If your gold chain becomes discolored or dirty, you can clean it using a variety of different cleaning agents. What you decide to use will depend on how badly tarnished your golf chain is. Gold chains tarnish due to the other metals present in the gold alloy corroding.
To clean your gold chain, soak it in a container filled with warm water and liquid dishwashing soap. Let the gold chain lie in the soapy liquid for a few minutes. Then use a soft cloth or brush to gently dislodge any dirt on the chain. Once clean, rinse the chain in clean water and dry it.
You do need to be careful that the cleaning solution you choose doesn’t damage your gold chain.
Be careful not to use a stiff brush as it can scratch the gold. This will negatively affect the finish on your chain.
To achieve a bright shiny surface, only buff up your gold chain with a soft cloth that won’t damage the finish.
Avoid using household bleach.
It is very corrosive and can cause the other metals in the gold to tarnish. You’ll be left with a dull-looking chain that you’ll be unable to brighten with normal polishing.
Can You Use Toothpaste to Clean Gold Chains?
A variety of household items are touted as suitable options when cleaning jewelry. However, you must be careful that the solutions you choose do not damage the surface of your gold chain.
While you can use toothpaste to clean a gold chain, it is not recommended. The abrasive properties of toothpaste can remove tarnish from the surface, but it also scratches the surface. The fine scratches will cause the gold to become dull over time and also expose the alloyed metals to the air.
It is a far better option to soak your gold chain in warm water and a soap solution. This will loosen anything that has adhered to the chain without damaging the surface.
If you are struggling to remove grime that is caked onto the chain, try baking soda.
Add a few teaspoons of baking soda to the warm water and allow your chain to soak in it for a few minutes.
The baking soda helps to lose any particles that may be clinging to your gold chain and a gentle rub with a cloth or soft brush will dislodge them.
Can You Use Alcohol to Clean Gold Chains?
There are many myths surrounding what to use to clean your gold jewelry. One of these myths is that rubbing or soaking your jewelry with alcohol will help to clean it. As with many myths, there is a nugget of truth to the story.
To clean gold chains, use isopropyl alcohol instead of the liquor in your cabinet. Soak the chains in a few tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes. Once the chains have finished soaking, rub them with a soft cloth to remove any remaining dirt. Then put them on a cloth or towel to dry.
Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable, so don’t use it near a spark or flame. Also, ensure that you are cleaning your jewelry in a well-ventilated room.
Cheaper gold chains have a lower quantity of gold. The gold alloy, therefore, has a greater quantity of metals that can corrode and tarnish.
While using isopropyl alcohol to clean a higher rated gold chain is fine, you’ll find that 14K gold might become dull over time if you use alcohol to clean it.
Rather, use a sop solution to clean your chain to avoid any possible problems.
[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 05/09/2022.]
Can You Use Vinegar to Clean Gold Chains?
With the move towards more earth-friendly methods of cleaning, many people now swear by the use of various organic home cleaning solutions. One of these solutions is vinegar.
To clean a gold chain in vinegar, pour a little into a bowl and leave your gold chain to soak. After the chain has soaked for a few minutes, remove it and use a soft cloth or brush to wipe away any stubborn dirt that remains. Rinse the chain with water and pat it dry with a dry cloth or paper towel.
It is important that you use white vinegar rather than brown vinegar to clean your jewelry.
White vinegar evaporates easily and leaves very little trace. A wipe with a dry cloth will usually bring back the shine to any gold chain.
Brown vinegar has colorants and sugars added. These will leave a residue on your gold chain that will be hard to remove.
You will also be left with a dull-looking gold chain.
Can You Use Baking Soda to Clean Gold Chains?
Many household products are capable of cleaning your gold jewelry. Some are more effective than others. And some are not suitable at all.
You can clean gold chains with a baking soda and water solution. Mix a few teaspoons of baking soda and salt with warm water. Once the baking soda and salt have dissolved, place your gold chain in the solution for 10 minutes. Rinse the chains in clean water and dry them with a soft cloth.
Baking soda has a long history of use as a household and jewelry cleaner.
Don’t be surprised if the baking soda solution bubbles a little as it cleans your gold chain.
The reaction does not harm the gold surface and your chain will come out sparkling.
Can You Use Coke to Clean Gold Chains?
Numerous household acids are mild enough to clean gold chains. Everything from the acetic acid in vinegar to the citric acid in lemons is used in cleaning solutions.
You can use Coca-Cola to clean gold chains. Pour two cups of Coca-Cola into a container and submerge the gold chains in the liquid for 5-10 minutes. Once all the grime and dirt has soaked off, rinse the gold chains in cold water. Dry the chains with a soft cloth and give them a gentle polish.
The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola is quite harsh, so it is best not to leave the gold chains in the solution for too long.
9 karat and 14 karat gold chains may show signs of corrosion if you clean them in Coca-Cola too often. It is, therefore, best to only use it when your chains are very dirty.
It is important that you remove any traces of Coke from the chains by rinsing them with clean water.
The sugar and colorants in Coke will form a dull layer on the gold and make it difficult to clean and shine later if you don’t rinse the chains thoroughly after cleaning.
Can You Use Water to Clean Gold Chains?
Sometimes, the simplest cleaning solutions are the best.
You can use water to successfully clean gold chains. Place your chains in warm water and let them soak for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, use a cloth or soft brush to gently brush away any dirt that may still be on the chain. Rinse the chains in clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
This content is owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on May 9, 2022..
If the water isn’t enough to clean the gold chains, you can add things like salt, baking powder, or white vinegar to the mixture.
You just need to be careful that you don’t let the gold chains lie in the solution for too long else it may cause the other metals in the alloy to corrode.
It is for this reason that you also thoroughly rinse the chains after cleaning and dry them off with a soft cloth.
Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Gold Chains?
A common household cleaner found in most first-aid kits is hydrogen peroxide. It has many uses and one of these is cleaning jewelry.
You can use a few drops of hydrogen peroxide added to baking soda and water to clean gold chains. Add the water, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda together and submerge the gold chains in the solution for a few minutes. Alternatively, make a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste.
If your gold chains are very dirty, then rub the paste into the tarnished or grimy spots with a soft cloth.
Once the chain is clean, rinse it off with clean water and rub it dry with a cloth or paper towel.
[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 05/09/2022.]
How to Clean Gold Chains Properly
If you want to ensure that your gold chains are sparklingly clean, then wash them with soap and water.
Submerge the gold chains in warm water and soap solution. Leave the chains to soak for 10 minutes before rubbing them with a cloth or soft brush. Avoid abrasive cleaners like toothpaste as they damage the surface and can cause corrosion. Acidic cleaners are fine as long as they are not too strong.
This article was first published on May 9, 2022 by Wabi Sabi Group..
You can also use alcohol or vinegar to clean your gold chains. Just be careful of leaving the chains in the solution for too long to avoid a chemical reaction with the other metals in the gold alloy.
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WabiSabi Group is the owner of this article and was published on May 9, 2022 and last modified on .