- The more gold there is in the alloy, the longer it will remain in good condition.
- Jewelry with stones, white gold, or a matte finish requires specific cleaning techniques.
- Depending on factors, the process will take from 5 minutes to 12 hours.
We invite you to share the article with your friends and leave a comment about your experience with gold!
Rules for wearing, care and storage of gold items
- Almost all cleaning products and detergents contain alkalis and acids. Their contact with gold leads to oxidation of the metal and loss of its appearance.
- Cosmetic products (nail polishes and nail removers, some creams, etc.) contain chemical elements that are harmful to gold rings, bracelets and pendants.
- Remove all gold jewelry before training, visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or bath.
- Do not store precious metals in cardboard or wooden boxes.
Table vinegar, sodium bicarbonate
The easiest way to clean precious metal is to use a combination of NaHCO3 and table vinegar. The product does not have an aggressive effect, it is recommended even for jewelry with precious stones.
The recipe for preparation and use is simple:
- Combine sodium bicarbonate (20 g), table vinegar (30 ml), wait until foam appears.
- Soak a soft cloth with the mixture.
- Wipe the gold jewelry without using any force.
- Cover the precious item with an even layer of the remaining mixture and leave for half an hour.
- Rinse with plenty of warm water and dry.
Cleaning is carried out infrequently - once every six months is enough.
Prevention measures
It is easier to prevent a problem than to deal with the consequences. To keep your chain looking neat longer, follow these simple recommendations.
- Shoot on time. When playing sports, it is better to leave the chain on a shelf in the shower. This will reduce the unwanted influence of moisture, and less dirt will accumulate between the links.
- Protect from contact with cosmetics. This provision also applies to spirits. Their active components can react chemically with silver, copper or palladium, which are often added to gold for strength. This will leave dark marks on the product or skin.
- Properly store and wear. Do not wear several chains at the same time and store them in special boxes or bags. This will help prevent mechanical damage, protect against friction and shock, and preserve the ornament on decorative weaving.
