Every piece of jewelry is worth the trouble of keeping it beautifully clean and shiny. It’s so easy to fall in love with a gorgeous piece, all bright and sparkling, that it hurts us when it eventually loses it’s new look, due to use, so it’s time to learn how to prevent that from happening. However, when it comes to gold pieces, they are usually more valuable, and expensive, and not only in price, but in emotional attachment as well, like a wedding ring or a family bracelet.
Cleaning them needs to be carefully made, and going to a professional can make you anxious, because mistakes can happen. Luckily I have great news for you, as you can do it yourself, with simple products that everyone has laying around the house, which will make the process so much easier and quicker. I’m talking about vinegar and baking soda! Trust me, it will make your pieces the stars of the jewelry box again, and you don’t even have to leave the house. Today, I’m teaching you how to clean it, step-by-step, and make your golden jewelry look like they just came out of the store.
First: What Do You Need?
To start this process, you will need to get a bowl, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda. There are a few methods where you can use only the apple cider vinegar, but this one will be more efficient. Be sure to get yourself a lint-free cloth too, to dry your pieces at the end.
Second: What Should You Do?
Start by filling your bowl with the apple cider vinegar and place your gold jewelry inside it. Then, make sure you leave it sitting there for a maximum of 20 minutes, so that its components take care of the cleaning. Remember that the cup needs to be filled enough to cover the entire piece.
The next step is to add the baking soda, so mix ¼ of a cup of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of warm water in a different glass container from the vinegar. Mix it well until it creates a thick paste, but be careful to make it the perfect texture, because if it gets too thick, it won’t work as well, and in that case add a little more water.
Now that your paste is made, put your jewelry into the mixture, and just leave it there resting for a while. After that, use a small brush to scrub it, especially in the most worn out parts. It will make your mixture act better on the piece, but make sure not to put much pressure on it, because you can end up scratching the gold.
As a final step, take it out of the mixture, rinse it with water, and gently rub it with your fingers. Make sure all of the paste is gone and there are no leftovers on the piece. Finally, you can clean it with a lint-free cloth and even keep it where it can air dry, before putting it back on the jewelry box or using it at a fancy party.
Third: A Few Warnings
Since it’s something you are doing at home, by yourself, there are a few precautions you should take. A lot of these gold pieces have stones or pearls as ornaments, which are not safe to use these products on, as it can make them loose and cause permanent damage. Cleaning with water and soap might be a better option in these cases. Another thing to be careful about is the vinegar – make sure you don’t let the piece stay way past the time, or otherwise it can damage the protective layer or enamel.
Fourth: Ready to Shine!
No one likes to see their favorite gold pieces of jewelry turn dirty and shineless, which can be caused by daily use, the oils of our skin, and even for being locked up for a long period of time in your jewelry box. It’s very important to always take good care of it, and this one being a cheap way to clean it and preserve it, there are no reasons to see your pieces lose their sparkle and beauty. There’s nothing better than seeing your favorite rings or necklaces look like they are brand new and like everything in life, the right treatment is essential.
Luckily this article has helped you to know how to treat gold items the right way, what to do and what to not do, the things to avoid doing during the process, and even understand more about the cleaning tips that can be useful for other things. Your jewelry will definitely be the reason for some envy looks. Thank you so much for your time and good luck with the cleaning!
This is something really new that I have heard of, thank you so much for sharing this amazing information with us, will surely use these tips and also share it with my friends and family as well.