- Soak your gold jewelry in a bowl of warm water and dish soap for 15 minutes to loosen dirt and grime.
- Scrub your jewelry gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush to break apart stuck-on debris. Be sure to work the bristles into tight spaces and under any gemstones.
- Rinse your jewelry off with warm water and pat it dry with a soft towel or an old T-shirt. Clean your gold jewelry once a month to maintain its look.
Cleaning Gold with Dish Soap
Fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Use a small bowl instead of cleaning your gold jewelry in the sink so you don’t risk losing it down the drain. Use lukewarm tap water instead of hot or boiling water so you don’t damage the metal or any gemstones. Then, add in a few drops of dish soap and gently stir the solution together. What if your jewelry has gemstones? Jewelry with inlaid gemstones can also be cleaned with a warm water and dish soap solution. Submerge it in the water for a couple of minutes, and then give it a careful cleaning using a soft toothbrush. Using warm water, rinse off the jewelry item and blot it dry with a lint-free rag. Dish soap works great for cleaning gold-filled jewelry as well as solid gold. Alternatively, try using a commercial gold cleaner for your jewelry. Many times, you’ll mix the cleaner with water, but instructions may vary so follow the package’s instructions. However, commercial cleaners are often made with ammonia, which can harm gold jewelry inlaid with amber or pearl.
Soak your jewelry for 15–20 minutes in the soapy water. Leave your jewelry in the solution to break apart dirt and grime that accumulated on the surface. Soaking your jewelry also helps remove debris and residue that’s stuck inside crevices or underneath gemstones.
Break apart stubborn dirt and grime with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Dip the bristles of the toothbrush into the soapy water, and gently scrub the surface of your jewelry. Be sure to focus on any areas that have tight nooks and crannies where dirt, oils, and debris may get caught. If you’re cleaning gold rings or earrings with gemstones, scrub the underside of the stones to help restore their shine and sparkle. If your gold jewelry still has black spots, it may be tarnished. Gold slowly forms tarnish after about 50–60 years, and removing the darkened spots may actually decrease its value.
Rinse your jewelry with warm water. After you remove all of the dirt and grime from the gold’s surface, dip it into a bowl filled with hot water to rinse off any residual soap or dirt. Swish the jewelry around in the water and gently shake off the excess when you’re finished. Avoid rinsing your jewelry under running water from your faucet because you could easily lose your grip and drop an expensive piece down the drain. If you need to use your sink, then plug the drain or put your jewelry in a fine-mesh strainer to keep it from getting lost.
Dry your gold jewelry with a soft cloth. Gently pat your piece of jewelry dry using a soft microfiber cloth or an old T-shirt so you don’t leave any scratches in the gold. Once your jewelry is dry, it’s ready to wear or be put away in a safe place. Avoid using paper towels because they’re slightly abrasive and can damage the soft metal.
Alternative Homemade Cleaners & What to Avoid
Use diluted ammonia to clean gold jewelry that doesn't have soft gems. Clean your jewelry in a 1:6 ratio of ammonia and water, using a soft toothbrush to clear away any grime as needed. Rinse off the jewelry and blot it dry with a gentle cloth. Ammonia can damage amber, pearl, and opal and is also harmful to high-porosity stones (e.g., turquoise). If your jewelry contains these gems, don't use ammonia to clean it.
Avoid using toothpaste or baking soda. Gold can scratch very easily, so abrasive agents like toothpaste and baking soda can do more harm than good when it comes to regular jewelry maintenance.
Avoid harsh liquids like chlorine bleach. Using this substance to clean your gold jewelry could damage the metal. Even vinegar has the potential to damage gold jewelry, so you're better off sticking with just a mixture of dish soap and water.
How often should you clean gold jewelry?
Wipe your jewelry off after each time you wear it. Because oils from your skin or any lotions you’re wearing may get on your jewelry, just wipe the pieces off with a soft, damp cloth whenever you take the pieces off for the day.
Do routine cleanings once a month to maintain your jewelry. If you notice your jewelry looks visibly dull or dingy, then carve out a few minutes in your schedule to soak and scrub the pieces clean. Maintaining your gold jewelry each month helps prevent the buildup of dirt and oils so your jewelry continues to sparkle and shine. If you wear your gold jewelry more frequently, then you may need to clean it twice a month instead.
Take your gold to a jeweler for professional cleaning once a year. Contact the jeweler where you purchased your gold jewelry and see if they offer cleaning or polishing services. Otherwise, search for jewelers in your area and ask how much they charge for cleaning. A jeweler will be able to clean your jewelry safely so you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged in the process. Professional jewelers may also be able to remove scratches from the surface of your jewelry. Some jewelers may offer free cleanings, but it will normally cost between $25–50 USD.
Maintaining Gold Jewelry
Take off your jewelry before doing strenuous or messy activities. If you plan on exercising, swimming, doing household chores, or any activity that could get dirty, remove your jewelry to prevent damage. Take off gold jewelry whenever you’re applying sunscreen or lotion, or if you’re taking a shower because it could make the metal look dull or dingy.
Examine your jewelry for damage before wearing it. Before you put on your jewelry, check that the clasps are secure and undamaged so they don’t break throughout the day. If you have gold jewelry that contains gemstones, look at the stones to make sure they’re not loose or wobbly. If you notice any damage or loose gems, take your jewelry to a professional for repairs.
Store your gold in a jewelry box or tarnish-resistant pouch. Whenever you’re not wearing your jewelry, place it inside a protective box or pouch to keep it free from dust and dirt. Lined boxes or pouches also prevent the jewelry from getting scratched or damaged if they’re jostled around, so they’re perfect for making your gold pieces last. Avoid stacking gold jewelry on top of each other because they could chip or scratch one another.
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