Golden jewelry has been considered a sign of wealth since ancient times. White gold is considered to have a particularly noble appearance, and there is not only beautiful and expensive, but also very stylish modern jewelry made of this metal. However, if you want your white gold jewelry to maintain a good appearance for a long time, you need to know how to clean white gold yourself at home, without damaging it.
Cleaning methods and means
Any jewelry should be cleaned regularly to avoid the accumulation of dirt causing skin inflammation. There are a few traditional home remedies to preserve your pure white gold masterpieces. They are based on the usage of household chemicals, and a few common household items. The most popular methods are the following ones:
- White gold pieces are cleaned with gel toothpaste. Be sure to use toothpaste that does not have any abrasive particles that can scratch your favorite ring or earrings.
- Another popular method is cleaning these items with baking soda. Baking soda is often used in home cleaning, because it can soften water and dissolve dirt. For cleaning jewelry, you need to mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1 cup of water, and boil the jewelry pieces in this mixture for 15 minutes. Then wipe the pieces dry with a soft cloth.
- A similar home recipe suggests the use of liquid soap instead of baking soda. You can use liquid dish soap or gel laundry detergent. The process is the same as the previous method.
- Liquid detergents are also used to clean diamond rings, earrings and pendant ornaments. To remove dirt from hard-to-reach areas, you can use a small toothbrush with soft bristles.
To keep your white gold items looking good, they should be cleaned at least once a month. This will preserve not only the beauty of jewelry, but also the health of the skin it comes in contact with.
White gold special features
White gold is loved by both men and women. This has to do with its unique appearance, both in the simplest jewelry and in custom designer pieces. However, white gold is not actually gold in its pure form, it is an alloy which contains palladium, nickel or platinum. Then, the pieces are coated with rhodium, which makes them more resistant to abrasions.
In any case, when cleaning white gold at home, bear in mind that items made of it are softer and require careful handling and gentler cleaning. To preserve the golden shine, polish the pieces with a soft cloth or a microfiber cloth after cleaning.
Useful tips and warnings
So, cleaning earrings, rings, chains, and pendants made from precious metals is not so difficult. However, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the material, and to carefully follow safety rules.
When cleaning white gold items at home, please do not use abrasive cleaners: detergent powders, gels with abrasive particles, wiry fabric. These products can scratch jewelry, and it’s appearance will be hopelessly ruined. For the same reason, if you use a brush for cleaning, it should have a soft bristle.
Don’t use cleaning products containing chlorine or other harsh chemicals on your white gold items. It is better to use water softening ingredients, that can remove dirt delicately.
If you follow these recommendations, your gold rings, earrings, and chains will serve you for many years and will not lose their appearance. This means that maybe after many years, your children and grandchildren will also be able to wear your masterpieces.