Do you love your gold plated jewelry and want to maintain its luster? This blog post will provide easy-to-follow steps for how to clean tarnished gold-plated jewelry and how to clean gold plated jewelry.
Learning how to clean gold plated jewelry that turned black and remembering to periodically clean your gold plated jewelry will help it to retain its glamorous shine.
Why Clean Gold-Plated Jewelry
Learning how to clean gold plated jewelry will help keep it looking brand new. Gold-plated rings,gold chains, bracelets, and other jewelry combine elegance, luxury, and affordability because of its composition of a base metal (sterling silver, alloy metals) coated with gold plating. Engaging in regular cleaning practices removes grime, bacteria, and other build-up caused by cleaning agents, lotions, chemicals, dirt, food, and more.
Prevent the Jewelry from Getting Tarnished
Have you wondered: does vermeil tarnish? Tarnishing is corrosion developing on the metal's surface, causing it to form a dull grayish-to-black coating. Tarnishing strips the jewelry of its initial quality and original appearance; air and moisture also play a part in the corrosion process, causing jewelry to quickly lose its luster.
Let It Dry
Once you've cleaned your gold-plated jewelry, allow it to air dry. Placing the jewelry on a clean, dry towel or cloth allows it to dry out in the open with fresh air.
Store in a Jewelry Box
Storing gold-plated jewelry keeps it from getting lost, damaged, dropped, misplaced, or exposed to cleaning agents sprayed in the air. Placing your pieces in a jewelry box, plastic jewelry bag, or soft velveteen pouch protects them from dust, moisture, and potential scratching against other jewelry pieces.
Pro Tip: Always remember to store each item separately. Or, place them in individual compartments in jewelry boxes, armors, and organizational hanging bags. Giving each piece its “space” keeps them from tangling and scratching.
Warm Water
Warm tap water (by itself) is the gentlest and most widely recommended liquid for cleaning gold-plated jewelry. Warm water helps loosen dirt, and remove oils secreted from the skin and residues from lotions, makeup, and perfumes without damaging the delicate gold plating.
Saltwater with Baking Soda
A cleaning solution using saltwater and baking soda may help to remove more stubborn, build-up grime. Saltwater may also remove tarnishing, while baking soda is a gentle abrasive that removes surface stains.
How to use:
- Mix a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water.
- Gently place your jewelry in this solution for a few minutes, scrub the item with a soft brush, and then rinse thoroughly with cool, clean water.
- Use Sparingly: Baking soda and saltwater are harsher than soap and regular water. Use with caution.
