How to Clean Gold Jewelry
Do you know how to care for gold jewelry and keep it clean? We've got all the advice (and more) to help you keep your gold jewelry in tip-top shape.

Important Details About Gold Jewelry
While gold is a lustrous and precious metal, it is also a soft metal, meaning it is prone to scratching. Gold is very easy to work with because of its ductility, malleability and softness. It is also non-reactive, meaning it does not oxidize (tarnish) easily. However, over time with repeated wear, your gold jewelry can appear dull. Cleaning your jewelry regularly will keep it shining like new.

How Do I Clean Gold Jewelry?
Learn how to clean gold jewelry with this step-by-step guide.
Supplies To Clean Gold Jewelry
Ready to clean your jewelry? You will need the following items:
- Two bowls
- Warm water
- Mild dish soap or jewelry cleaner
- Soft cloth
- Soft-bristled brush
To prepare, you'll want to add warm water to each bowl and mix a couple of drops of mild soap into one of the bowls.

Step 1
Soak jewelry in warm, soapy water or jewelry cleaner as advised.
Let jewelry soak for 10-20 minutes. If your gold jewelry includes gemstones, avoid jewelry cleaning solutions. Jewelry cleaning solutions can damage gemstones. If your gold jewelry features pearls, avoid soaking. Learn how to clean pearl jewelry here. Warm soapy water will allow every crevice of the piece to be cleaned and sterilized. Avoid using bleach, baking soda or toothpaste on gold as these can scratch and eat away at gold alloys.

Step 2
Brush your jewelry gently with a soft-bristled brush, then rinse in warm water.
It is important that the brush is soft to avoid any damage to the piece. Rinsing allows no soap or cleaner build-up.

Step 3
Carefully pat gold jewelry dry with a soft, dry cloth.
If the cloth is too hard or rough, it may cause damage to the piece by scratching it.

Step 4
Store jewelry separately to prevent scratching.
If jewelry is stored together, it may move and shift due to placing things in and out. Gold is a soft metal and can be easily damaged if it touches or encounters other jewelry.

Clean Your Gold with JTV's Exclusive Cleaning Essentials
For cleaning your gold jewelry, we recommend using our JTV Cleaning Essentials Jewelry Care System. This gentle system is a tested formula to super-clean your jewelry in just a few steps.
Start by opening the cleanser and pulling out the basket inside the container. Sit your gold jewelry on the strainer-like surface and slowly let the basket down to the bottom of the container. Let your jewelry soak in the cleanser for about two minutes. After two minutes, slowly pull up the basket and remove your jewelry.
Next, you'll want to take the small touch-up brush and gently clean the surface of your gold. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas. Rinse jewelry carefully with lukewarm water and blot dry with a soft, dry cloth.
After cleaning, you'll want to use your Cleaning Essentials polishing cloth and rub gently to remove any residue and add a finishing shine.
For more information about each product and its ingredients, visit https://www.jtv.com/help/jewelry-cleaner.

More Tips to Care for Gold Jewelry
- To prevent damage or discoloration, remove gold jewelry when swimming, entering a hot tub, doing a strenuous workout or cleaning with harsh chemicals.
- Consider removing your gold jewelry when bathing to keep soap scum from building up on the surface and dulling the shine of your gold.
- Keep your gold jewelry from coming into contact with perfumes, hair spray, makeup or lotions.
Erin Smith
Erin enjoys empowering fellow jewelry lovers with the knowledge and tools to care for their jewelry and keep it sparkling like the day they purchased it.
