5 ways to clean gold with vinegar or toothpaste

It has no expiration date and can shape a variety of jewelry. Even with its resistance, it tends to look old and worn, leaving the question: how to clean gold? The good news is that it is easy to reverse the discomfort with easy processes and cheap products, which are usually found in every home, such as vinegar, toothpaste and lipstick. We selected five practical ways, presented in step-by-step videos. Check out!

How to clean gold with vinegar?

You will need:

1/2 cup vinegar 1/2 tablespoon salt

Way of doing

Mix the vinegar and salt. Immerse the gold object in the liquid and let it act for 10 minutes. If you notice that the cleaning was not complete, rub the object with a little white toothpaste.

The tip is from the YouTube channel Play Net E-commerce, presented in the following video:

Does toothpaste clean gold?

Yes it is true! Toothpaste has detergent properties in its composition, which make it possible to remove the accumulation of dirt and grease.

You will need:

water white toothpaste

Way of doing

Pass the gold object into the water. Place the object in your hand and add a little toothpaste. While scrubbing, add a few drops of water to make it easier. Then, just rinse with water.

The suggestion is from the YouTube channel called Play Net E-commerce:

Baking soda also cleans gold

You will need:

1 tablespoon of baking soda 1 tablespoon of salt bowl aluminum foil hot water 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent

Way of doing

Line the bowl with aluminum foil. Add the water, baking soda, salt and detergent, and mix well. Immerse the gold item and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the object and rinse with water. Clean with soft cloth.

See step-by-step details in the video on the Cleanipedia YouTube channel (minute: from 1:17 onwards), which warns: “do not use this tip for delicate jewelry or stones with fixed adhesive”:

How to clean gold with lipstick?

You will need:

dark colored lipstick cloth or cotton

Way of doing

Apply lipstick to a piece of cloth. Rub the gold object on the cloth with lipstick. Once it is clean, rub the object with the clean cloth.

The tip is from Vivi Gonçalves. Watch the video:

How to clean gold with detergent?

You will need:

liquid detergent warm water soft bristle brush

Way of doing

Place the water and soap in a container and mix. Add the gold object to the liquid and wait 15 minutes. Remove the object from the container and gently scrub it with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse in warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

“Hard bristles can scratch the surface of your jewelry. If the piece is gold-plated (not solid gold), especially hard bristles can even remove the gold layer completely”, warned the step-by-step guide on the YouTube channel A Robô Ensina, which you can check out in the video below:

Why does gold darken?

Just like silver and other metals, gold can change color. “It is susceptible to darkening for several reasons. It can be affected by contact with certain chemicals, dirt from our own skin and even light, among other variables”, explained the Waufen blog.

“The fact occurs due to the amount of uric acid that each person has in their skin. This acid expelled by our body, in contact with the materials that form the 18k gold alloy, leaves the piece opaque, dark and often coppery. This is because pure gold, found in nature, has a malleable consistency. So that gold could be used to make jewelry and goods, it was necessary to create a special alloy. This mixture is made up of materials such as silver and copper that make gold more rigid, known as 18k,” added S. Stein.

How to keep gold jewelry shiny?

As already mentioned, gold has no expiration date. For the jewelry to remain beautiful forever, it is important to take some care. Check out:

Avoid contact with chemical products, such as household cleaning items, creams and perfumes. It’s okay to soak gold in water. But it is interesting to take off your jewelry when taking a shower, going to the pool or diving in the sea, due to the chemical elements that can react when they come into contact with the material. Even soap can get in the way, because it creates a film on the surface, blocking the shine. Store items in dry, ventilated places. So don’t leave them in the bathroom. When organizing the jewelry box, be careful that the pieces don’t get tangled, so they don’t break or get knotted.

Did you like the tips? how to clean gold? If you also want to learn how to eliminate the darkened appearance of silver, click here!