Stewart Kuper Jewelers How-To: How to Clean Solid Gold

Welcome back to the Stewart Kuper Jewelers blog! Whether you want to start the year off with fresh looking jewelry, or just picked up an antique gift for your sweetie, this is how to try to clean solid gold!

How to Clean Solid Gold

Before we get too far into this suggestion, remember, just like with diamond rings and other jewelry, taking your belongings into a jeweler is the best way to get them cleaned. Only through professionals can you be certain that the products and techniques being used are perfectly suited for jewelry and precious stones. Only use the method below for solid gold that doesn’t contain precious stones.

That said, there is a method for basic, at home cleaning of solid gold.

What You Need

• Dish soap
• Warm Water (not hot)
• Soft Toothbrush (baby/child sized)
• Soft Towel
• Ammonia
• Dish Washing Gloves

First, mix warm water and a bit of dish soap. Add in a few drops of ammonia. A little goes a long way here so be cautious. If the ammonia is too high, it can discolor or damage the gold. With the solution mixed to perfection, put your gloves on and submerge the jewelry. Let it soak for under 10 minutes.

After the jewelry has had time to soak, remove it and gently brush with a soft toothbrush to remove grime. Don’t brush aggressively, as you don’t want to loosen anything. So, with the softest toothbrush available, and with gentle strokes, begin to clean the gold. Put particular effort into cleaning behind any stones or prongs, where grime can collect and dampen the ability of your stones to shine, always keeping it to under 10 minutes of soak, and gentle brushing. Once the gold is gleaming to your desire, rinse the jewelry clean and pat dry with the cloth.

Remember: Gold is Soft

Gold is an incredibly soft metal, if you brush or dry too hard, using a brush or towel that is too rough, or abrasive can cause serious damage to your jewelry. Obviously, this is something you want to avoid.

We hope this month’s rundown of simple cleaning procedures for solid gold and diamond rings has served you well. If you need a professional cleaner, or are looking to buy a new piece of jewelry, contact us here at Stewart Kuper Jewelers.