Gold-plated jewelry is incredibly popular and a beautiful way to put gold jewelry into your jewelry box affordably. But, while gold-plated jewelry may make things a bit easier on your pocketbook, it comes with some responsibility, including proper care and cleaning. Over time, especially if you wear it regularly or daily, gold-plated jewelry can collect dirt, grime, and even tarnish, causing the once gold-hued jewelry to appear in shades of green, brown, gray, and even black.
The good news is that expert-approved cleaning methods are quick and easy and can help restore your jewelry’s shine. As with most things in life, a cleaning solution isn’t one-size-fits-all. Many factors, including the jewelry’s overall composition, whether or not the jewelry has gemstones and other things, will determine the best approach for your gold-filled favorites. Read on for important things to know before trying to shine up your gold-plated jewelry at home!
Things to know before cleaning gold-plated jewelry
- Avoid harsh chemicals that can lead to tarnishing. Gold-plated jewelry is relatively durable and can resist quite a bit of wear and tear. However, harsh chemicals are an almost surefire way to damage your jewelry over time. Chemicals like chlorine, bleach, and cleaning products can break down the gold plating, removing that desired gold appearance and revealing the base metal beneath.
- A note on tarnishing. Once exposed, the base metal can react with oxygen and other elements, beginning the tarnishing process. The color of the tarnish will vary depending on the base metal used underneath your gold plating.
- Only use gentle, gold jewelry-approved cleansers. Commonly used DIY cleansers such as baking soda, hot water, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide can damage gold plating and should be avoided.
- Use extra care when cleaning gold-plated jewelry that contains gemstones. Some gemstones, like opals and pearls, are delicate and require gentle cleaning. Avoid excessive cleaning, over-soaking, or using ultrasonic cleaners, which can damage gemstones. Professional cleaning is recommended for valuable or delicate pieces.
- Polish tarnished or worn jewelry. Sometimes, gold-plated jewelry looks dirty or discolored despite your best efforts to clean it. The discoloration you are seeing may not be dirt. Instead, it might be tarnish (as explained above) or general wear. When this happens, polishing the jewelry can remove some tarnish and discoloration; however, it likely won’t resolve the issue. (See replating info below!)
How to clean gold-plated jewelry
- Gold polishing cloth: Specially treated gold polish cloths are mildly abrasive cloths that contain a polishing agent that helps remove dirt and tarnish from the surface of gold-plated jewelry without causing damage. To use, gently rub the surface of your jewelry in a circular motion, applying light pressure to avoid damaging the plating. Continue polishing until tarnish and dirt are gone. Remove any residue by rinsing the jewelry after polishing and dry immediately with a soft, clean cloth to prevent water spots.
- Warm, soapy water: Add a few drops of mild dish soap and warm water to a dish and place your gold-plated jewelry in the dish for a few minutes. Remove the jewelry and gently brush it with a soft-bristled brush. Thoroughly rinse the jewelry and dry it completely with a soft, lint-free cloth. If your gold-plated jewelry is particularly dirty, you may need to allow it to soak a bit longer. But don’t overdo it, as prolonged soaking can damage the jewelry.
- Commercial cleaning solution designed explicitly for gold-plated jewelry: If you are dead set on cleaning your gold-plated jewelry with more than mild, soapy water, be sure to do your research first. Selecting cleaners specifically for gold-plated jewelry can help prevent exposure to chemicals that can cause damage. If you are unsure which commercial cleaning solution to use, consider consulting a professional jeweler.
- Regular, non-fussy cleaning: Cleaning your gold-plated jewelry regularly (weekly or before storing) with lukewarm water and a soft cloth can help maintain its shine until a more thorough cleaning can occur.
- Be sure to thoroughly dry any gold-plated jewelry that has become wet: Even with the best intentions, your gold-plated jewelry will probably get wet at some point. From getting caught in the rain to forgetting to remove a ring before washing your hands, your ring is bound to get wet. But this doesn’t mean your jewelry is doomed. It just means you need to be vigilant about removing excess water from jewelry as quickly as possible after it happens. Use a soft (non-abrasive!) dry, lint-free cloth to remove water so your piece doesn’t get water spots or prematurely wear down.
Tips for caring for gold-plated jewelry
In addition to avoiding exposing your gold-plated jewelry to harsh elements, follow these tips to help keep it shiny for years.
- Keep your gold-plated jewelry in a soft pouch or jewelry box to prevent scratches and protect it from the elements. Additionally, store your jewelry in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight.
- Clean regularly. Using the appropriate cleaning methods from the list above, you can clean your regular-wear jewelry every week or two and before storing it. If you are hesitant or concerned that your cleaning may damage your jewelry, consult a professional or have a jeweler clean your gold-plated jewelry.
- Remove before activities. You already know the importance of avoiding harsh chemicals to protect your gold-plated jewelry (listed above), but let’s review a few real-world activities that you may also want to avoid while wearing gold-plated jewelry:
- Remove your rings before doing household cleaning, as many cleaning products can accelerate the wear or tarnishing of gold-plated jewelry.
- Remove your earrings before applying hairspray, perfume or sunscreen to avoid direct contact with these sprays or lotions.
- Remove your gold-plated jewelry before dipping into a pool or hot tub. Think of the harshness that chlorine unleashes on everything from clothing to skin and hair. Do you want to expose your precious, valuable jewelry to that kind of stress? Unless you want to revisit your jeweler regularly for replating, it’s best to keep gold-plated jewelry out of the pool or hot tub.
- Remove your gold-plated jewelry before sweaty activities. While the dirt and sweat on your body are likely less abrasive and damaging than substances like bleach and chlorine, they can still do a number on your gold-plated jewelry. To prevent slow wear from sweat, dirt and moisture buildup, remove your jewelry and keep it in a safe place until you’ve finished your activity, showered and have dried off. NOTE: This tip doesn’t only apply to sports or fitness activities. The sweat and oils that collect during activities like mowing the lawn or gardening can be enough to impact gold plating.
- Have your gold-plated jewelry replated. Speaking of replating, when your gold-plated jewelry begins showing signs of wear or tarnish, consider taking a trip to a professional jeweler to get it replated. A new protective layer of gold plating, known as electroplating, can restore your jewelry's initial gold-hued glow. Think of it as a jewelry re-set or “do-over.”
Insure your gold-plated jewelry
Don’t forget to treat your gold-plated jewelry just as importantly as you do your other pieces of fine jewelry by protecting them with personal jewelry insurance. Consider a repair or replacement policy from Jewelers Mutual for the best possible coverage for your jewelry. Here are just some of the benefits:
- Get coverage for repairs related to accidental damage, a perk that other jewelry insurers and standard homeowners policies typically don’t offer.
- Get a replacement (if needed) of the same kind and quality as the original.
- Choose your own trusted jeweler to work on your repair, not a generic third party selected by an insurance company.
- Experience a smooth online claims process with guidance from jewelry experts.
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