It is rare to meet a woman who does not like jewelry, especially made of precious metal. And everyone who has at least one such product, sooner or later wonders how to clean gold at home in order to restore its previous appearance. There is no one way for this procedure. But to get a good result, you need to do this correctly, given the nuances associated with the product. We will talk about this in detail in our article.
How to clean? Especially
Before you get down to business, you need to understand how to clean gold correctly, what problems may be associated with the process:
- Cleaning products with stones, relief engravings and drawings, as well as a large number of bends - this is more difficult and painstaking work. In addition, stones require a special relationship.
- The simultaneous cleaning of silver and gold products is not allowed. This can adversely affect both metals.
- Caution should be given to the use of acids and alkalis when cleaning.
- It is important to know that the cleaning of white and yellow gold differs in the means used.
When is it best to contact the master so as not to spoil the product?
If you do not know how to clean jewelry made of precious metals yourself, then the best way would be to contact a jeweler. He himself will choose what to clean with gold so that it shines and has an attractive appearance. In general, the master should also be contacted in a situation if the pollution is quite high and it will be difficult to cope independently. In addition, there are products that are strongly recommended to be trusted only by the master, namely:
- Jewelry with stones such as pearls, amber, emerald, coral. The fact is that these inserts are rather capricious. And in case of an error, the stone may simply change its color or fall out due to loosening of the fasteners.
- Enamel and mother-of-pearl inserts, which can be easily scratched and thereby worsen the presentability of the product, are no less capricious.
Having decided on what kind of product it is planned to clean and how acceptable its independent processing is, it is necessary to prepare materials for the procedure.
Soft cloth for cleaning decoration
As a cleaning agent for gold at home, popular folk remedies are used. The easiest material to return to jewelry of original beauty is a fleecy soft fabric. How to clean gold at home? Use a soft cloth to polish the item. But if it has a dark coating and dirt in the bends, then the tool will be ineffective. Then you will have to use more aggressive drugs.
Ammonia
How to clean gold at home? The use of ammonia as a cleaner for different surfaces is quite common. The same applies to gold jewelry. So how to clean gold with ammonia and how exactly is the solution prepared?
- Pour ammonia and water in equal amounts into the selected dishes with sides.
- Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent.
- Place the decoration in the mixture for one hour.
After the time has passed, it is necessary to remove the products, rinse them in running water and dry them with a cloth or cloth. The method is very effective, even if the surface is already old pollution. If they are not so serious, then you can use another, milder tool:
- Place a piece of cloth at the bottom of the dishes to clean.
- Place the product on top.
- Pour a solution of water with a dishwashing detergent in the proportion of 1 teaspoon per glass of water.
- Boil everything for fifteen minutes.
After the process is complete, it is necessary to rinse the product with cold tap water and dry it with a cloth.
Alcohol when cleaning gold items
Every housewife knows that soda, alcohol and toothpaste are no less effective in the fight against pollution, stains and plaque. Given these unique characteristics of these materials, their use for cleaning jewelry made of precious metals is also acceptable. True, with some reservations.
Is it possible to clean gold with alcohol? Now we will answer this question. But it is also worth considering which kind of alcohol. For example, let's say that ammonia is definitely yes, but the medical one will have to be diluted with water one to one. It is important to know that the product cannot be placed in the solution. You can only wipe with a damp cotton swab.
Soda: how should this product be cleaned?
Is it possible to clean gold with soda? We can definitely say that it is better to refuse this method if the product is used in a dry form. Since the powder is abrasive and may leave scratches on the product. How to clean gold at home? Now we will tell.
As for the use of soda in cleaning solutions, it is part of more than one product:
- Pour a little soda into the container and add hydrogen peroxide to it until the mass reaches the state of gruel. The resulting mixture can be cleaned, after which it must be washed and dried.
- You can use soda directly on the decoration. That is, the product must be covered with powder, on which vinegar is poured over it. The method is not suitable for products with stones mentioned above.
- Vinegar and soda can be applied by combining 2 to 1. In the resulting mass, you need to place the product for no more than two hours.
- As a cleaning composition, a solution of soda, salt and water can be used. The mixture is prepared by dissolving the dry components in water, followed by pouring the foil lined into the dishes, and the products are already dropped into it. After one hour, the decoration can be brushed with a soft bristle brush.
- As a means of cleaning, you can use 50 grams of soda per ½ cup of water, which are placed in a pan with decorations. Capacity goes to fire. After the reaction of boiling water and soda, the fire is reduced to a minimum and 2 tbsp. Are added. l vinegar. Boil for at least fifteen minutes.
It is important to remember that no matter which method is chosen, after treatment with a solution of soda, the products must be washed in cold running water and wiped dry with a cloth. Otherwise, you can spoil the decoration.
Toothpaste when cleaning gold items
Is gold cleaned with toothpaste? Yes. And often enough. This simple method is also effective for independent use. Tooth powder or paste is no less effective than soda.
But you need to remember that they also contain particles that can scratch the product. Therefore, to apply the method on smooth, matte and white gold products is unacceptable. The rest of the cleaning process is not so complicated. A paste or powder is applied to the product and the necessary manipulations are carried out using a soft toothbrush. After completion of work, as in other cases, the product must be washed under running water and wiped dry with a soft cloth.
Jewelry with solid stones. How to clean?
When the product is without stones, everything is more or less clear. But how to clean gold with stones, because such jewelry requires more careful handling? Now let's figure it out.
If you have a product with hard stones (diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, cubic zirconias, quartz, ruby, topazes, zirconium), then the most often recommended cleaning agent is soap solution. If the product has severe pollution, then the use of ammonia, and in some cases peroxide or gasoline is quite acceptable. Since they effectively dissolve grease films and stains. You can also purchase a special composition resembling paste for products with gem inserts. After processing and washing the products, it is very important to wipe them with a soft, fleecy cloth such as velor or flannel.
When is contact with water prohibited?
If the stones are soft - pearls, amber and coral, then the best care for them will be protection from contact with water. If this happened, then wipe it dry and dry the product. In case of severe contamination, a mild soap solution can be used without prolonged exposure.
Shine white and matte gold. What tools are used in this case?
White gold care and cleaning can be carried out using a solution of water, ammonia and detergent, the recipe is given above. After the product has spent an hour in such a composition, it can be washed and treated with a soft cloth that will not scratch. If the risk of surface damage seems too great, then you can prepare a mixture of egg yolk and 2 tbsp. l beer. It must be applied to the fabric and process the product.
For matt gold, the most preferred option will be a 25% solution of ammonia, in which the product must be completely immersed for 2 hours. After that, rinse and dry it with a soft cloth. Any mechanical influences must be completely eliminated so that no marks and scratches remain on the product.
How to keep the result long after cleaning gold items?
After cleaning jewelry, a woman wants to save the result for a long time. To make this possible, you must follow certain rules:
- Do not allow contact of jewelry with acids and alkalis.
- It is necessary to protect them from regular contact with aggressive chemical compounds.
- Avoid contact with abrasive compounds, paints and iodine.
- Timely clean products without waiting for them to become completely contaminated.
- Avoid contact with cosmetics and medicines.
From the list of rules, we can definitely conclude that when carrying out homework, the use of gloves is very important if the products are worn on hands. In all other cases, the best way is to remove all the gold from yourself before cosmetic or caring procedures. Indeed, this is often what causes the appearance of greasy plaque or film on the surface of products, because of which you have to subject them to cleaning.
Little conclusion
Now you know how to clean gold at home. Whatever method is chosen, the correct approach and adherence to the rules are important. If you ignore the need for timely purification of gold, then this can lead to allergic reactions to the skin, or inflammation in the case of earrings. And tarnished stones in no way can emphasize the product, even if it is exquisite. In turn, the cleaned jewelry will delight the hostess with its beauty and dazzling appearance for a long time, subject to all the rules of care after processing.