How to Care for Gold

Gold is soft and scratches easily, so don’t clean it with any abrasive cleaning products, and remove gold jewelry before using these products to clean any other surfaces in the home. Clean gold products when they are visibly dusty or dirty, as oils, perspiration, and dust can accumulate and reduce shine. Use dish detergent and warm water, and scrub gently with a soft toothbrush to remove dirt from detailed areas. Rinse well with warm water.

Though gold isn’t susceptible to stains, it can become dull if not cleaned often. For a thorough cleaning, take gold jewelry and other items to a jeweler, or use an ultrasonic cleaner according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Don’t let gold come in contact with chlorine bleach or chlorinated water, such as in pools or hot tubs, because chlorine can cause pitting or other irreversible damage to gold. Store pieces individually, away from gemstones or metals that could cause scratches.

Send broken, scratched, or misshapen gold jewelry to a qualified jeweler for repair. If you have gold jewelry with prongs that secure gemstones, inspect the pieces once or twice a year to make sure the gemstones are still secure.