Cleaning gold with vinegar at home, what you need to remember

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Gold jewelry can captivate with its noble shine and attract attention with its incredible radiance. If there are still precious stones on it, shimmering and sparkling in the light, like splashes of rain against the background of a summer rainbow, then it is simply impossible to take your eyes off this magnificence. But every product, even the highest quality, sooner or later begins to fade. The dust that settles on it on the street mixes with sweat secreted by subcutaneous fat, as a result of which the resulting dirt greatly spoils the gold in appearance. In addition, gold jewelry contains copper and silver, which gives it strength and the necessary shades, which tend to oxidize and darken under the influence of air, water and time. In this article we will look at the most popular ways to clean gold with vinegar, ammonia, ammonia and soda at home.

Types and causes of pollution

The main reason affecting the contamination of gold products is the presence of impurities in each alloy (silver, copper, etc.). However, there are a number of other factors:

• prolonged contact with skin leads to oxidation of the precious metal;
• components contained in decorative cosmetics, perfumes and creams leave marks on jewelry;
• dirt and street dust quickly “stick” to gold items;
• Increased sweating also negatively affects the appearance of jewelry.

Loss of appearance of a gold-containing product most often manifests itself in two forms: oxidation of the metal or its contamination.

If gold is white

White gold is an item with the addition of an unusual mixture of nickel and copper.

The exterior of such jewelry is coated with rhodium, which is highly sensitive to any external influences.

White gold is highly sensitive to external influences. That is why standard methods are inappropriate here. Better yet, use:

1. Ammonia. Mix 2 tbsp. spoons of alcohol with 1 teaspoon of any detergent. Dilute in warm water until completely dissolved. Dip the item into the resulting mixture and keep it there for no more than 50 minutes. Then rinse and dry.
2. Beer and yolk. Take the yolk of one egg and 2 tbsp. spoons of light beer. Stir and apply to the object to be cleaned using a cloth. Polish carefully, rinse and dry.

It is important to note that all kinds of pastes cannot be used in this case.

How to clean gold with vinegar at home

Vinegar is available in almost every home. Using it, you can quickly and easily remove dark spots and dirt from a gold product, add gloss and shine.

Precautionary measures

1. Before you begin the cleaning procedure, you should thoroughly wash your hands to remove dirt and grease. Ideally, it is better to wear gloves.
2. The residence time of gold in the solution should be strictly observed.
3. At the end of the work, it is necessary to rinse the product thoroughly with running water to remove any remaining vinegar.

Cleaning Solution Recipes

Option 1. Pour regular washing powder (2 tablespoons) into water (100 ml) and put on fire. Place gold jewelry in the solution. Bring to a boil and pour in vinegar (2 tablespoons). Boil for 20 minutes. Take out the gold and let it dry well.

Option 2. Pour 9 percent vinegar into a cup and put jewelry in it. After 15-20 minutes, remove them and, if necessary, further treat them with a toothbrush. Rinse with cold water and dry.

Option 3. Pour 0.5 cup of apple cider vinegar into a small container and put gold in it. If there are a lot of decorations, add vinegar until the items are completely hidden under the liquid. In a separate container, mix another 0.5 cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of salt. Add flour (about ¼ cup), stirring the solution until a creamy mixture forms.

Remove the gold from the cup. Using a soft brush, scoop up a little of the resulting paste and gently work the products, then rinse them with cool water. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

Preparation of the solution

1. Any container is suitable for preparing a vinegar-based solution. The main criterion is that all products must be covered with liquid.
2. When adding powder, soda and other ingredients, make sure that they are well dissolved.

Preparing Jewelry for Cleaning

To obtain a more effective result, it is recommended to treat gold with a special solution before cleaning it. To do this, take 2 tablespoons of table salt per glass of water and mix thoroughly. You need to put the precious metal in the resulting salt solution and leave it there for 8-10 hours. After the required time, pull out the products and rinse with warm water.

Cleaning process

The cleaning procedure itself requires compliance with a few simple rules:

• the prepared solution must completely cover the contaminated surface;
• It is necessary to strictly observe the soaking time;
• For mechanical cleaning, it is recommended to use a soft toothbrush, cotton swabs or soft cloth.

What to remember

1. Always take care of your jewelry, even if it is in a box.
2. White, table and apple cider vinegar are suitable for these purposes, but in no case 70% essence.
3. The more gold there is in the alloy, the longer it will remain in good condition.
4. Jewelry with stones, white gold, or a matte finish requires specific cleaning techniques.
5. Depending on factors, the process will take from 5 minutes to 12 hours.

We invite you to share the article with your friends and leave a comment about your experience with gold!

Other cleaning methods

If vinegar does not suit you for any reason or does not bring effective results, you can always use another of the many traditional methods.

Citric acid

Citric acid is a strong solvent that effectively removes plaque from gold-containing products. To work, it must be diluted in boiling water. The jewelry that needs cleaning is dipped into the prepared solution for 5-6 minutes. After the specified time, pull out the gold, rinse with running water and dry thoroughly.

Baking soda

You can also quickly and effectively clean dirt from precious metals using soda. The jewelry bath is prepared from the following components:

• 250 ml hot water;
• 0.5 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent;
• 1.5 tablespoons of baking soda.

Place a soft cloth in the container with the resulting solution, which will not scratch the metal. Decorations that need cleaning are placed on it. The container is placed on low heat and heated for 25-30 minutes. After the solution has cooled, rinse the gold with plain water and dry.

Eraser

A stationery eraser is used to remove dark stains and plaque from gold at home. With its help, you can rub a pendant or ring until it shines. It is recommended to choose a white tool, without dyes.

Washing powder

Mix washing powder with ammonia in equal proportions and add boiled hot water (1 cup). Place carefully so that there are no lumps left. Immerse the jewelry in the resulting solution and leave for 2 hours. Then pull them out and place them under running water to completely remove any remaining solution. Dry the items carefully with a soft cloth.

Ammonia

A 25 percent ammonia solution can be purchased at a pharmacy. At home, it is poured into a container, then gold items are dropped into it. Soaking time depends on the degree of contamination. In particularly critical cases, it is allowed to leave the jewelry in the “bath” overnight. At the end of the procedure, the jewelry must be rinsed with water and dried thoroughly.

Salt

Table salt also works well at removing stains from yellow metal. To work, it is mixed with water (3 tablespoons of soda per 125 ml of liquid). Gold that needs purification is dipped into the resulting solution for 10 hours. After finishing the product, rinse with running water and dry with a soft cloth.

Zinc

The procedure for purifying gold with zinc is called refining. To carry it out, you need to place the jewelry that needs cleaning in a small glass container. Add 1.5-2 grams of zinc to them and pour in 1-1.5 tablespoons of calcined salt solution. After 10 minutes, pull out the products, wash with water and dry.

Benefits of cleaning gold with baking soda

Cleaning gold will help restore the product to its former shine.
One of the most effective and safest ways to return gold jewelry to its newness and attractiveness is to clean it with soda.

For this purpose, you can use both drinking (NaHCO3) and calcined (Na2CO3) varieties of the substance, which is sometimes called linen. Their main everyday difference is the level of acidity: the pH of drinking soda and soda ash is 8 and 11, respectively. Thus, the latter option is more aggressive and is used in the household exclusively as a cleaning agent.

The benefits of using baking soda when refining gold are:

• Does not react directly with metal, so there is no risk of damage.
• Sodium carbonate is able to penetrate the smallest chips and scratches on the surface of the product and easily clean them from particles of dust and dirt.
• Due to its widespread use, household safety and low cost, this method is not only the most accessible and simple, but also very economical, since you can clean gold at home quickly and effectively with soda without large material costs.
• You can clean gold with soda manually and this does not require any special equipment, serious knowledge or complex skills - even a schoolchild can prepare a soda solution.

Cleaning does not protect the metal from re-contamination, but the low cost, speed and simplicity of the process allow it to be carried out at any frequency.

It is recommended to clean gold with a warm aqueous solution of soda, without resorting to mechanical cleaning. When solid, this crystalline powder is an abrasive that can scratch the surface and make it look dull and cloudy. Therefore, dry soda, like other abrasive substances, cannot be used when cleaning gold items.

How to clean jewelry with stones

Cleaning jewelry with cubic zirconia, diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones must be approached with extreme caution. Different inserts require different methods for getting rid of dirt.

For example, amber and pearls, as the most fragile materials, are best given to a master immediately.

Topazes and rubies are less finicky, but they should never be washed in hot water.

Turquoise and opal are easily scratched under mechanical stress, so abrasive materials (salt, soda, etc.) are not suitable for cleaning them.

It is best to use gasoline or ammonia when cleaning gold jewelry with stones. In the first case, you need to moisten a soft, unnecessary toothbrush with fuel. The bristles must be soft so as not to scratch the stone. Use gentle movements to cover the entire surface of the decoration.

With an alcohol-containing cleaner (lotion, strong alcohol, cologne, etc.), the principle of operation is the same. The only difference is that the tool used is not a toothbrush, but a cotton swab.

Here is an excellent video that competently explains the nuances of cleaning products with stones:

FAQ

In theory, everything is simple, but in practice, questions arise about how to properly clean gold with vinegar at home.

Which samples can withstand this treatment?

Copper, silver and other impurities that are part of the gold alloy react with acetic acid. The chance of spoiling the product increases with the increase in the percentage of other metals.

Author's note

Kirilova Olga

Never treat 375 sample with vinegar solutions.

Sample standards in Russia:

Why gold must be cleaned

Cleaning your gold is important for both appearance and health. This is due to the fact that dirt, dust and sebum accumulate on the products. In turn, they cause inflammatory processes, for example, due to dirty earrings, the earlobe becomes infected.

What else can you use?

In addition to table and apple cider vinegar, the following is used:

• petrolatum;
• lemon juice;
• crushed chalk;
• ammonia;
• rubbed laundry soap;
• toothpaste;
• eraser.

All methods have indications for use.

Example of using some other methods:

What are some tricks to make gold shine?

To make gold shine, use one of these simple tricks:

1. Boil the decoration in 250 ml of water and 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent for 15 minutes. Be sure to line the bottom of the container with a cloth.
2. Mix 4 tablespoons of non-iodized salt in a glass of water and place the jewelry there for 12 hours.
3. Completely dissolve 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 2 tablespoons of ammonia in hot water. Pour the mixture over the decorations for 2 hours.

Author's note

Kirilova Olga

After using any method, rinse your gold in cold water.

Is it possible to clean if there are stones on the jewelry?

All stones have different densities and surface compositions, so the approach to cleaning each is different:

• Amber and pearls are considered the most fragile. It is better not to clean jewelry with them yourself, but to immediately take them to a workshop.
• Products with rubies and topazes must not be placed in hot water.
• Do not use abrasive materials (soda, salt) to clean turquoise and opal.
• Cubic zirconia, diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones require special attention and caution. Clean them with ammonia or gasoline and a cotton swab.

A clear example of cleaning gold and pearls:

Can it be cleaned if the gold is white?

Nickel and copper are added to the white gold alloy, and the surface is coated with rhodium. Because of this, it is very sensitive and requires special care. In this case, it is better to replace vinegar with ammonia. To do this, place the jewelry in a solution of 2 tablespoons of alcohol and 1 teaspoon of detergent for 45 minutes.

Can it be cleaned if the surface is matte?

Do not use any brushes, aggressive or abrasive products, including vinegar, on matte surfaces. To clean such jewelry without damaging it, leave it in the ammonia solution for 2 hours.

How to prepare products for cleaning

Immediately before cleaning, soak your pendants, rings or earrings for 8-10 hours in a saline solution (2 tablespoons per glass of water), and then rinse. This way, you will increase the effectiveness of subsequent actions.

Is it possible to clean gold with 70% vinegar?

Immersing gold in acetic acid causes irreparable harm. To make 9% vinegar from 70%, dilute the essence with 9 tablespoons of water. In turn, this will change the proportions of all recipes and reduce the quality of processing.

How long will it take to clean?

From 5 minutes to 12 hours depending on the degree of contamination, the chosen method, the presence of stones, the sample and composition of the alloy.

What kind of vinegar can I use?

It is better to use apple cider vinegar. Table white 9% and 6% are also suitable.

What to do if gold quickly darkens after cleaning

If you constantly wear and leave jewelry on, it can quickly become dirty and dark. It is also worth paying attention to the alloy sample. The lower the percentage of gold present, the greater the chance of frequent darkening of the coating. The answer to the question whether vinegar darkens gold is definitely no, but this only applies to solutions using 9% and 6% essences.

To solve this problem, remove your jewelry at night and wash it regularly in soapy water.

Can vinegar be used on gold plated jewelry?

Vinegar is used to wash gold plating:

1. Soak the decoration in a liquid of 9% concentration.
2. Leave for 5 minutes.
3. Wipe with a soft cloth without pressing too hard.
4. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.

Rules for wearing, care and storage of gold items

1. Almost all cleaning products and detergents contain alkalis and acids. Their contact with gold leads to oxidation of the metal and loss of its appearance.
2. Cosmetic products (nail polishes and nail removers, some creams, etc.) contain chemical elements that are harmful to gold rings, bracelets and pendants.
3. Remove all gold jewelry before training, visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or bath.
4. Do not store precious metals in cardboard or wooden boxes.

Cleaning chemicals

Peroxide is an excellent auxiliary component for more effective cleaning of jewelry.
Soda is not the only ingredient that can be used to clean gold. A high degree of purification of gold products is achieved by the use of hydrogen peroxide. You can simply apply it to a cotton pad and wipe the ring.

Also, a good cleaning result is achieved by using a mixture of peroxide and ammonia. The components are mixed in a ratio of 2 to 1, then the gold items are immersed in this solution for 10-12 hours. The container must be covered with a lid so that the vapors of the chemical ingredients do not evaporate too quickly.

Cleaning tarnished gold jewelry with vinegar is also possible, but requires great care. The concentration of acetic acid should not exceed 3%, but even in this case it must be diluted by half with water. If we are talking about a ring or bracelet with inserts made of precious or semi-precious stones, the use of vinegar when cleaning them is unacceptable.

With any method of chemical cleaning, after completion, the items must be thoroughly rinsed under running water.

Why does gold need to be cleaned?

There are two main reasons here:

1. Loss of attractive appearance. After a certain time, any gold jewelry will definitely fade. Why is this happening? The fact is that this metal itself is quite soft. And in order for jewelry made from it to be hard and durable, admixtures of various other metals are additionally added to it. As a result of interaction with moisture and air, after some time these added impurities oxidize. And your favorite decoration loses its aesthetic appearance. Plaques, scratches and other not very pleasant misfortunes can also form on it. Which doesn't add any appeal either.
2. Harmful to health. Wearing jewelry that is not cleaned for a long time can cause damage to the human body. For example, dirt on earrings can cause inflammation in the earlobe area.

Of course, many people prefer to leave the cleaning to professionals. However, doing it yourself is cheaper and won’t take much time. Moreover, all the means for this exist and are available to everyone.

If the surface is matte

Matte jewelry is becoming more popular every day. Nevertheless, caring for them also requires delicacy.

All kinds of brushes, fabrics with a rough surface, as well as aggressive abrasives should not be used. This will ruin the matte surface.

It is better to resort to these means:

1. Ammonia. Place the jewelry in an ammonia solution for 1.5-2 hours. After the expiration date, rinse and dry.
2. Salt and soda. Take lime (1 teaspoon) and dilute it in water. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt. Let it brew for 3-4 days. Then place the jewelry in the liquid for 3-4 hours. As always, rinse and dry.

These methods must be effective. But it’s still better to give the matte item to professionals.