Cleaning gold with vinegar at home - what you need to remember

Is it possible to clean gold jewelry at home? For example, how to clean gold with vinegar and other home remedies? And is it possible to do this yourself?

Perhaps and even necessary. The article will tell you how to do this correctly.

It's hard not to fall in love with gold. Especially when it is a new piece of jewelry that shines and shines, attracting the eye. However, this pleasant shine tends to disappear.

Regardless of whether a gold item is used or has been sitting in a box for years, it will definitely lose its luster over time. Sooner or later.

You can take your gold to professionals for cleaning. But this is not always justified. After all, it is possible to clean gold yourself. Fortunately, this is easy to do. For cleaning, the usual products that most people have at home are quite sufficient.

And the best option is to use apple cider vinegar. It contains soft acids that will carefully and safely clean the metal.

What to pay attention to before you start

Not all remedies are good. And not everyone is suitable in one case or another.

Therefore, before starting work, you must keep in mind that:

• Some places may be difficult to reach. For them, an additional brush is used;
• If you have stones, especially precious ones, it is better to resort to separate methods of cleansing. They will be discussed separately;
• Any solution made must completely cover the item.

First of all, you should consider which common cleaning methods are suitable for a particular type of metal.

Nuances: a small auxiliary table

Before you figure out how to clean gold - with vinegar or something else, you should familiarize yourself with the basic nuances.

The table provides data on what type of cleansing is suitable or not suitable for a particular type of jewelry.

Type	Vinegar	Alcohol	Paste	Soda	Soap	Brush
yellow	+	+	+	+	+	+
red	+	+	+	+	+	+
white	—	+	+	+	+	+
matte	—	—	—	+	+	—
with inserts	—	+	+	—	+	+

With this information, it will be much easier to keep your jewelry in good condition.

So, first, let's look at the options with vinegar. Which, as can be seen above, is suitable exclusively for yellow and red gold.

Advantages and disadvantages of this method

Like other cleaning methods, vinegar has benefits:

• the absence of chemical components makes it safe for people and the environment;
• cleans efficiently, while the procedure itself does not require much effort from you;
• the ability to purchase the substance in almost any store.

Disadvantages include the inability to clean jewelry with inlaid stones or some white or matte alloys with vinegar. You are also required to follow the instructions and exercise extreme caution when working with the solution.

With the help of a preservative, not only noble metals are cleaned, but also other alloys. Find out how to clean copper coins with vinegar at home.

Cleaning gold with vinegar solution

Cleaning with white vinegar

Every jewelry lover sooner or later has a question about how to clean gold with vinegar. This method is suitable for products made of red and yellow metal.

First, place the jewelry in a ceramic or glass container and pour white vinegar until it covers it. After 15 minutes, rinse under cold running water.

Author's note

Kirilova Olga

Brush several times with a soft toothbrush for best effect.

In addition to gold, other products are also cleaned with a preservative. Cleaning silver with vinegar is just as effective as cleaning gold.

Cleaning with apple cider vinegar

Suitable for updating the appearance of your jewelry made of any type of gold.

Ingredients:

• apple cider vinegar - 200 ml;
• table salt – 50 ml;
• flour - 50 ml.

Cleaning:

1. Soak the products in half the apple cider vinegar for 20 minutes, while they should be completely covered with liquid.
2. In another container, mix the remaining vinegar with salt. Adjust the consistency with flour until it becomes paste-like.
3. Apply the resulting paste to a soft toothbrush and wipe. Don't press too hard.
4. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times, after each rinse the jewelry under a cold tap.
5. Wipe dry with a lint-free cloth.

Using vinegar and citric acid

Dilute a pinch of citric acid in a glass of vinegar and place the gold jewelry for 5 minutes. After this, rinse and dry.

Add soda

Soak the jewelry in water and dip it on all sides in baking soda powder. Add 2-3 drops of table vinegar to start the reaction. After 2 minutes, wipe with a soft cloth.

Every woman has silver jewelry in her arsenal, but they often become darker. Therefore, look at how to clean silver with soda at home without harming the product.

Have you tried cleaning gold jewelry with improvised means?

Not really

Vinegar, soda and foil

Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2-3 drops of vinegar in a glass of hot water. Cover the bottom of the container with foil, add gold and fill with solution. After 10 hours, rinse with water and dry.

Author's note

Kirilova Olga

Do not use this method on jewelry with precious stones.

White gold cleaning foil

Cleaning with white vinegar

Cleansing with this product is more suitable for items made of yellow and red gold.

You will need:

• white vinegar;
• toothbrush with soft bristles.

Process:

Simply toss the jewelry into a cup of vinegar and wait 10-15 minutes. Then remove and rinse with cold water.

If necessary, carefully go over the products with a toothbrush and rinse again. It is recommended to use dishes made of ceramic or glass.

Cleaning with apple cider vinegar

You will need:

• apple cider vinegar - 1 glass;
• table salt - ¼ cup;
• flour - ¼ cup;
• Toothbrush.

Process:

1. fill a small bowl with half a cup of apple cider vinegar;
2. Place the product in a cup and leave it there for 15-20 minutes. If the product is large, make sure that the vinegar covers it completely;
3. Combine salt, flour and remaining vinegar to form a mixture with the consistency of paste or sour cream. If necessary, add more flour;
4. take a toothbrush with soft bristles and dip it in the resulting paste;
5. remove the product from the vinegar and carefully clean it with a brush;
6. rinse the gold in cold water;
7. repeat the procedure with the brush again;
8. rinse the product again with cold water;
9. Wipe the gold with any lint-free cloth.

The item should be like new.

Causes of darkening

The most common causes of tarnishing are:

1. Feature of the sample. Chains, earrings and any other items made from hallmarks 585 or lower will tarnish faster.
2. Oxidation of metals. Gold itself is an overly soft metal, therefore, in the manufacture of jewelry, other metals (zinc, copper, etc.) are additionally used, which, when interacting with oxygen, household chemicals, water, oxidize, and the product takes on an unsightly appearance.
3. Darkening of the polishing layer. Many manufacturers, for greater beauty, apply an additional layer to gold, which wears off and darkens over time. The problem will disappear by itself when the layer is completely erased.

Add soda

Baking soda is perhaps a universal cleaning agent for any metal and more. After the procedure described below, the jewelry will be unrecognizable - it will become exactly the same as when purchased - smooth and shining.

Necessary:

• vinegar 9%;
• water;
• baking soda.

The process itself:

Take the gold item you want to clean and wet it with water. Then dip it in baking soda and add a little vinegar (about 2-3 drops). Gently go over the top with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Again, if the jewelry is inlaid with stones, especially pearls, it is better not to resort to this method. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging their surface.

Rules for wearing, care and storage of gold items

1. Almost all cleaning products and detergents contain alkalis and acids. Their contact with gold leads to oxidation of the metal and loss of its appearance.
2. Cosmetic products (nail polishes and nail removers, some creams, etc.) contain chemical elements that are harmful to gold rings, bracelets and pendants.
3. Remove all gold jewelry before training, visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or bath.
4. Do not store precious metals in cardboard or wooden boxes.

What else can you use?

You can clean gold at home not only with vinegar. Below is a list of other home remedies that are suitable for making your product clean and shiny.

1. Toothpaste. This is an excellent option for express cleansing. Take a tablespoon of warm water and some toothpaste. Wipe the product. It is not forbidden to use a toothbrush. The paste is a soft abrasive material that will not cause scratches. Tooth powder is sometimes used instead. Rinse the item well when finished.
2. Sugar. Take about 250 ml of clean water and 2 tbsp. spoons of ordinary sugar. We combine the components and place the jewelry in the resulting liquid. Wait approximately 9-10 hours, then rinse.
3. Salt. Similar to the previous point. Only instead of sugar - 4 tbsp. spoons of salt, and should be left for a longer period - 12 hours.
4. Beer. Soak a lint-free cloth in warm beer and wipe the product. Then wipe with a clean napkin. It is better to take light beer.
5. Onion Grate the pre-peeled onion on a fine grater and separate the juice. Immerse the products in the juice and after 5 minutes polish with a cloth or brush. Then rinse and let dry.
6. Pomade. The lipstick contains so-called titanium dioxide. This is a gentle abrasive. Simply rub the dirty surface and polish it with a soft cloth.

Useful tips

In order to return the product to its original glossy appearance, it is recommended to soak it for 6-8 hours in a strong saline solution - 40 g. salt per 250 milliliters of water. After this time, the decoration should be rinsed with water and immediately begin working with vinegar.

It is strictly forbidden to use vinegar essence (70%) - it can cause irreparable damage to the metal. If you don’t have vinegar at hand in the required concentration, you should dilute one tablespoon of pure essence with 9 tablespoons of clean water.

If the product is not gold, but gilded, then the concentration of vinegar should not exceed 9%, the cleaning time should not exceed 5 minutes, and polishing should be done without strong pressure.

To make the gold shine

To return the metal to its former sparkle, nothing supernatural is also required.

Next are the simplest and most popular means.

1. Ammonia. You should mix 2 tbsp. spoons of alcohol with 1 teaspoon of any detergent. Dilute everything in hot water until completely dissolved. Dip the gold item into the resulting mixture and leave it there for about 2 hours. Then rinse and dry.
2. Boiling. Take a deep container and fill it with 250 g of water. While stirring, add 1 teaspoon of mild detergent. Place any fabric at the bottom of the container, and the product on it. Put it all on the fire and boil for 15-20 minutes. Then remove the gold object and rinse.
3. Hydrogen peroxide. Pour 40 ml of peroxide and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and ammonia into a medium-sized glass of warm water. Stir and pour the resulting solution over the golden item. Leave for 30 minutes and then rinse.
4. Table salt. One of the simplest and cheapest remedies. In a glass of slightly warmed water, dilute 4 tbsp. spoons of salt. Keep the product in the resulting liquid for 12 hours. For convenience, you can do this at night. Afterwards, rinse the jewelry and let it dry.

How to enhance the effect of jewelry cleaning

If gold items are heavily soiled (old plaque or uneven tint), it is recommended to soak them in a saline solution before standard vinegar cleaning.

To do this you will need:

• 1 glass of hot water;
• 3 tbsp. spoons of table salt.

Salt is poured into water and stirred until completely dissolved. After this, precious items are placed in the solution and left overnight. The liquid should completely cover the jewelry.

You can also soak gold objects with minor stains, but with a complex design, in a saline solution in order to get rid of plaque in the most difficult to reach places.

Additional Information! When making a cleaning solution, salt can be replaced with sugar in the same amount.

If there are stones on the jewelry

Cleaning gold with precious inserts requires a special approach. The following will work here:

1. Alcohol solution. They wipe the metal with it, then wash the object and dry it with a napkin. This and the next method are especially good for diamonds.
2. Ammonia. Jewelry is wiped with ammonia and rinsed with soapy water. You can use a brush and cotton swabs.
3. Gasoline or cologne. The product is applied to the metal and gently wiped with a rag or brush.

Important note: Chemicals or other harsh and abrasive cleaners are not recommended for soft stones such as opal or pearls. Use only soap and water.

It's also worth looking at the way the stones are attached. If they are held in place by glue, do not put the jewelry in water. Especially for a long time.

FAQ

Does vinegar make gold darken?

High-quality gold of high standard will not react in any way to treatment with vinegar solution. But products made of metal below 585 standard may darken, as additional impurities will react with acid.

Can I clean gemstone jewelry with vinegar?

Acetic acid is good at removing stains and tarnish from gold, but it spoils gemstones, negatively affecting their surface and causing turbidity. Even diamonds that are resistant to many physical and chemical factors lose their shine when exposed to acetic acid. Therefore, jewelry with stones cannot be cleaned using this method.

What is the best vinegar to use to clean gold jewelry?

To clean gold items, you can use any vinegar solution whose concentration does not exceed 9%. The most commonly used are white, table or apple.

If gold is white

White gold is an item with the addition of an unusual mixture of nickel and copper.

The exterior of such jewelry is coated with rhodium, which is highly sensitive to any external influences.

White gold is highly sensitive to external influences. That is why standard methods are inappropriate here. Better yet, use:

1. Ammonia. Mix 2 tbsp. spoons of alcohol with 1 teaspoon of any detergent. Dilute in warm water until completely dissolved. Dip the item into the resulting mixture and keep it there for no more than 50 minutes. Then rinse and dry.
2. Beer and yolk. Take the yolk of one egg and 2 tbsp. spoons of light beer. Stir and apply to the object to be cleaned using a cloth. Polish carefully, rinse and dry.

It is important to note that all kinds of pastes cannot be used in this case.

Chemical exposure

This includes methods of exposing jewelry to various chemicals. In this case we are talking about the simplest means available in almost every home. So, cleaning gold at home is carried out using:

• soda;
• salt;
• vinegar;
• ammonia;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• soap;
• washing powder;
• dishwashing detergents.

If any of them is missing, you can easily buy it in any supermarket, with the exception of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. These drugs are purchased at the pharmacy. True, ammonia is called differently there - ammonia solution. Below are the most affordable ways to clean gold jewelry using chemicals. After reading them, you will learn how to clean gold at home.

If the surface is matte

Matte jewelry is becoming more popular every day. Nevertheless, caring for them also requires delicacy.

All kinds of brushes, fabrics with a rough surface, as well as aggressive abrasives should not be used. This will ruin the matte surface.

It is better to resort to these means:

1. Ammonia. Place the jewelry in an ammonia solution for 1.5-2 hours. After the expiration date, rinse and dry.
2. Salt and soda. Take lime (1 teaspoon) and dilute it in water. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt. Let it brew for 3-4 days. Then place the jewelry in the liquid for 3-4 hours. As always, rinse and dry.

These methods must be effective. But it’s still better to give the matte item to professionals.

How to clean with ammonia and regular washing powder

This simple recipe will help restore your product to its original appearance, without the additional use of special products.

Components included:

• 1 tsp ammonia alcohol;
• 250 ml. water;
• 1 tbsp. washing powder.

Bring the water to a boil, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Place the products in the resulting composition for about three hours, depending on the contamination. Then be sure to rinse with clean water and wipe the product dry with a soft cloth.

Instead of washing powder, you can use dishwashing detergent, which also does the job just as effectively.

Mechanical cleaning

If none of the above procedures helped, you can resort to manual mechanical cleaning.

In addition, this procedure is ideal for jewelry with blackening.

It is worth knowing that aggressive substances and harsh abrasives are not suitable for such a ritual. They can cause scratches.

To clean, you will need a special paste for darkened metals. Such mixtures cost little. They contain soft ingredients that are as gentle as possible on the material.

You can also prepare pasta yourself.

You will need in equal proportions:

• petrolatum;
• crushed chalk;
• mashed household soap;
• toothpaste.

The work is carried out using a soft-bristled toothbrush or napkin. Any fabric, always lint-free, will also work.

The paste is applied to the darkened area and passed over it with a brush or rag. In one direction.

Upon completion of the work, the decoration is wiped with an alcohol solution. This will get rid of any film that may form afterwards.

There is another interesting method, which, however, may not work: remove the blackened areas with an eraser.

Where to start cleaning gold at home

Before you begin cleaning your gold jewelry, you must:

Familiarize yourself with convenient cleaning methods Choose the one that suits you best Prepare all the ingredients that you will need Prepare a glass or plastic container of the right size so that all the decorations fit perfectly in it Prepare a soft, lint-free cloth

Why does gold need to be cleaned?

There are two main reasons here:

1. Loss of attractive appearance. After a certain time, any gold jewelry will definitely fade. Why is this happening? The fact is that this metal itself is quite soft. And in order for jewelry made from it to be hard and durable, admixtures of various other metals are additionally added to it. As a result of interaction with moisture and air, after some time these added impurities oxidize. And your favorite decoration loses its aesthetic appearance. Plaques, scratches and other not very pleasant misfortunes can also form on it. Which doesn't add any appeal either.
2. Harmful to health. Wearing jewelry that is not cleaned for a long time can cause damage to the human body. For example, dirt on earrings can cause inflammation in the earlobe area.

Of course, many people prefer to leave the cleaning to professionals. However, doing it yourself is cheaper and won’t take much time. Moreover, all the means for this exist and are available to everyone.

Types and causes of pollution

The main reason affecting the contamination of gold products is the presence of impurities in each alloy (silver, copper, etc.). However, there are a number of other factors:

• prolonged contact with skin leads to oxidation of the precious metal;
• components contained in decorative cosmetics, perfumes and creams leave marks on jewelry;
• dirt and street dust quickly “stick” to gold items;
• Increased sweating also negatively affects the appearance of jewelry.

Loss of appearance of a gold-containing product most often manifests itself in two forms: oxidation of the metal or its contamination.