Jewelry made out of gold does not tarnish like silver tends to however it does dull out with the accumulation of filth that builds up over time. The good news is that it is easy to restore the luster and shine gold is known for. Gold it the easiest material jewelry is made from to bring back its gleam with ordinary things that can be found around the home.
The first method is cleaning gold jewelry using dish soap. Fill a small bowl with warm water, seltzer water or club soda and a few drops of liquid dish soap. The carbonation of the seltzer water or club soda is better for loosening thick grime and build-ups. Note that the liquid should be warm but not boiling. Boiling water would be hard on fragile precious stones and may cause them to crack. Soak the pieces in the solution for fifteen to twenty minutes. It will soak into all the crevices within the jewelry loosening up the dirt. After soaking, gently scrub the pieces with a child size toothbrush. Rinse with the piece with warm water and blot the pieces of jewelry dry and leave them out to thoroughly dry in a safe spot.
Another method that works well to clean gold jewelry is using ammonia. This is a more powerful cleanser and is best to be used only for deep cleaning. This is not the method that should be used for weekly cleanings on your gold jewelry. When using ammonia mix one part ammonia to six parts water. This will ensure that the mixture will not be overly powerful. The pieces should soak for no more than one minute as ammonia tends to be corrosive. Remove the pieces carefully using a strainer and rinse with warm water. Dry the pieces off with a soft polishing cloth and allow to thoroughly dry off in a safe spot.
If your gold jewelry includes gemstones that are glued in you will want to clean them using the next technique. Gemstones that are glued in should never be soaked in water. The water will loosen the glue and the gemstones will be compromised. Wipe gold gemstone jewelry with a soapy wet cloth and gently scrub the pieces. Rinse the pieces using a wet cloth and plain water. Places the pieces on a soft cloth or hang them upside to ensure a thoroughly dried. If the piece is not dried appropriately the water could lead to lost gemstones.
Another method that brings out the shine in gold jewelry is a mixture of toothpaste and water. Take a small amount of toothpaste into the palm of your hand and mix in some water making a paste. This can also be done in a small bowl. Using an old toothbrush, take the mixture and scrub the piece of gold jewelry. Rinse with warm water and let the piece dry. This is a quick method to remove grime and bring out the shine in gold jewelry and precious stones.
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