How to safely clean gold with baking soda at home

Long-term wearing of gold jewelry, even with careful handling, invariably causes tarnishing of the surface of rings and chains.

Cleaning is the only way to restore the shine of your favorite jewelry. There are many household and professional remedies against pollution and loss of radiant appearance, but most often preference is given to baking soda.

It has many advantages - accessibility, efficiency, low cost. There are several recipes for using sodium bicarbonate that are easy to use at home without requiring the help of a specialist.

Table vinegar, sodium bicarbonate

The easiest way to clean precious metal is to use a combination of NaHCO3 and table vinegar. The product does not have an aggressive effect, it is recommended even for jewelry with precious stones.

The recipe for preparation and use is simple:

1. Combine sodium bicarbonate (20 g), table vinegar (30 ml), wait until foam appears.
2. Soak a soft cloth with the mixture.
3. Wipe the gold jewelry without using any force.
4. Cover the precious item with an even layer of the remaining mixture and leave for half an hour.
5. Rinse with plenty of warm water and dry.

Cleaning is carried out infrequently - once every six months is enough.

Dishwashing liquid

The best way to combat grease, oil traces and plaque of any origin is a product created specifically for this task. Take dishwashing gel, dilute it in water and leave the decorations in it. You can even boil gold without coatings and stones in a solution for a few minutes - a good way to clean out all the small links and other hard-to-reach places.

Photo: sdelai-lestnicu.ru

NaHCO3, foil

Ordinary foil will cope perfectly with dull shine and dirt. It is recommended that the first use of the composition be carried out with caution and that the concentration of the solution be reduced.

Recipe for preparing and cleaning gold items:

1. Line the bottom of a transparent glass container with foil.
2. Place the products and first rinse with warm water.
3. Pour hot water (220 ml) sodium bicarbonate (20 g), salt (20 g).
4. Stir the solution until the salt crystals disappear.
5. Pour over the jewelry and leave for 8-12 hours.
6. The final stage is to clean the product with a soft cloth, rinse with a stream of warm water, and leave to dry. Wiping is not recommended.

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How to clean gold with stones?

The most difficult thing to clean is inlaid jewelry, because you need to take into account their features too. If your favorite ring or earrings have many different stones, don’t hesitate to bring them to the workshop. It is difficult to find a universal recipe when malachite is very scratched, garnet does not tolerate hot water, pearls do not tolerate acids and alkalis, and amber does not tolerate any solvents.

With hard stones, like cubic zirconia or diamond, it’s easier - any product with ammonia will do for them. And jewelry stores often sell ready-made cleaning pastes for home use - a useful purchase if you love jewelry. For everyday care, a soap solution and microfiber polishing is sufficient.

It is more difficult with soft stones: they do not tolerate vinegar and ammonia in any concentration. Some breeds may become cloudy or even change color. Do not use any aggressive abrasives or powders, long soaking or other too long exposures. Essentially, all you have left is an alcohol solution for 15-20 minutes and a soft, lint-free cloth.

Photo: wikihow.com

NaHCO3, detergent

An easy way to remove dirt and add sparkle and shine to gold jewelry is to clean it using detergent, sodium bicarbonate.

It is not recommended to combine several methods of cleaning products at the same time - this can cause stains. Use only gentle detergents - aggressive compounds are dangerous for gold.

Mixture preparation, cleaning:

1. Combine NaHCO3 (30 g), detergent (30 ml).
2. Stir the solution, lower the decorations.
3. Leave in, remove after 5 hours
4. Clean the surface of the jewelry using a clean, soft cloth.
5. Thoroughly wash off the soap suds; you can use a brush.

After rinsing, dry. It is not recommended to dry it in the open rays of the sun - it will not be possible to avoid the appearance of stains.

Alternative methods for cleaning gold

Gold jewelry can also be cleaned using other inexpensive methods - using ammonia or hydrogen peroxide.

Important! Usually, these products are also present in every home medicine cabinet, so you can use them, but not forgetting that any of these products is a more aggressive environment, and it is not recommended to use them all the time.

Cleaning gold with ammonia

With this method, it is better to use not pure pharmaceutical ammonia, but a solution: add 1/2 tsp to 200 ml of warm water. ammonia and 1 tsp. any shampoo. Immerse jewelry in the resulting mixture for 5 minutes, then rinse and dry.

Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide

To obtain a cleaning solution, pour 30 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 tsp into a glass of water. washing powder. Place decorations, shake several times, then rinse and dry.

Whether to clean gold with soda or folk remedies is something every woman decides for herself, because it is a beautiful metal, so beloved by the fairer sex. This is a symbol of sophistication, material well-being and excellent taste.

Centuries fly by, but gold is still in price and is the best gift for the tender half of humanity.

It is not at all difficult to take care of your jewelry, and it will always remind you with its shine and original beauty of that unforgettable day when the ring, chain or bracelet first came into contact with your skin.

Baking soda, kitchen salt

A mixture of sodium bicarbonate and kitchen salt is an effective way to get rid of stains, dull shades, and return gold to its bright shine and natural color.

Use the solution carefully on jewelry decorated with stones; do not perform mechanical cleaning.

Damage caused by vigorous cleansing cannot be eliminated on your own at home - you will have to ask for the help of a specialist and subject the products to sanding.

Preparation of the solution:

1. Mix sodium bicarbonate (25 g), salt (20 g).
2. Pour boiling water (150 ml) into the bulk mixture.
3. Stir and pour hot liquid over decorations.
4. Leave until the mixture cools completely.

Do not clean mechanically after using the liquid, just rinse with plenty of cool water.

Dry using a soft cloth that absorbs liquid well.

How does baking soda affect gold jewelry?

The alkaline environment created by sodium bicarbonate effectively dissolves and removes dirt, grease particles, and dark deposits. As a result of a chemical reaction, tarnished and faded gold items begin to shine and shimmer, like after jewelry cleaning.

Small particles of soda also act as a scrub, mechanically removing dirt from hard-to-reach places without scratching or damaging the metal. Alkali has a gentle effect on precious and semi-precious stone inserts, gently removing plaque and adding shine. Diamonds are especially favorable to this method of cleaning, thanks to the owner's dazzling shine.

Boiling water, sodium bicarbonate

Baking soda and boiling water are the products most often used to clean precious jewelry.

The advantages of this method are that prolonged soaking of the products is not required. You are allowed to put on your favorite rings or chain immediately after the manipulations.

Preparation of the composition, application:

1. Bring water (300 ml) to a boil.
2. Add sodium bicarbonate (40 g).
3. Stir the mixture until foam appears.
4. Cover the container with a soft cloth and place decorations in one layer.
5. Pour boiling mixture over.
6. Leave for half an hour.

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There is no cleaning required after using the product - just rinsing with a clean liquid is enough. Do not use detergents or brushes.

How to clean white gold?

The thing about white gold is that it is actually an alloy of several different components. It may contain nickel, copper, palladium, rhodium plating and other additives, depending on the decoration. The main rule here is not to erase the top light and shiny layer, so no abrasives.

You can refresh such decorations in a sugar solution (2 large spoons per glass of water), in which they are soaked overnight. The same soap solution, where you need to place the jewelry for half an hour, will help with minor blackness. When the white gold is pretty dirty, leave it for half an hour in a solution of ammonia and shampoo.

Cleaned chains and rings should be thoroughly rinsed with running water and gently wiped with a soft microfiber or paper towel. Keep in mind that restoring the lost shine of white gold is a task close to impossible. Therefore, it is better to entrust any serious manipulations and complex stains to master jewelers.

Photo: kalistajewels.com

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Soda solution for boiling gold items

Expert opinion

Advice!

Baking soda is an alkaline substance recommended for cleaning gold. Cleaning is carried out using various additional components, but sodium bicarbonate is often used without auxiliary ingredients.

The combination of water and NaHCO3 is an effective method to permanently get rid of stains and dirt on the surface of jewelry.

Preparation, use:

1. Line a small metal container with a soft cloth.
2. Place items made of precious metal, making sure that they do not touch each other.
3. Prepare a solution, combine sodium bicarbonate (30 g) and water (250 ml). For severe contamination, add salt crystals (15 g).
4. Stir until smooth, pour over decorations.
5. Place the container, wait until it boils, reduce the heat.
6. At a low boil, avoiding boiling, boil the rings and chains for a quarter of an hour.
7. Do not remove the jewelry immediately, wait until the baking soda-based composition cools.
8. Remove jewelry and rinse immediately. Rinse well - the remaining solution can dry out, leaving unsightly stains on the surface.

To make it like new

This option is only suitable for gold items without stones - hot water can damage the soft surface of natural stones and jewelry enamel. Its attractiveness lies in its speed and simplicity; no additional rubbing or wiping is required.

Solution composition:

• 200 ml filtered water;
• 1 tbsp. l. washing powder of any brand.

Cleaning process:

1. Place decorations in a heatproof bowl.
2. Fill the container with gold with water and add the powder there.
3. Boil for 2-3 minutes, drain on a sieve.
4. Rinse with cold water.

Wipe dry with a cloth - it is better not to use paper ones - they can scratch the polished surface.

Useful tips and recommendations for cleaning precious metal

Harsh chemicals offered to remove tarnish, stains, and dirt are not always suitable for delicate items.

Low-grade gold jewelry can be damaged irrevocably; it can only be restored using professional methods. The use of NaHCO3 is a gentle cleansing recommended for getting rid of defects at home.

The combination of sodium bicarbonate, table salt, foil, vinegar allows you to achieve good results without going to the workshop.

There are many recommendations to increase the effect of using homemade formulations:

• do not use iodized salt - exposure to iodine can damage the surface of products, cause uneven color, stains that eat into the structure of gold;
• carry out procedures no more than once a month - precious metal tends to wear off;
• when using foil, it is not recommended to use detergents, even the safest ones;
• soda ash is a good substitute for cooking powder; you can purchase the drug at a hardware store;
• Do not polish with sodium bicarbonate - damage and scratches will inevitably form on the surface;
• If there are porous inserts, cleaning is carried out with gentle chemicals - do not use baking soda.

Expert opinion

Carefully!

After cleaning your jewelry for the first time, be sure to ensure that alkaline compounds do not damage the surface. If spots or stains are noticed, refuse further manipulations and contact a specialist.

Is there a difference in cleaning gold of different colors?

When cleaning gold items of any color, certain rules must be followed in order not to damage the jewelry, since gold is a fairly soft metal.

Important! You need to treat white gold with particular care, excluding brushing with a toothbrush using rough abrasives (toothpaste or powder).

When cleaning, follow the following algorithm:

• applying a cleaning mixture to products;
• cleaning with a soft cloth and cotton swabs;
• polishing the product with a soft bristled cloth.

Ordinary baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, or sodium bicarbonate), which can be found in any housewife's kitchen, is excellent for cleaning gold jewelry.

Soda is not aggressive, interacts gently with noble metal and cleans surface dirt well without scratching the surface of the jewelry.

Cleaning gold with soda is an ideal option for those who like to keep their jewelry in excellent condition!

Sweet water

A very gentle and painless way to make old jewelry shine. Ideal for final gold maintenance work, for example after rubbing a ring or earrings with toothpaste - this product is also good at removing patina and old dirt.

Solution composition:

• 1 tbsp. l. granulated sugar with a slide;
• 200 ml of drinking water.

Mode of application:

1. Heat water to 40 degrees in a microwave or kettle.
2. Dissolve granulated sugar in warm liquid.
3. Dip the decorations into the resulting solution until they are completely covered with syrup.
4. After 3 hours, rinse the products with cold water and rub with a soft cloth.

If the stones on the gold item are mechanically fixed, such a “sweet bath” will suit almost any inlay. Naturally, except for turquoise, pearls and coral.

How to remove hair from a gold chain?

For chains with a simple weave, a few stuck hairs are not a problem: you can pull them out directly with your fingers and forget about the incident. It is much more difficult to remove hair from a gold chain with fancy, tight or geometric (for example, Venetian) weaving.

The most obvious option is to arm yourself with nail scissors and tweezers, carefully cut and remove the hairs. But it happens that you can’t get inside the product, and a whole clump of hair “flaunts” there.

You can do this:

• We burn our hair. We bring a lit match or lighter to the decoration and burn the hairs. It is quite possible that the decoration will become somewhat smoky, but that’s okay: we will already be able to clean it. And the flame of a match is definitely not enough to melt metal.
• We do depilation. We take a regular depilatory cream, thoroughly coat the problem area, wait for the time indicated on the package, and thoroughly rinse the chain. Make sure that the depilator does not come into contact with organic inserts, if any.
• Soak in peroxide. You will need pure hydrogen peroxide in which to soak the decoration. The soaking process may take a long time, but eventually the hair will thin and fall off spontaneously.

It is not recommended to use concentrated acids, household chemicals for cleaning pipes, or caustic soda. The hair, of course, will come off, but it’s hard to say what will eventually happen to your favorite jewelry.