Vinegar is one of a few household items that you can clean your gold jewelry with from home. This method works great and does the job in a few minutes, leaving your jewelry looking as good as new.
Steps to Clean Gold Jewelry with Vinegar
You need a few items to clean gold jewelry with vinegar:
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Bowl
- White vinegar
When you have all the items you need, follow the steps below:
Step 1 — Pour some white vinegar into the bowl, ensuring that the quantity you put is enough to immerse the gold jewelry.
Step 2 — Place the gold jewelry in the bowl of white vinegar and leave it to sit for about 20 minutes.
Step 3 — shake the jewelry around in the bowl of white vinegar to further loosen the dirt.
Step 4 — Scrub the jewelry with the soft-bristled toothbrush, targeting the tight corners where dirt is more likely to get stuck.
Step 5 — Rinse the jewelry in running water and dry it instantly with a microfiber cloth.
Does Vinegar Hurt Gold Jewelry?
No, white vinegar does not hurt gold jewelry. Gold is a stable element that doesn’t react with oxygen; therefore, it won’t change color, break down or tarnish when it comes in contact with vinegar.
Vinegar is not so kind to gold-plated jewelry. Vinegar and other harsh or acidic cleaners can easily compromise the thin gold plating on gold-plated jewelry. Apart from being used to clean gold jewelry, vinegar can also be used to test silver at home.
Other Ways to Clean Gold Jewelry?
Outside the use of vinegar, several home remedies exist for cleaning gold jewelry.
1. Dishwashing Liquid
The dishwashing liquid method is best for cleaning lightly stained gold jewelry. You can also use it for your routine jewelry cleaning, as it isn’t harsh on your jewelry. You need a bowl, dishwashing liquid, clean water, and a soft-bristled toothbrush to use this method.
Pour some water into the bowl, add dishwashing liquid and mix until it foams. Soak the jewelry in the mixture for about 10 minutes, and scrub with the toothbrush. Rinse the jewelry and dry it immediately with a microfiber cloth.
Note: Do not soak jewelry with gemstones, as this might cause the stones to loosen. Protect your pearl jewelry from being destroyed by adding a few drops of baby oil to the mixture
2. Ammonia
Ammonia is a great cleaning agent because it breaks down domestic filth and oil stains. This cleaning method should only be used when you have deep-set grime on your gold jewelry. It’s also an excellent gold cleaning solution because it evaporates quickly and won’t leave any streaks on your jewelry.
You must wear rubber gloves throughout this process as ammonia isn’t friendly to your skin. Once you’ve taken the necessary precautions, get a bowl, some water, and ammonia to follow the steps explained below:
Step 1 — Mix water and ammonia at a ratio of 1:6 (one-part ammonia and six parts water); stir to mix it properly.
Step 2 — Immerse your gold jewelry in this mixture for around a minute and rinse it thoroughly with running water, and the jewelry should be clean.
Note: The ammonia cleaning method breaks down jewelry over time. You should only use it on new and undamaged gold jewelry.
3. Hot Water and Baking Soda
Mixing hot water and baking soda is another method to deep-clean your gold jewelry. The tools you need to use this method are:
- Bowl of hot water
- Half a teaspoon of baking powder
- Dishwashing liquid
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
Step 1 — Mix the bowl of hot water with baking soda and stir to mix properly.
Step 2 — Put the chain into the solution and leave it for around 10 minutes, stirring it occasionally.
Step 3 — After 10 minutes, the water should be cooler, and the dirt particles on the jewelry would’ve loosened. Put some dishwashing liquid on the toothbrush, remove your jewelry from the mixture, and scrub to remove any dirt on the chain.
Step 4 — Rinse the chain in clean and running water to remove the dishwashing liquid completely.
Step 5 — Dry the jewelry with a microfiber cloth.
4. Gold Cleaning Solutions
Many big jewelry brands have custom cleaning solutions for specific gold jewelry products. You might find the cleaning solution in the packaging of some pieces you buy. Alternatively, you can order them online or in their physical stores.
Custom cleaning solutions are great for cleaning your gold jewelry as you are certain it won’t contain harmful chemicals. They have guides and other useful things like a polishing cloth and brush to make the job easier for you.
What is the Best Home Remedy to Clean Gold Jewelry?
Gold cleaning solutions are the best home remedy for cleaning gold jewelry. However, they might not be suitable for badly stained jewelry; the ammonia or baking soda method is best in such scenarios.
Vinegar is great because the presence of 5% acetic acid makes it effective at disinfecting your jewelry from germs and bacteria. Acetic acid works by chemically breaking down the proteins and fats in these microorganisms.