For all types of gold jewelry, we recommend Connoisseurs Dazzle Drops Advanced Jewelry Cleaner. With this non-toxic cleanser, you can utilize a fresh solution every time you clean for the most effective results. You can also try Connoisseurs Fine Jewelry Cleaner in the familiar red jar.
A: Yes, cleaning jewelry with baking soda and vinegar is pretty simple. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl. Allow your jewelry to soak in the white vinegar and baking soda solution for a few hours.
Baking soda is a natural and environmentally friendly way to clean your gold. You can use a baking soda-vinegar or a baking soda-dish soap solution to clean your gold pieces. You can also use baking soda and boiling water to clean your gold. If your gold contains pearls, avoid cleaning it with baking soda.
Mix 1 tablespoon of mild soap or dish detergent with 1 cup of hot water (no need to boil, just hot water from the tap). Let your gold jewelry sit in the medium-hot to hot water with the detergent for 3-5 minutes to loosen up any dirt or buildup.
Never use toothpaste, baking soda, or a commercial metal cleaner on gold. If you use these abrasives, you may scratch the gold. Never use bleach. Bleach reacts with gold and will eat away at gold alloys.
Everyday Wear
10K gold is made so that it's durable enough for daily activities without losing its charm. Like any other gold jewelry, remove it before engaging in activities where there is a risk of damage, such as household chores, yard work, or other physical labor.
Tarnish occurs on gold jewelry when the gold is exposed to air and oxidizes. Tarnish is a natural occurrence on all gold that is not pure. Some folks like the look of aged, tarnished 10K and 14K gold (called a patina).
The most noticeable difference between each karat option is the gold color. Because pure gold is naturally yellow in color, the higher the karat, the more yellow the metal will appear.
As we mentioned above, both 10k and 14k solid gold are fully tarnish-resistant, waterproof, and can be refinished and polished forever—but 10k solid gold goes one step further on durability.
Gold jewelry should be gently cleaned weekly to keep it looking shiny and new. All you need to clean most gold jewelry is warm water, dish soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
The first step is to put and soak the jewelry in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. The high vibrancy of ultrasonic waves with a chemical cleaning solution dislodges the tiny dirt particles adhering to the metal or gemstones. The second step is polishing.
Although Windex shouldn't harm any hard gemstone, we seriously recommend using this method only for diamonds, and only for platinum, gold, and silver. Windex is an ammonia solution, and harmful to soft gemstones (for example, emeralds and pearls), so using it for anything else is just too big a risk of damage.
Toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, and other household cleaners are abrasive. While they won't damage your diamond, they can damage your gold. Windex won't hurt your ring, but it isn't a great cleaner either. So stick to mild soap and water, and six-month cleanings and check-ups at your jeweler.
It is a common myth that toothpaste is a good way to clean your jewellery. This is actually false. Toothpaste can damage your diamonds, gemstones, gold and silver. Toothpaste is abrasive and has a hardness of around 3/4 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
Gold is expensive, no matter what karat it comes in. 10k gold is the most affordable but still comes with a sizable price tag, meaning 14k gold has a significantly higher price to it. Although overall, purchasing 14k gold over 10k gold will get you more value for money depending on how far your budget can stretch.
Solid Gold (10k, 14k)
Solid gold is a great choice if you're looking for a lifetime piece you can wear everyday and everywhere - yes, even in the shower! Polish with a soft cloth.
With 10K 14K or 18K solid yellow gold, there's very little to worry about when it comes to sand or water. Be careful with gold plating, as exposure to water, chlorine and salt all chip away at it over time and you will have to get your accessory re-plated entirely if that's the case.
Vinegar. Cleaning your gold and gemstone jewelry couldn't be easier with white vinegar. Simply drop the jewelry into a jar of vinegar and let sit for 10 to15 minutes, agitating occasionally. Remove and scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush, if necessary.