Precious jewelry is an alloy of metals, which is important for durability. However, this feature makes them vulnerable to oxidation processes. Products become dull and do not look as good as in the store. In this case, there are several factors that contribute to increased oxidation of the precious metal:
- constant contact with cosmetics and perfumes;
- increased sweating, in which sebum is actively secreted;
- dust and too humid climate.
How to clean gold: yellow and red
Is it possible to clean gold at home to make it shine like new? Quite. Moreover, even simple improvised means will help restore gold to its original shine. There are separate recommendations for each type of gold. Below are methods for yellow and red decorations.
Peroxide
Peculiarity. A gold cleaning solution based on hydrogen peroxide will help effectively remove grease stains and slow down the oxidation process.
What you will need:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide – 30 ml;
- water – 250 ml;
- liquid soap;
- ammonia - one small spoon.
Sequencing
- Pour hot water into a ceramic or plastic cup and add the remaining ingredients.
- Dip the chain rings into the solution.
- Leave for 15 minutes.
- Rinse jewelry in clean water.
- Dry gently using a towel or paper napkin.
Foil and soda
Peculiarities. This procedure takes 8-12 hours. But this method can add shine to gold and quickly remove dark deposits.
What you will need:
- water – 250 ml;
- a piece of foil for baking;
- baking soda - one and a half large spoons.
Sequencing
- Wrap the inside of a ceramic bowl with foil and place jewelry on top.
- The cleaning solution must be hot, so you need to heat the water and add baking soda in advance.
- Pour the resulting composition into gold.
- Leave until morning.
- Rinse in clean water and dry using a towel or paper napkin.
How to clear a ring of foreign energy
Many people consider it necessary to clean jewelry not only from dirt, but also from negativity. It is believed that these jewelry can serve as powerful amulets and intensively accumulate negative energy.
You can cleanse the ring of bad energy in different ways: by holding it over a candle flame, in the moonlight, in running water, and so on.
The easiest way to cleanse rings of foreign energy is with salt. To do this, you need to take a small container, pour regular table salt into it and put the decoration in it. Leave it overnight, rinse, dry the jewelry - and you can safely wear it. But under no circumstances should cleaning salt be used for food, so it’s best to simply throw it away, like the container in which the cleaning was done.
22.08.21
Fashionable matte products
This type of jewelry is becoming increasingly popular. But caring for them is more troublesome, because it is not recommended to use hard brushes or abrasive powders to clean such products. Therefore, professional options for cleaning gold at home are most often used. For example, using ultrasonic baths or special jewelry solutions. However, you can try other methods. These same methods work great for gold-plated jewelry.
Ammonia soaking
Peculiarity. Ammonia is safe for matte gold and can remove blackness from the surface.
What you will need:
- 10% ammonia - 50 ml;
- dry soft rags.
Sequencing
- Place the product in an ammonia solution.
- Leave for several hours.
- After rinse, dry with a cloth.
Salt-soda mixture with lime
Peculiarity. Baking soda and salt are gentle not only on gold items. They are safe, for example, for both silver and copper.
What you will need:
- bleach – one teaspoon;
- water – two teaspoons;
- a pinch of soda;
- salt on the tip of a knife.
Sequencing
- Combine all ingredients, knead well, set aside for two days.
- Dip the bracelet or chain into the resulting mixture for one to two hours.
- Afterwards, wash the product thoroughly and pat dry with a cloth.
Negative factors
Among the factors that most strongly influence the condition of our jewelry are the following:
- sweat, fat and other secretions from our body;
- high humidity and water;
- household and other chemicals;
- cosmetics and hygiene products;
- physical contamination and damage.
The noble metals that suffer least from the effects of negative factors are gold, silver, platinum, as well as other elements of the platinum group - ruthenium, osmium, palladium, iridium, rhodium. In their pure form, they are practically insensitive to all of the above influences.
Precious metals in their pure form are not used for the production of jewelry for various reasons. For example, pure silver and gold are soft metals. Rings made from them would bend under the slightest pressure and literally scratch with a fingernail.
All kinds of additives (ligatures) make precious metals harder, which is especially important in the case of gold and silver. But platinum in its pure form can be used (its physical characteristics allow it), but such jewelry would be incredibly expensive.
The more precious metal there is in a jewelry alloy, the less often the rings need to be cleaned, because it is the ligatures that react most strongly to negative factors.
If rings with stones
Earrings or rings with inserts made of various stones are cleaned more gently and delicately, most often without ammonia or toothpaste. The exceptions are diamond, aquamarine, quartz and jewelry with cubic zirconia. Do not use hot water or boiling water - this will cause the stone to change color.
Alcohol
Description. This method will degrease the surface of the stone and make it sparkle with renewed vigor. Effective in the case of ruby, lapis lazuli, opal.
What you will need:
- two flannel napkins;
- cologne or alcohol solution.
Sequencing
- Moisten the flannel generously in an alcohol solution or cologne and wipe all darkened areas to remove dirt and stains.
- Take a second napkin and wipe the product dry.
To clean jewelry with stones, ear sticks are used, which allow you to work on hard-to-reach places. If the stones are glued to the jewelry, it should not be immersed in water or cleaning solutions.
Soap with salt
Description. Softer stones (pearls, turquoise, amber, emerald or coral) do not tolerate cleaning with chalk, vinegar, or lemon. Then how can you clean gold with stones of this kind? You just need to soak the jewelry in a rich soap solution.
What you will need:
- a teaspoon of liquid soap;
- water – 50 ml;
- a pinch of salt.
Sequencing
- Prepare a soap solution, beat it into thick foam, add salt.
- Place all jewelry that needs to be washed from darkening into the solution.
- Leave for a couple of hours.
- Then rinse the gold with clean water and lay it on a cloth to dry.
When processing products with inserts, do not use “too popular” means such as treating with lipstick or soaking in Coca-Cola. This is the case when it is better not to experiment.
Clean rings from rust: the best way
If your ring is covered with rust, it means it is guaranteed not to be made of a noble metal or its content in the alloy is minimal. Metals containing iron are most susceptible to oxidation (which is what causes rust). And that’s not all: for example, stainless steel practically does not oxidize!
But if the ring is of any value to you, you should return it to its presentable appearance. Under no circumstances should you try to remove rust from a ring by boiling, salt or exposure to any reagents. In principle, you can use WD-40 aerosol, colloquially referred to as “Vedashka” and known to all motorists, but it leaves behind oily stains and is not harmless for inserts.
Gold ring in the SUNLIGHT catalog
In this situation, it is best to remove rust mechanically, for example, using the GOI paste already mentioned today.
What to do to prevent the ring from oxidizing
As mentioned above, if the ring oxidizes, it means it contains a minimum of precious metals or none at all. Iron, when oxidized, gives the well-known rust, copper and its alloys give a blue-green coating called patina.
To prevent such a ring from oxidizing, you need to protect it as much as possible from contact with water, salt and aggressive chemicals. You can, of course, take the jewelry to a workshop so that it can be covered with a layer of a more inert metal, but in the case of cheap jewelry, such expenses are definitely not justified.
You can protect silver from the appearance of a dark sulfide layer or white gold from scratches by rhodium plating. The product is coated with a molecular layer of rhodium and becomes much less vulnerable to aggressive influences.
Prevention measures
Caring for gold jewelry involves three components.
- Take breaks. It is especially important to remove jewelry before cleaning, as well as before using body cosmetics. Don't wear gold if you're going to the gym, pool, beach or sauna. Remove during manicure to prevent nail polish remover from getting on your jewelry.
- Use gloves. To protect your wedding band, get into the habit of using rubber gloves for various chores.
- Do prevention. At least once a month, carry out routine cleaning with soapy water or alcohol.
Video on the topic
Store your jewelry in a box lined with soft, velvety fabric. Cardboard is not suitable for these purposes. Protect jewelry from moisture. And be sure to make a note in your notebook about how to clean the gold so that options for solving the problem are always at your fingertips.
Cleaning Recommendations
When cleaning silver, follow simple rules and recommendations :
- do not use aggressive cleaning agents or substances with abrasive particles;
- Clean no more than once every 2-3 months to avoid damage to the surface;
- follow safety rules - wear gloves and avoid inhaling toxic fumes;
- After cleaning, wipe all items dry and rub them with a piece of wool or velvet.
To avoid tarnishing your silver, remove jewelry when handling chemicals, cooking, washing, or cleaning
Signs about blackening of silver
Silver has been part of human everyday life for so long that it could not help but acquire various signs. In the modern world, superstitions are treated with a great deal of skepticism, however, sometimes signs really shouldn’t be ignored. The main thing is to interpret them correctly.
For example, science has established that as certain diseases progress, the concentration of sulfur in a person’s sweat increases. Diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder, and liver especially contribute to this. It is to sulfur that silver items react by darkening. Based on the blackening of the jewelry, our ancestors concluded that the owner of the item was sick.
Blackening of silver has always been considered a bad sign. Sometimes such a reaction is even interpreted as an “evil mark” or damage to the owner of the product. This superstition is explained quite simply - since ancient times, silver was credited with the ability to protect against dark forces.
If the precious metal darkens, it means that it took the blow, thereby helping the owner avoid bad influence.
Blackened silver jewelry
Our ancestors also identified the “curse” itself by an object that suddenly changed color:
- Ring - to the crown of celibacy;
- Chain or earrings - evil eye;
- Cross - curse;
- Dishes - the owners’ house has been taken over by evil spirits;
In fact, the blackening of a precious metal can always be explained from a scientific point of view.
Reviews
The jewelry has darkened, I wondered: how to clean a silver ring? I used a soda solution, the result is amazing! The ring quickly sparkled like new, and now I regularly polish it with a special paste to enhance the gloss of the surface.
Nikolay P. g, Moscow
Zhanna R. g, Stavropol
I believe that jewelry darkens because it accumulates negative energy. I first take the tarnished silver to church, and only after that I clean it at home with citric acid.
I tried to lighten the blackened jewelry with peroxide on the advice of a friend. When I finished, I discovered that the entire surface was covered with cloudy stains. No matter what I did to remove them, there was no effect. I decided to give it to a jewelry workshop. The ring was covered with a layer of rhodium, it sparkled so much that I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Dmitry N. g, Moscow
