At Chisholm Hunter, we understand how special gold jewellery is. From wedding bands to treasured heirlooms, these pieces hold immense value and deserve to maintain their shine. With our expert cleaning tips, your cherished gold jewellery—whether solid gold or gold-plated—can remain radiant and beautiful for years to come.
If you’re looking for advice on silver, we’ve got a guide for cleaning silver jewellery too!
What is Gold-Plated vs Gold Jewellery?
Tarnishing is a natural occurrence with metal jewellery, but there are effective ways to slow it down. One key factor is choosing the right type of metal, as this can significantly influence how quickly your jewellery tarnishes.
Gold jewellery is often crafted from pure gold, a remarkable metal mined from the Earth’s crust. Known for its rust-resistant properties and stunning beauty, gold is soft in its purest form and requires careful, dedicated maintenance to preserve its brilliance for years to come.
Gold-plated jewellery is equally stunning and radiant. It typically consists of a base metal, like copper, coated with a thin layer of gold. This makes it a more affordable option while still offering a luxurious look, though it can be a bit trickier to clean and maintain.
Whether your jewellery is solid gold or gold-plated, you deserve pieces that retain their brilliance and with our cleaning tips and tricks, you'll be able to do just that!
The Best Way to Clean Gold Jewellery
Make cleaning your gold jewellery effortless with our exceptional Jewellery Cleaning Products. Here are our top recommendations:
- If your gold ring or gold earrings are new or rarely worn, you may only have to give them a quick polish. This can be done with a super soft Jewellery Cloth. Cloths can help remove any dirt, oil, or moisture allowing your gold pieces to do what they do best — shine.
- For everyday care, Connoisseurs Jewellery Wipes are a game-changer. Thanks to their anti-tarnish properties, they not only clean but also help your jewellery maintain its appearance for longer.
- For a deeper, more thorough clean, Connoisseurs Quick Jewellery Cleanser or Connoisseurs Brush & Dazzle Fine Jewellery Cleaner are the perfect solutions. Each kit includes a soft brush designed to clean the intricate details of your favourite pieces, leaving them looking as good as new.
How to Clean Gold Jewellery at Home
If you don’t have specialised cleaning tools to hand, don’t worry—you can still maintain the lustre of your jewellery using everyday household items.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to keep your gold jewellery looking stunning and beautifully maintained.
What You'll Need
- A bowl of lukewarm water
- Mild detergent
- A soft-bristled brush
- A soft lint-free cloth
The Method
- Create a Bath: Add a few drops of your mild detergent—we recommend baby shampoo— to your bowl of lukewarm water. Mix until a few bubbles appear.
- Let It Soak: Place your jewellery into the bowl and allow it to soak. This will loosen any dirt clinging to the settings. Allow your pieces to soak for a few minutes.
- Gently Clean: Using a soft-bristled brush, give each piece a gentle scrub. Using a brush with soft bristles guarantees that the surface of your jewellery remains unscathed.
- Rinse: Once each piece is cleaned free of any remaining dirt, rinse each one under a running tap of lukewarm water. Make sure to remove all the soap.
- Pat Dry: Once cleaned, gently begin patting them dry with a lint-free cloth. Leave to dry completely and enjoy the revitalised glimmer!
Cleaning Gold Jewellery: Alternative Methods
If you don't have detergent to hand, there are a couple of other household options you can use to clean your Gold Jewellery:
- Baking Soda and Water Paste: This combination is effective for cleaning gold jewellery due to its mild abrasive properties and its ability to remove dirt, grease, and tarnish without being too harsh. If you're looking for a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make the paste, check out our article on how to clean silver jewellery.
- White Vinegar: This solution helps clean gold jewellery because of its acidity, which makes it effective at breaking down dirt, grime, and tarnish. All you have to do is soak gold jewellery in white vinegar for 10–15 minutes. Then, use a soft toothbrush to get into any hard-to-reach areas, rinse with water, and pat dry.
- Toothpaste: This substance helps clean gold jewellery by acting as a gentle abrasive that removes debris, residue, and surface dullness, restoring its shine. To clean your gold jewellery with toothpaste simply apply a small amount to the jewellery and gently rub with a soft toothbrush. Then, rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry. Make sure to use non-gel, non-abrasive toothpaste.
How To Clean Gold Plated Jewellery?
As we mentioned earlier, gold-plated jewellery requires a little more care to bring back that dazzling shine. But it’s not impossible and it doesn't have to take up too much of your time. The important thing to remember is that gold-plated jewellery has an extremely thin layer of gold coating. Therefore, we highly recommend avoiding chemicals and hard rubbing to prevent eroding the coating.
To keep your gold-plated pieces looking their best, simply wipe with a lint-free Jewellery Cloth at the end of each day and avoid moisture such as creams, oils, and sanitisers to ensure that the plating remains flawless.
Best Way to Store Gold Jewellery
While cleaning your jewellery regularly is a great way to keep them looking their best, it’s important that they are stored correctly when you aren't wearing them. Here are our top tips for storing gold jewellery, along with some excellent storage options to consider:
- Store your jewellery in a soft cloth pouch—such as the Wolf Zoe Portfolio Green Jewellery Pouch—for optimal protection.
- Use separate boxes for each piece to prevent scratches—the Sif Jakobs Red Valentines Jewellery Travel Box is perfect for keeping your precious pieces organized.
- For a premium storage option, keep your jewellery in a velvet-lined jewellery box—like the Wolf Palermo Medium Jewellery Box—to beautifully preserve your cherished collection.
These options will protect your gold from dust, air exposure, and dampness. For added protection, store these containers in a cool, dry place. By removing your jewellery and storing it in a jewellery box or pouch, you can prevent it from tarnishing and preserve that brilliant sparkle we all love.
How to Prevent Jewellery from Tarnishing?
While tarnishing is natural, there are a few steps you can take to prevent it for as long as possible:
1. Remove your jewellery before showering, bathing, or swimming
2. Avoid perfumes, creams, and hand sanitiser from touching the jewellery.
3. Store each item properly in a box or pouch to avoid dampness and moisture.
Professional Cleaning Service at Chisholm Hunter
Once a year, give it the ultimate 5-star treatment with a professional clean. Simply visit one of our 27 Chisholm Hunter stores and book your jewellery into our dedicated Jewellery Workshop. Our expert jewellers will work their magic, restoring its brilliance with a meticulous clean and polish, ensuring it sparkles as beautifully as the day you bought it!
Whether you adore the timeless elegance of gold-plated jewellery or the luxurious appeal of solid gold pieces, your treasures deserve to dazzle for years to come. At Chisholm Hunter, we’re committed to helping your cherished gold jewellery maintain its radiant shine. With our simple DIY cleaning tips, you can restore its brilliance using easy-to-find household items!
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