Gold is among the most beautiful metals widely used in jewelry, including necklaces. Gold necklaces are popular ornaments among both men and women due to their precious nature and the aesthetic value they bring. Over time, gold chains tend to become discolored due to the buildup of things like dirt or dust. Although the discoloration isn't that much, you can actually see it with your eyes. Typically, your chain will lose its shiny nature slowly. In this case, you'll need to get your necklace thoroughly cleaned. Experts recommend jewelry enthusiasts purchase chains with 14k or 18k gold. You can ascertain this by asking the seller to give you a comprehensive estimate of the gold purity on the necklace. If you get a gold necklace that contains higher gold purity levels, it'll be resistant to discoloration and tarnishing.
How often should you clean your gold necklace?
It's essential to clean your gold chain/necklace after every wear. When you wear a gold chain, you'll expose it to sweat, dirt, dust, and other debris. Failure to clean your gold necklace can possibly result in damage and low resale value in the future. It's also essential to clean your gold necklace if you expose it to compounds such as acids, chlorine, sulfur, and alcohol since they cause tarnishing to metals.
Cleaning your gold necklace reduces wear and tear in the long run. Experts also recommend people avoid handling gold necklaces after spraying perfumes or applying make-up since they may contain dangerous chemicals that can cause damage. Cleaning should be done gently and is helpful in keeping your necklace free from the buildup of dust, fingerprints, oil, etc. Cleaning will not only maintain the shiny appearance of your gold necklace but will also extend its life. Depending on the cleaning method you use, you should avoid some substances since they can easily make your necklace tarnish. The first thing to avoid is chlorine since it has the ability to discolor or damage the gold necklace. As a safety precaution, you should always remove the necklace when using chlorine bleach at any point in time. Secondly, you should avoid using soaps that you can't clearly identify their ingredients. Such soaps may contain harmful ingredients which will likely cause damage or discoloration.
How to clean a gold necklace?
After investing in your favorite gold necklace, you'll want to ensure that it stays in good condition and sparkles every time. Typically, gold jewelry has easier maintenance compared to other metals, including silver. In most cases, gold becomes dull when exposed to things such as sweat, skin oil, dirt, and grime. Regardless of the cause, it can be quite challenging to clean your necklace due to the presence of numerous links. Therefore, one must be extremely keen on the links to ensure they remain intact. Increased pressure may lead to snapping. Below are the top ways for cleaning a gold necklace:
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Water and soap method
This is among the best and easiest ways of cleaning a gold necklace. You need laundry detergent or dish soap and water. Start by diluting the detergent in water until it becomes extremely foamy. Ensure you carefully hold the chain to prevent damaging it. Submerge the necklace in the mixture and stir it gently. Alternatively, you can put the foamy mixture into a ziploc bag together with the necklace and shake it gently. After a few minutes, rinse the gold necklace and allow it to dry. You can use a towel or soft cloth to wipe it clean. It's also essential to ensure that you leave no residue, mainly if you use laundry soap.
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Use toothpaste
Most people still don't know that toothpaste is a great home solution for cleaning gold necklaces. This approach involves rubbing the paste on the gold necklace. You then need to give the paste some minutes to stick on the chain. Next, rinse the necklace using warm water and allow it to dry. Experts also recommend using a soft toothbrush if you want to scrub your necklace to completely remove dirt and grime. One should also not scrub too hard to avoid scratching the necklace since the past has some mildly abrasive particles. If you don't have toothpaste, you can opt for tooth powder since it's similarly effective.
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Hand washing
It's easy to clean a gold necklace using the hand washing method. You need warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Mix the two and put your gold necklace inside. Use your fingers to rub your necklace. Alternatively, you can get a soft, gentle brush and use it to prevent scratching your chain. After cleaning, also use warm water to rinse the jewelry. Lastly, dry it using a soft cloth. Avoid using tissue paper to dry your chain to prevent leaving some particles behind, which can accumulate and cause damage to your gold necklace.
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Machine cleaning
Machine cleaning is an excellent alternative to the hand washing method. It involves the use of automatic cleaning equipment known as an ultrasonic cleaner. This equipment emits strong sound waves that shake and remove dirt from the gold necklace. The ultrasonic cleaner uses a cleaning liquid. Machine cleaning is the best if you want to clean your gold necklace with minimal effort thoroughly. This method will also improve your necklace's longevity and maintain its value.
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Boiling
Boiling is an effective way to clean your gold necklace. Although you can boil with water alone, experts recommend adding some baking soda. You can also use some laundry detergent if you don't have baking soda. Immediately the water reaches the boiling point, put off the heat and gently stir the necklace for about 2 minutes. Then remove the necklace from the solution, rinse and allow it to dry.
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Use alcohol
If your necklace is made of authentic gold, there are low chances it'll be damaged. You can safely use alcohol to clean your gold necklace without too much effort. To get started, get a clean bowl where you'll place your necklace. Pour a significant amount of alcohol into the bowl containing the necklace. Gently scrub the necklace for about 5 minutes. Leave the necklace there for at least one night and take it the following day. Rinse and polish the necklace using a lint-free cloth.
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Use peroxide solution
This is an old-fashioned but effective technique for cleaning a gold necklace. You need laundry detergent, hydrogen peroxide, and one teaspoon of ammonia. Combine these three components and dip your necklace into the solution for 30 minutes. After this duration, take your necklace out of the solution and allow it to dry. You'll be surprised that your necklace will be sparkling clean. It's essential to note that this procedure works well for necklaces and other jewelry made of pure gold only. If your necklace is made of other metals, it can be risky to use the peroxide solution since it easily causes damage to the jewelry.
When to get assistance from a jeweler?
Sometimes, knowing which method to use in cleaning your gold necklace can be challenging. This can be the case if you don't exactly know the actual material used in making the necklace. Typically, some methods can easily destroy your jewelry, mainly if chemicals are used in cleaning and the metal used isn't pure gold. In this case, it's advisable to get the help of a professional cleaner. The cleaner will first identify the metal used in making the jewelry and use the best cleaning method. You should be ready to pay a fee for the service. If, after cleaning, the professional finds loose settings, he'll fix them to prevent damage or loss of some parts.
How to keep your necklace clean for a long duration?
- Ensure you store your necklace properly. You can store it in a jewelry box, velvet pouch, fabric-lined box, or wrap it using a soft cloth. To prevent oxidation or discoloration, you can use an anti-tarnish bag.
- Don't wear your necklace during a workout to prevent reacting with sweat which can cause tarnishing.
- Don't apply lotions when wearing the gold chain.
- If you're a swimming enthusiast, ensure you take off the gold necklace before getting into a chlorinated pool.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals.
In conclusion, these are some tips to help you keep your necklace clean for a long time. You can simply clean your gold necklace using home solutions if you're sure that it's made of pure gold. Whether your necklace is made of yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold, you can use the above-mentioned cleaning methods. On the other hand, gold plated necklaces don't need thorough scrubbing to prevent damage.