Top 10 Tips from ItsHot for Cleaning Gold Jewelry

Gold jewelry is designed to last for a long time while retaining its beautiful appearance. It is a great metal because it doesn’t tarnish over time.
By: Steve Phens
 
Oct. 28, 2010 - PRLog -- Gold jewelry is designed to last for a long time while retaining its beautiful appearance. It is a great metal because it doesn’t tarnish over time. That is why it is commonly used to make jewelry that is intended to last forever such as an eternity band. However, gold jewelry can get dirty over time. It is important to know how to clean your gold jewelry to keep it looking terrific especially if you have gold items that are special enough to keep for years and years.

Follow these top ten tips for cleaning gold jewelry:

1. Use a very mild dish detergent. One of the most popular ways to clean gold jewelry is to mix a small portion of a mild dish washing liquid with warm water in a shallow bowl. After doing this, place your gold jewelry gently into the mixture and let it soak for 3-5 minutes. Remove the item from the soapy water, rinse it completely and dry it with a soft polishing cloth intended specifically for jewelry polishing.

2. Use a soft cloth that has been dampened with soapy water. If you have concerns about leaving your gold jewelry in water then you can use an alternative method of washing the jewelry with a soapy damp cloth. Rinse it out and polish it dry.

3. Scrub dirty gold jewelry with a soft bristle toothbrush. If your gold jewelry is very dirty then you can scrub it lightly with a moist soft bristle toothbrush. Be very gentle while doing this. Don’t use a stiff toothbrush, a scouring pad or any other abrasive tool to clean your gold jewelry because it may scratch it. Don’t use toothpaste for the same reason.

4. Boil stubborn gold jewelry in hot water. If you get grease, oil or wax on your gold jewelry then you can boil the item in hot water to get it clean. Never do this if your gold jewelry also has diamonds or gemstones, though.

5. Use only a polishing cloth on gold jewelry that has diamonds or gemstones. Skip the dishwashing liquid and warm water with these types of jewelry items. For example, diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings houldn’t be put into soapy water. Instead, simply use a polishing cloth to keep this jewelry bright and shiny.

6. Ask your local jeweler to do a machine cleaning. If your gold jewelry doesn’t get clean when you polish it by hand then it may need to be cleaned by a professional. The least expensive option is usually to have the item machine cleaned by a local jeweler. Of course, ask the jeweler if your particular item is safe for machine cleaning before proceeding.

7. Ask your local jeweler to do a professional hand cleaning. If your gold jewelry is likely to be damaged by machine cleaning then professional cleaning by hand is your best option. Discuss the process with your jeweler so that you understand how the item is going to be cleaned. Professional polishing is generally designed to last for a long period of time so you should only need to do this a handful of times over the lifetime of the jewelry.

8. Treat your gold jewelry well between cleanings. If you properly wear and store your gold jewelry then it won’t need to be cleaned as often. Avoid wearing gold jewelry in the shower, in swimming pools, when swimming and when applying makeup and hair products. Store your jewelry items in their own compartments in their jewelry box so that they do not scratch one another.

9. Be aware that these rules do not apply for cleaning gold plated jewelry. Gold plating is different than pure gold and must be cleaned differently. Gold plating can tarnish and shouldn’t be placed in soapy water. Gold plating can also flake away and may need to be professional replaced.

10. Be aware that the rules are also a little bit different for white gold jewelry. White gold is actually three quarters gold and one quarter metal alloys so it needs to be cleaned a little bit differently. How To author Linda Ramirez says that the best option is to soak white gold jewelry in a solution made of equal parts ammonia and water for ten to twenty minutes. Diamonds can withstand ammonia but if your gold jewelry contains other gemstones then avoid this cleaning option and take your items to a professional jewelry cleaner instead.

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Source:Steve Phens
Email:***@itshot.com Email Verified
Zip:10036
Tags:Gold Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry
Industry:Jewelry
Location:New York City - New York - United States
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