Gold has always been revered by Egyptian pharaohs, monarchs of empires and rulers of states - the metal had a deep esoteric and sacred meaning. A symbol of wealth, prosperity, success, luck, luxury and abundance - lack of care for jewelry has always been considered a bad omen. Dull and dirty metal certainly led to the realization of superstitions. Products and jewelry made of white gold, with inserts of precious stones and other valuable materials, were regularly cleaned by servants and assistants of the royal power.
Pure gold is a very soft metal, so to make items for a specific purpose, other materials are mixed into it to make it suitable for use. Many people notice that when regularly wearing rings, chains, bracelets, dullness, darkening and dirty accumulations of dust appear. The question arises - how to clean gold at home, without damaging the product, so that it shines.
Timely cleaning of jewelry will reduce signs of material wear by 100%, the product will always look like new. You can clean gold at home quickly and without unnecessary expenses.
How to clean white gold at home?
Cleaning gold with dishwashing detergent
Although white gold is made using a slightly different technology than regular gold (nickel, palladium or platinum is added to its alloy), it also becomes tarnished and covered with dirt. Moreover, due to the fact that it is quite light, negative changes begin to manifest themselves much earlier than on yellow gold.
In addition to the fact that such jewelry is covered with an unsightly coating, it also darkens quite a lot. And if all this dirt accumulates over the years, then over time it will be impossible to return the jewelry to its former shine. Proper care and regular cleaning of your products will help you avoid such problems.
Cleaning white gold jewelry with dishwashing detergent: • Take sparkling water (demineralized) and add any organic detergent to it • Lather the liquid a little and dip the white gold jewelry in it • Leave it there for 15-25 minutes • After the time is up remove them from the solution and gently scrub with a toothbrush • Rinse the rings in clean water and dry with a soft cloth
Ways to clean gold
Cleaning gold with vinegar
If you love gold jewelry, then you probably know how difficult it can be to restore them to their former shine and rid them of dirt. Low grade gold is especially difficult to clean. It usually contains a fairly large percentage of zinc, nickel and copper.
These metals give gold a greenish color that cannot be removed with regular water. Most often, such products are cleaned in two stages. To begin with, soak it in a solution of washing powder and water, and when the dirt softens a little, begin to remove it.
Methods for cleaning gold: • You can wipe the rings with a mixture of beer and egg white • Place the gold chains for 2-3 minutes in a solution of vinegar and water • Soak the jewelry in freshly squeezed onion juice for 1.5-2 hours • You can try to return the shine to gold with ordinary lipstick • Cook a solution of borax with water, soak a rag in it and wipe your jewelry
How to clean gold with ammonia?
Ammonia must be diluted with water.
Ammonia is considered a fairly effective means for cleaning zloty products, but because of the unpleasant odor, women use it last. But still, if you use an ordinary medical mask, you can clean your favorite rings without any problems.
Another disadvantage of this method is the ability of ammonia to negatively affect some metals that are present in jewelry. Therefore, you can use this substance literally 2-3 times a year. If you regularly use ammonia “for deep cleaning,” your rings and chains will wear out pretty quickly.
So: • Pour ammonia and water into a container in a ratio of 1:6 • Mix gently to obtain a homogeneous solution • Dip your jewelry into it (no more than 2 minutes) • Using a hand strainer, remove the rings from the water and rinse them thoroughly under running water water • Wipe all items with a soft cloth
Rules for wearing, caring for and storing silver items
It is necessary to remove dirt from silver as it turns black or at least once a year.
At the same time, it is imperative to store jewelry in a dry place, away from medications, cosmetics, perfumes and household chemicals. It would be good if these were special cases or jewelry boxes. And storage in foil can protect silver from moisture, mechanical damage, and oxidation.
Jewelry must be removed before cleaning, washing dishes, taking a bath, or using face and body creams.
Silver items that are rarely used require more careful care, so they should be cleaned every two months.
How to clean gold with ammonia?
Cleaning gold with ammonia
Although ammonia removes plaque from the surface of jewelry quite well, hard-to-reach places such as stone inserts, ornaments and designs will still require mechanical cleaning. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that after you take out the rings from ammonia, you will have to additionally go over them with a soft toothbrush.
Recommendations for cleaning gold with ammonia: • Take a hermetically sealed jar, pour 150 ml of hot water into it • Add two ampoules of ammonia and 2 tbsp to the water. l. washing powder • Mix the solution thoroughly until smooth • Place jewelry in the jar and close everything with a lid • Shake the jar for 5 minutes • Drain the solution through a sieve, rinse the jewelry with running water and polish them with a woolen cloth
How to clean gold with soda?
Cleaning gold with soda
Soda is an excellent alternative to household chemicals for cleaning dirt, so it can easily be used to remove plaque from jewelry.
The main advantage of this cleaning method is the absence of any aggressive substances in the soda. This means that you can use this product regularly and not be afraid that your gold will begin to wear out prematurely.
So: • Pour 1 liter of water into a saucepan, add 2 tsp of soda and 2 tsp of detergent • Mix the soda mixture thoroughly • Place decorations in the saucepan and put on fire • Boil them for 5-10 minutes • Turn off the heat and leave the decorations cool in a soda solution • When they are completely cool, go over them with a toothbrush, rinse and dry
How the method works
Darkening of silver can be due to various reasons. Precious metal darkens and tarnishes with time and moisture, with prolonged contact with human skin and sweat glands. Silver items lose their luster when exposed to hydrogen sulfide in the air.
Using foil and soda you can clean jewelry, cutlery, and silver interior items. Baking soda has pronounced absorbent properties. Unlike chemical cleaners, cleaning silver with this method is gentle and does not affect the top layer of the metal.
Baking soda is used as a bleaching and cleaning ingredient. This product activates a chemical reaction with aluminum and foil, which produces atomic hydrogen. It is this component that facilitates the easy removal of the oxide film from the silver product and the restoration of the precious metal from the oxides.
At home, you can clean 800, 830, 875, 925 and 960 silver with baking soda and foil. The method is not used for blackened and gold-plated precious metals.
How to clean gold with salt?
Cleaning gold with salt
Salt is considered a natural antibacterial abrasive. Therefore, a mixture prepared on its basis will not only remove dirt and restore shine to gold, but also disinfect all your jewelry. If you decide to use salt to clean your jewelry, then try to apply it in such a way that it does not damage the surface of the rings and chains.
In the case of a saline solution, there is nothing to worry about. The salt will simply dissolve in the water, and you can treat all your jewelry with the solution. But you will have to tinker with the preparation of salt paste. If you put ordinary salt in it, there is a 100% chance that it will scratch your gold. Therefore, before adding this component to the paste, grind it thoroughly in a mortar.
Salt Cleanser Recipe: • Take 1 cup of water • Add 5 tbsp to it.
salt • Mix the saline solution thoroughly • Place gold jewelry in it • After 5-6 hours, take them out of the saline solution, wash and dry them
Soda solution
The easiest way to clean jewelry is to prepare a soda solution. The method allows you to restore shine, brightness and beauty.
To prepare the product you will need:
- baking soda – 1 tsp;
- water – 1.5 tbsp. l.
Process:
- Mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste.
- Apply to the product with a brush or sponge and leave for 15 minutes for the reaction to begin. Foam and bubbles may appear.
- Using gentle movements, clean the entire surface of the object.
- Rinse the jewelry with clean water and dry.
- The product is rubbed until shiny with a woolen cloth.
It is important to rinse the solution well from hard-to-reach places. If, after drying, white spots appear on the silver, you should rinse it again with warm water.
With hydrogen peroxide
This method perfectly removes blackness from metal:
- Pour hydrogen peroxide (50 ml) into a glass bowl and add 2 tbsp. l. soda The result is a liquid white mass.
- Dip the product into the product for 10-15 minutes, then brush and rinse with running water.
- The item is polished with a soft cloth to a bright shine.
With ammonia
This method helps to rinse hard-to-reach places:
- 5 ml of ammonia are mixed with 50 ml of clean water;
- add 1 tsp. soda;
- mix the product until smooth;
- The object is dipped into it and left for 20 minutes;
- the product is washed and dried.
Soda and foil
The most effective way to remove tarnish from silver items is to use baking soda and foil. The procedure restores shine and color brightness.
Cleaning process:
- 2 tbsp. l. Soda is mixed with 500 ml of water, placed on the stove and brought to a boil over maximum heat.
- Silver jewelry is carefully wrapped in foil (there should be no gaps).
- Dip the resulting package into a boiling solution and leave for 15 minutes.
- Take out the jewelry and wash it with warm water.
- Dry on a towel and rub until shiny.
If the metal object is not too dirty, you can not boil it, but simply keep it in the solution, packing it in foil.
With toothpaste
A simple, inexpensive and affordable way is to use toothpaste. The disadvantage of this method is that the cleaning mass does not penetrate well into hard-to-reach places.
Squeeze a small amount of paste from the tube into a bowl, add soda and stir. Rub the product with the resulting product using a napkin or sponge. Rinse well in water and dry.
With vinegar
A solution of soda and vinegar can ruin the product. Before use, you should test it on an inconspicuous area, for example, on the inside of the ring.
How to prepare the solution:
- For 5 g of baking soda, take 10 ml of vinegar 9%;
- mix the ingredients until smooth.
You only need to work with gloves so as not to damage the skin of your hands. The product is placed in the solution for 2 hours, then removed and washed. This method does not leave scratches or damage.
With salt
Soda and salt quickly remove black deposits on silver.
The components are taken in equal proportions and mixed with water to a paste, carefully apply the mixture to the entire product in a thick layer and leave for 10 minutes. The item is treated with a brush, then washed off under running water .
How to clean gold with hydrogen peroxide?
Cleaning gold with hydrogen peroxide
Peroxide itself cannot cope with plaque and dirt, but if you mix it with several active substances, it will radically change its properties and turn from a disinfectant into a cleaning agent. Moreover, this solution will help get rid of dirt even in hard-to-reach places.
So: • Measure out 40-50 ml of hydrogen peroxide • Pour it into 250 ml of water • Add an ampoule of ammonia and 1 tsp. liquid soap • Warm the solution and dip the jewelry into it • After 20 minutes, remove it and rinse thoroughly with clean water • Dry and polish the jewelry
How to clean gold jewelry with stones
Cleaning gold jewelry with stones deserves special attention. After all, many precious stones, for example, amber, turquoise, opal, do not tolerate humidity well. Conventional methods for cleaning gold jewelry are not suitable here. Then the question naturally arises, how to clean gold with stones?
An ear stick is ideal for cleaning dirt from stones. Dip it in cologne and begin cleaning the stones with smooth movements. Do not clean jewelry frames with sharp objects; you can easily damage them.
If gemstones are glued to the product, do not immerse them in water. To clean gold from grease stains, you can use a soft cloth previously soaked in an alcohol solution. After cleaning, wipe the jewelry with a clean damp cloth and dry it.
Very strong stains on gold jewelry can be removed with a soft toothbrush dipped in gasoline. It is not recommended to use scouring powders as you may damage the surface of the product.
How to clean gold with foil?
Cleaning Gold with Foil
If you don't have time to prepare homemade cleaners and pastes, then try to restore the normal appearance of your jewelry using ordinary foil. No one can say for sure what its effect is, but its presence in a saline or soda solution helps to better remove unsightly plaque.
- Prepare a concentrated saline or soda solution • Bring it to a boil • Place a piece of food foil on the bottom of the glass • Place gold on top of it and pour hot solution • Leave the items in the scanner until the liquid cools completely • Drain the cleaning solution, rinse the jewelry and blot it with a soft cloth
How to clean gold with toothpaste?
Cleaning gold with toothpaste
Probably everyone knows that toothpaste contains substances that gently polish the enamel. It is this property of the paste that will help us restore old jewelry to its original appearance. When used correctly, it will not only rid your rings of accumulated dirt and make minor scratches less visible.
Due to the fact that the toothpaste does not contain large abrasive substances, you can use it quite often without much fear. This cleaning method is ideal for removing dirt from rings and chains that you wear almost every day.
• Find an old toothbrush • Squeeze some toothpaste onto it • Gently rub the brush onto the surface of the jewelry • Rinse off any remaining toothpaste under running water and pat the piece dry with a soft cloth • Wipe the ring with lemon juice
Efficiency
Cleaning gold jewelry with baking soda is a long-proven method, the effectiveness of which is not in doubt. Its action is to create an alkaline environment around objects, which allows contaminants to dissolve faster. In addition, dry baking soda powder is an abrasive that removes oxide films and slightly polishes the surface of the gold, which improves its appearance and shine.
The advantages of this method include its ease, fast action, minimal cost and accessibility for any person. Despite the wide range of industrial jewelry care products, the use of baking soda remains quite common and effective for many people.
To clean gold jewelry, you should not use household cleaners for plumbing fixtures and enamel, as well as toothpastes and powders. These substances contain particles that are too large and contain aggressive substances that can scratch or cause further clouding of the surface.
