Greetings to all who decided to spend their free time with us today. And the topic we have today is very useful – How to clean gold items with your own hands?
It is rare to find a woman who does not like jewelry, especially precious metals. And anyone who has at least one such product sooner or later wonders how to clean gold at home in order to return it to its former appearance. There is no single answer to this question, but to get a good result, it must be done correctly, taking into account the nuances associated with the product. We will tell you more about this in our article.
Features of cleaning gold at home
Before you get started, you need to understand how to clean gold, what problems can be associated with this process.
Cleaning products with stones, relief engravings and drawings, as well as a large number of revolutions require special handling.
Simultaneous cleaning of silver and gold items is not allowed. This can adversely affect both metals.
When cleaning, care should be taken when using acids and alkalis.
It is also important to know that the cleaning of white and yellow gold differs in the means used.
When is it better to contact the master, so as not to spoil the product?
If you do not know how to clean precious metal jewelry, then the best solution is to contact a jeweler. He will use exactly what will clean the gold so that it shines and looks attractive. In general, the master should do the cleaning if the pollution is large enough and it will be difficult to handle it on his own. In addition, there are products with which it is strongly recommended to contact only the master, namely:
Have dyeing with stones such as: pearls, amber, emerald, coral. The fact is that these inserts are quite capricious. And in case of a mistake, the stone can simply change color or fall out due to the loosening of the fasteners.
Enamel and mother-of-pearl inserts are no less bizarre, which are easy to scratch and thereby degrade the performance of the product.
Once a decision has been made on which jewelry is to be cleaned and how self-service is acceptable, it is necessary to prepare the materials for the procedure.
Soft cloth for decor cleaning
As a cleaner for gold at home, use popular folk remedies. The simplest material that will restore the original beauty of jewelry is soft flannel fabric. In general, you can polish the product with any soft cloth. But if there is a dark coating and dirt on the bends, then the remedy will be ineffective. Then you need to use more aggressive drugs.
Ammonia
Ammonia is widely used as a cleaning agent for various surfaces. The same goes for gold jewelry. So, how to purify gold with ammonia and how exactly is the solution prepared?
1. Pour an equal amount of ammonia and water into the selected container.
2. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent.
3. Put the decoration into the mixture for an hour.
After the time has elapsed, it is necessary to remove the products from the solution, rinse under running water and dry with a towel or napkin. The method is very effective, even if the dirt on the surface is already old.
If the pollution is not so serious, you can use another, milder remedy:
1. Place a piece of cloth on the bottom of the cleaning container.
2. Place the product on top.
3. Pour 1 teaspoon of detergent water solution into a glass of water.
4. Boil everything for 15 minutes.
5. After the process is completed, rinse the products with cold tap water and dry them with a towel.
Alcohol when cleaning gold items
Every hostess knows that soda, alcohol and toothpaste are equally effective in combating dirt, stains and deposits. Given the unique characteristics of these materials, their use in cleaning precious metal jewelry is also acceptable. True, with some reservations.
Can you clean gold with alcohol? For example, let’s say that it is ammonia – definitely yes, but medical will have to be diluted with water. It is important to know that products cannot be placed in a solution. Can only be wiped with a moistened cotton swab.
Soda: How to clean gold with it?
We can definitely say that it is better to refuse this method if the product is used in a dry form. Because the powder is abrasive and can leave scratches on the product.
As for the use of soda in cleaning solutions, it includes more than one product:
1. Pour a small amount of baking soda into a container and add hydrogen peroxide to it until the mass goes into a state of suspension. The resulting mixture can be cleaned, after which it must be washed and dried.
You can use baking soda directly on the decoration. The product must be filled with powder, not diluted with vinegar. The method is not suitable for products with the above stones.
Vinegar and soda can be used by mixing them in a 2:1 ratio. Place the products in the resulting mass for no more than two hours.
As a cleaning composition, you can use a solution of soda, salt and water. The mixture is prepared by dissolving dry ingredients in water, followed by pouring into containers with foil, and products are already dispensed into it. After an hour, the decoration can be cleaned with a soft brush.
As a cleaning agent, you can use 50 grams of soda in ½ cup of water, which are placed in a saucepan with decorations. The container is sent to the fire. After the reaction of boiling water and soda, the fire is reduced to a minimum and 2 tablespoons are added. l. vinegar. Boil for at least fifteen minutes.
It is important to remember that no matter which method is chosen, after treatment with a soda solution, the product should be washed with cold running water and wiped with a napkin. Otherwise, you can ruin the decoration.
Toothpaste for cleaning gold items
This simple method is also effective for self-use. Powder or paste is no less effective than soda.
But you need to remember that they also contain particles that can scratch the product. Therefore, the use of this method on smooth, matte jewelry and white gold items is unacceptable. The rest of the cleaning process is not so complicated. A paste or powder is applied to the product and the necessary manipulations are performed with a soft toothbrush. At the end of work, as in other cases, the product should be washed under running water and wiped with a soft cloth.
Jewelry with stones. How to clean?
When the product is without stones, everything is more or less clear. But how to clean gold with stones, because such jewelry requires more careful processing? Let’s find out right now.
If you have jewelry with precious stones (diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, cubic zirconia, quartz, ruby, topaz, zirconium), then the most commonly recommended cleaner is a soap solution. If the product is heavily soiled, the use of ammonia, and in some cases, tap peroxide, is quite acceptable, because they effectively dissolve greasy films and stains. You can also buy a special paste composition for products with inserts of precious stones. After processing and rinsing the garments, it is very important to wipe them with a soft fleece cloth such as suede or flannel.
When is contact with water prohibited?
If stones or precious materials are used, such as: pearls, amber and coral, then the best care for them is to protect them from contact with water. If this happens, it is necessary to wipe the product and dry it. In case of heavy soiling, a mild soapy solution can be used without prolonged soaking.
How to clean white gold?
White gold can be maintained and cleaned with a solution of water, ammonia and detergent, the recipe of which was given above. After processing, wipe the product with a soft, non-scratching cloth. If the risk of damaging the surface seems too laborious, then you can prepare a mixture of egg yolk and 2 tbsp. l. beer. It should be applied to the fabric and processed product.
For white gold, the most preferred option is a 25% ammonia solution, in which the item must be completely immersed for 2 hours. Then it should be washed and dried with a soft cloth. Any mechanical impact must be completely eliminated so that there are no marks or scratches on the product.
How long does the result last after cleaning gold jewelry?
After cleaning the jewelry, we want to keep the result for a long time. In order for this to become possible, you must follow some rules:
1. Jewelry should not come into contact with acids and alkalis.
2. It is necessary to protect them from constant contact with aggressive chemical compounds.
3. Avoid contact with abrasive compounds, paints and iodine.
4. At the right time, clean the products without waiting for them to become completely dirty.
5. Avoid contact with cosmetics and drugs.
From the list of rules, you can see that it is very important to use gloves when doing home cleaning.
It is also important to remember that it is best to remove all gold from yourself before cosmetic or skincare procedures. After all, this often leads to the appearance of a greasy coating or film on the surface of products.
Now you know how to clean gold at home. Whichever method you choose, the right approach and ingredients are important. If you ignore the need for timely cleaning of gold, this can lead to allergic reactions on the skin or inflammation in the case of earrings.
Cleaned jewelry will delight its owner with beauty and dazzling brilliance for a long time, subject to all the rules of care after processing.
Do you have your own rules for cleaning gold?
