If you love wearing accessories that you have a box full of gold, you would feel the nudge to clean it often. While there are many reasons why gold accessories, both new and old, lose their shine over time, the most common cause is regular use.
The longer you wear gold trinkets, the less glossy and lustrous they appear. There are other factors that account for gold losing its natural brilliance. These include grime, cosmetic use and mixing gold with common chemicals. The use of perfumes and moisturisers on the skin also affects the appearance of gold.
It is unnecessary to visit the jeweller every time your gold necklaces and earrings begin to lose their lustre, you can do the following to clean your gold ornaments at home:
1. Using a toothbrush is the most efficient and effective way to clean your gold jewels.
2. You can clean your plain gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings, bangles and other pieces of jewellery with clean water and soap solution. Cleaning your basic gold jewellery with soap and water removes dirt and oil accumulated over time. This is a proven way to restore the lustre of your gold jewellery.
3. Clean your gold jewellery with gemstones, however, you should not follow this procedure to clean gemstone-studded jewellery. Any gemstone from costly stones like diamonds and rubies to semi-precious stones like topazes and tourmalines, enhances the beauty of gold.
So how can you clean your plain gold ornaments with soap and water:
-Begin by filling a basin halfway with warm water. Mix with the mild soap to make a solution. To make the solution, mix mild detergents or a few drops of dishwashing solutions in water.
-Dip your gold jewellery in the solution. Allow for 15-20 minutes of soak time. After that, rinse it with cold water and lay it flat on a nice, dry cloth or towel. Let it dry completely in the open air.
-Use a soft-bristled brush to remove dirt from the nooks and crannies. But don’t rub the jewellery too hard. Remember to keep it safe and secure, preferably in a jewellery box. This soap-water brush procedure can be used to clean yellow, white, and rose gold jewellery.
-The water should neither be boiling nor cold. You can also use sodium-free seltzer water or club soda instead of tap water.
-The filth that has gathered in your jewellery will be loosened by these carbonated liquids. You can get a professional jewellery cleaning solution to use at home too.