How to care for gold jewelry to keep it looking fabulous
Choosing a new piece of gold jewelry is always exciting. And it’s fun to select just the right piece from your collection to go with your outfit.
But to keep your jewelry looking good, it’s important to take good care of it. And this is even more important with gold filled or gold plated jewelry, as without proper care it can start to look tarnished and old.
So here are some simple tips for looking after gold jewelry, from daily care to the best way to store it.
Daily Care for gold jewelry
When you are getting ready to go out, make sure that you put your jewelry on last. Make up, perfume and hairspray can all damage gold so wait a few minutes after applying them before you add jewelry.
Remove your jewelry before you go swimming as the chlorine can damage the metal and eventually cause it to break. And you should also take off your jewelry before you take a shower or bath. That’s because the soap residue can build up on the metal making it look dull.
The chemicals in household cleaners can damage the finish of your jewelry. So it’s best to wear rubber gloves or even better remove your jewelry before you start cleaning.
And if you play sports, you may want to take your gold rings, watches or bracelet to avoid dents and scratches.
How to clean gold jewelry
Wearing your jewelry exposes it to the oils and sweat on your skin as well as dust, make-up and all sorts of other chemicals. So to keep it looking its best, it’s important to clean it regularly. This is also a good time to check your jewelry for loose links or other damage.
The best way to clean gold jewelry is to add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of luke-warm water. Leave it to soak for 10 minutes then use a very soft brush to gently remove any dirt. A baby’s toothbrush is perfect for this job.
Transfer your jewelry to a second bowl of clean luke-warm water to rinse all of the soap off. And then gently dry your jewelry and polish it using a soft, lint-free cloth. Don’t use a paper towel as this could cause scratches
NOTE: Don’t use this method on jewelry which has pearls or certain other gemstones, as it may damage them.
By the way, if your gold plated jewelry is starting to look tarnished, you can try polishing it with a soft cloth to improve the appearance. It’s best not to use a gold polishing cloth on gold-plated jewelry as this can cause the gold layer to rub away.
The best way to store gold jewelry
It’s also important to store gold jewelry properly once you’ve taken it off at the end of the day.
A clean fabric-lined jewelry box is the best option, but if you don’t have one then you could wrap each item in a soft, lint-free cloth. The sort of cloth that you use to clean glasses or phone screens is ideal for this.
Wrapping each piece separately is the best way to prevent them from scratching each other or becoming tangled up.
Annual maintenance
These tips will all help you to keep your gold jewelry looking great. But for the very best care, it’s a good idea to schedule a professional clean every year. This will also allow the jeweler to check for loose prongs, broken links and other areas of damage.
Following these simple steps will keep your jewelry looking gorgeous so that you can enjoy wearing it and looking fabulous!