You’re almost ready for your big date. All that’s left is to add one final touch. It’s time to accessorize that little black dress with some of your favorite gold jewelry.
Well, you would if your pieces weren’t so tarnished. You haven’t worn your necklaces and rings in so long that they got dirty sitting in the jewelry box.
Now, what do you do? Your date will arrive within the hour. Take a few deep breaths. It doesn’t take that long to clean gold jewelry and get it looking brand new.
Check out this cleaning guide to learn what you have to do to make your tarnished necklaces shine again.
Basic Way to Clean Gold Jewelry
All you need for basic jewelry care, in this case, is lukewarm water and dish soap. You can add a few drops of ammonia to the mixture but avoid soaps with unknown ingredients. Regular old blue dawn dish soap will serve your needs well.
It’s important to also note that the water has to be lukewarm. Hot water will damage most types of jewelry. Not only gold.
Once you have your mixture set out in front of you, place your pieces into the bowl and let them soak for about 15 minutes. When the time is up, take them out and scrub them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Rinse the jewelry with cold water and dry them with a lint-free cloth. That’s all there is to it!
Cleaning Jewelry With Precious Stones
You do have to be a little careful when you’re cleaning gold jewelry that contains precious stones. Emeralds and opals, for example, are porous.
Use mild dish soap and a little bit of water on them. Don’t let them soak.
Pearls are also fragile. Trade out your toothbrush for a soft makeup brush. Only use a little bit of warm water and gentle shampoo to clean them.
Other Tips to Keep In Mind
If you have some stubborn tarnish on your hands, you can use toothpaste on your jewelry as long as it’s not gel. You can also have a look at jewelry cleaning products. Most of them are made with tough tarnish in mind.
You can trade up the regular lukewarm water with seltzer water. The bubbles are perfect for lifting out dirt and grime. If you don’t have mild dish soap on hand, you can also use baking soda or vinegar to scrub that stubborn jewelry clean.
Get Your Gold Jewelry Sparkling Clean
Does your tarnished gold jewelry have you in a panic? Take a deep breath and grab your dish soap. With the power of regular household products and lukewarm water, you can clean gold jewelry within an hour.
If the soap and water combo doesn’t do it for you, there are also cleaners you can pick up that are specially designed to kick tarnish to the curb.
Are you looking for more tips that will help you keep your jewelry in tip-top shape? Check out the Beauty section of our blog for all the latest hacks.
