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Having gold accessories and jewelry is definitely a luxury! Who doesn't love it? And how to clean gold, do you know? You have to keep an eye on it: this flashy and beautiful material requires some special care.
To ensure the durability of gold, you need to know how to clean it properly - and have a few tricks on hand to make the process easier.
Oh, and rest assured: you don't even have to leave the house to clean your gold piece, see? You can clean it safely and without damaging the piece.
Let's see how!
When does gold turn dark?
Before you understand how gold cleaning works, answer this question: do you know the piece you are wearing? Do you know why it gets dark?
It's not about quality, no, this is a natural process, which we call oxidation .
This can happen, in particular, with jewelry or accessories old, because they absorb moisture from the air - or when they are exposed to water - which causes a corrosion of the surface, resulting in this dark color.
Oh, and there's one more factor that can hinder the shine of your gold - and you might not even believe it! Sweat. That's right, sometimes we're the ones to blame for the darkening of gold.
That is why we say that it is normal and almost inevitable for gold pieces to darken. Human sweat contains uric acid which is considered a chemical agent. And, when the metal molecules come into contact with light or chemical agents, together with oxygen, oxidation takes place (or darkening) of the part!
How to clean gold: check out the right products
Now let's get down to business: safe ways to clean your gold without leaving home!
Detergent
Dilute a little detergent in 1 liter of warm water in a bowl. Let the garment soak for 15 minutes in this mixture. To dry, use a flannel and make light movements!
Bicarbonate
Dilute 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 liter of warm water and let the garment soak in this mixture for 15 minutes.
When the time has elapsed, simply remove and dry with a flannel.
Toothpaste
Here you will need to rub the toothpaste around the piece. Once this is done, just rub it with a flannel, with very light movements.
Then rinse the accessory under running water so that it is very clean. At the end of the whole process, dry it with a flannel!
Hot water
This is the simplest option, but one that requires patience!
However, here's a warning: if your accessory or garment has stones or items stuck to the surface, avoid using the hot water method as there is a risk of these pebbles taking off!
Now get to work: you will need to boil 1 liter of water and immerse the piece in it. Wait until the water has cooled completely, then remove the jewel and dry it with a flannel.
White vinegar
Cotton in hand and let's get cleaning: moisten the cotton in vinegar and apply it lightly to the piece. Rub for a few minutes and rinse in water. Then just dry with a flannel.
How to clean yellow gold
Use a neutral detergent and dilute it in 1 liter of warm water. As with the other processes, leave the piece for 15 minutes to soak and rinse, drying with a flannel.
Oh, remember to store your jewelry away from sunlight and bathroom humidity, and don't store it with pieces of other metals, such as silver or other gold accessories. All of these contribute to oxidation!
How to clean white gold
For white gold, we will use the mixture of detergent and baking soda. Starting with the detergent: dilute, in a bowl, a little detergent in 1 liter of warm water. Let the gold piece soak for 15 minutes in this mixture and remove.
Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and, in a new bowl, mix it with 1 liter of warm water. Let the garment soak in this new mixture for 15 minutes. Once the time is up, just remove it and dry it with a flannel!
How to clean rose gold
For rosé gold, just use detergent and water. Dilute a little detergent in a bowl in 1 liter of warm water. Let the piece soak for 15 minutes in this mixture. After the time, remove the piece and dry it with a flannel, with light movements.
How to clean a glossy
It's the same process as above: soak the sparkler in a mixture of 1 liter of warm water and detergent and wait 15 minutes. After that, brush the stone with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Then, just rinse with water and dry with a flannel.
How to clean gold wedding ring scratches
The polishing process is usually done in jewelry stores, by professionals.
See_also: Learn how to save gas!However, you can wipe your jewelry with a soft, lint-free flannel or cloth to try to remove the scratches.
6 tips for conserving your gold
- Store gold in a cool place away from moisture, heat and sunlight to prevent oxidation;
- Avoid mixing your gold with other metals or other pieces of gold, rather store it alone;
- Avoid applying creams, perfumes or any other chemical and abrasive products near your gold;
- Clean the gold periodically;
- Do not hand wash or bathe with your gold, ideally avoid contact with water;
- Always remove your gold accessory when doing activities that can scratch it, such as exercising and washing dishes.
You already know how to clean gold - now, take advantage of the momentum and learn how to cleaning silver materials !
See_also: Do you know how to wash your pillow? Check out our guide!