Knowing how to properly care for gold-plated jewellery is just as important as knowing how to properly care for solid gold jewellery because the latter can easily tarnish and lose colour if the incorrect cleaning agents are used.
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How often should gold-plated jewellery be cleaned?
After each use, it’s a good idea to wipe down your jewellery with a soft cloth to remove any sweat, lotion residue, and smudges. When your gold-plated jewellery starts to tarnish or after being exposed to chlorine, such as after a swim in the pool, perform the deep cleaning described below.
How to Clean Gold-Plated Jewelry
What You’ll Need:
- Soft cloth or jewellery cloth
- Small bowl
- Mild liquid soap
- Cotton swab or soft-bristled baby toothbrush
Wipe down after each wear: Make it a practice to quickly clean your jewellery off when you take it off for the day with a soft cloth or a jewellery cloth.
Soak the jewellery: Combine warm water and a few drops of mild soap in a small basin. To make suds, mix the soap into the water. One piece of jewellery should be added, and it should soak for five to ten minutes.
Remove dirt: Use a cotton swab or a baby toothbrush with delicate bristles to gently remove any dirt that may be lodged in the jewellery’s crevices. After that, thoroughly rinse the piece.
Dry completely: Dry the jewellery with a gentle, lint-free towel, then polish the surface to a high gloss.
How to Recognize Real Gold Jewelry
Unsure if your gold is genuine or counterfeit? It’s easy: While gold-plated metal or imitation gold tarnishes over time, solid gold does not. It’s not solid gold if your jewellery has started to corrode and fade, or if it tints the area where it touches your skin blue or green. Take it to your neighbourhood jewellery shop for some aid in determining what it is actually composed of if you’re still unsure.
Using gemstones to clean costume jewellery
You’ll have to take extra precautions if your jewellery contains valuable or semi-precious stones. Avoid soaking the jewellery and use cool or room temperature water to avoid loosening any adhesive holding the stones to the jewellery. Instead, often wipe the parts with a soft cloth. Use a cotton swab dampened in a combination of water and mild soap to remove any dirt or debris for a thorough cleaning. Jewellery should be properly rinsed and dried.
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