Tuesday, August 21, 2007

How To Clean and Care For Gold


1. Not so good to wear your gold jewelry 24/7.
The most effective way to preserve gold jewelry is to limit its exposure to the daily elements. For example, many personal care products can be harmful to gold jewelry. These include lotion, make-up, perfume, shaving cream, and hairspray. These products can form a dull film that covers the gold and it is hard to remove. To prevent this, remove your gold jewelry prior to grooming.

2. Always avoid chlorine when wearing your jewelry
Never clean your gold jewelry with chlorine bleach. Bleach ruins gold by oxidizing the metal and turning it black. To be on the safe side, you should remove gold jewelry before doing any household chores. Many common household cleaners contain bleach and other chemicals that may adversely affect gold jewelry. In addition, don't swim or go in a hot tub wearing gold because prolonged exposure to chlorine in a swimming pool can turn it black.

3. Clean gold jewelry properly

Light tarnish on gold can be removed by using soapy water and a soft bristle brush.
A soft toothbrush and a non-phosphate dishwashing liquid also work well.
DO NOT USE TOOTHPASTE - it will scratch gold.
Here is how to do it:
Dip the toothbrush in the water and get the bristles into all of the crevices. Then rinse the piece in warm water until the water runs clear. After gentle scrubbing, buff the piece dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to make it shine. You can also use a specially treated cloth or other cleaning jewelry cleaning products. If your gold jewelry does not contain colored gemstones you can clean it with an ultrasonic cleaning machine. Finally, if you have a problem with heavy tarnish, consult a jeweler.

4. Store gold jewelry properly

Dry your gold jewelry before putting it away for storage. Moisture can weaken springs and clasps, increasing likelihood of damage. It is also important to provide enough storage space. Keep diamond jewelry separate because it can easily scratch gold. Most jewelry boxes have separate compartments to keep all your jewelry separate however, if you don’t have a jewelry box with separators, wrap each piece in tissue paper and keep the items in small bags or pouches.

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