How to Clean Gold Jewelry

Add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of warm water (avoid hot water). Stir well. You can use regular tap water, but for the best results, consider using sodium-free mineral water or carbonated water. The carbonate in these solutions helps remove dirt and residue.

• Avoid using hot or boiling water, especially if your jewelry contains gemstones. Certain gems, like opals, can crack due to sudden temperature changes.

Soak the jewelry in the solution. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. While soaking, the warm soapy water will penetrate crevices and wash away dirt that’s hard to reach.

Gently scrub the jewelry with a soft-bristled brush. Clean each piece individually, paying attention to crevices and corners where dirt might hide. Use a soft-bristled brush—the softer, the better. Stiff bristles can scratch the surface of your jewelry. If your jewelry is gold-plated (not solid gold), using a stiff brush can wear off the plating!

• It’s best to use brushes designed specifically for cleaning, but most small, soft-bristled brushes (like an eyebrow brush) work well too.

Rinse the jewelry with warm water. Rinsing helps remove any remaining dirt after brushing. Remember to avoid hot water, especially for jewelry with gemstones.

• If you’re rinsing in a sink, make sure to plug the drain to avoid losing your jewelry if it slips from your hands. Alternatively, you can place the jewelry in a pasta strainer or coffee filter to rinse it.

Dry with a soft cloth. After cleaning, place the jewelry on a piece of cloth to air dry before wearing. Wearing damp jewelry can trap moisture against your skin, causing discomfort.

Know when to use ammonia. Ammonia is a powerful cleaner, but chemically, it can be corrosive. Avoid using ammonia to clean gold jewelry too frequently to prevent wear—ammonia is best reserved for occasional (not regular) deep cleaning.

• Ammonia can damage certain materials commonly used in jewelry. Avoid using it on gold jewelry that contains platinum or pearls.

Mix one part ammonia with six parts water. Stir gently to ensure the solution is well combined.

Soak the jewelry in the solution for no more than one minute. Do not leave it in ammonia for too long—its strong cleaning properties can corrode the jewelry.

• To quickly remove all jewelry from the solution, use a strainer like the one you’d use for pasta. Alternatively, you can pour the solution through a strainer placed over the sink.

Rinse the jewelry with water. Remember to plug the drain to avoid losing your jewelry if it slips from your hands. You can also rinse the jewelry using the strainer you used to remove it from the ammonia solution.

Gently dry the jewelry with a soft cloth. Place the jewelry on a cloth to air dry before wearing.

Know which types of jewelry should stay dry. Pieces with gemstones (like earrings) should avoid water exposure. Warm water can loosen the adhesive, causing gemstones to fall out, especially when scrubbed with a brush. For such jewelry, use a separate cleaning method to avoid water contact.

Use a cloth dampened with soapy water as described in Method One to clean the jewelry. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and gently rub it over your jewelry.

Dip another cloth into clean water to "rinse" the jewelry. Gently dab the cloth to remove any leftover soap residue.

Hang the jewelry upside down after cleaning. Let it dry. By placing the jewelry upside down, trapped water will drain out, preventing it from seeping into the internal structure.

Mix a small amount of toothpaste with water. Squeeze about 3 cm of toothpaste into a bowl (or onto your hand!) and add one or two tablespoons of water to create a thin mixture. Acting as a mild abrasive, toothpaste is excellent for removing accumulated dirt from your favorite jewelry without scratching it.

• You can use this method to quickly clean jewelry you wear often or when you don’t have time for other methods (for example, while traveling).

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub. Use an old toothbrush with soft bristles and toothpaste to gently remove dirt. Toothpaste also polishes the items. If you notice scratches on your jewelry, it’s likely due to the brush—so use the softest brush possible!

• Alternatively, you can apply toothpaste directly to the jewelry without adding water. However, this makes it harder to rinse off residue from small crevices.

Know when to use boiling water. Gold itself isn’t affected by boiling. However, boiling gemstones (like opals, pearls, coral, or moonstones) can cause them to crack or become damaged—especially if they were cold before boiling. Boiling is also not ideal for jewelry with glued stones, as it can loosen the adhesive. However, if you’re cleaning solid gold jewelry or pieces with "hard stones" (like diamonds), boiling is an excellent method.

Boil water. You don’t need a large amount—just enough to fully submerge the jewelry. While waiting for the water to boil, place the jewelry in a heat-resistant bowl or container. Glass or metal dishes are perfect choices.

• Arrange the jewelry so that pieces don’t overlap—each one should be fully submerged.

Pour the water slowly over the jewelry. Be careful to avoid splashing, as boiling water can cause severe burns.

Wait for the water to cool. Once the water is cool enough to touch, remove the jewelry. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean each piece, then dry them with a soft cloth and let them air dry completely.

• Don’t be alarmed if the water looks dirty—this is a good sign! Boiling water removes dirt, grime, and buildup from the jewelry, so the debris will float to the surface. The dirtier the water, the more grime has been removed from your jewelry!