Does Vinegar Clean Gold?
Anwer at a Glance: Vinegar does clean gold, but it’s not optimal or without risks. Many professionals advise against using abrasive and acidic homemade cleaners as they can cause more damage than good.
Dig Deeper
- How to Clean Gold with Vinegar
- Risks Involved with Cleaning Gold with Vinegar
- Optimal Cleaning Solution for Gold
- Cleaning Tarnished Gold
- Keeping Gold Looking Its Best
- References
How to Clean Gold with Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar to Clean Gold
The Vinegar Institute, an industry association, frequently distributes information and has conducted many studies on vinegar uses. The association states that the use of vinegar is a suitable gold cleaner and suggests the following solution: [1]
- Use one cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Submerge solid gold jewelry items in vinegar for 15 minutes.
- Remove and dry with a cloth.
Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean Gold
Reader’s Digest suggests tips for cleaning jewelry at home, including gold, using everyday household items. Here’s their quick fix for cleaning gold with vinegar. [2]
- Cover your gold item with a light coating of baking soda.
- Pour a bit of vinegar over it.
- Rinse clean.
Risks Involved with Cleaning Gold with Vinegar
Many professionals advise against using acidic solutions such as vinegar or lemon juice to clean jewelry due to the risks involved.
Shine and Finish
Nicole Hendelman Dersovitz of NicoleHD Fine Jewelry warns that soaking your jewelry in a bowl of vinegar will remove the jewelry’s shine and finish. [3]
Gold and Silver Plated Jewelry
Miotto, makers of gold and silver-plated items, warns never to use abrasive substances like lemon, vinegar, salt, parmesan, or cola because they tend to corrode gold and silver-plated surfaces. [4]
Gemstones
According to Cheryl Roberts of Lexie Jordan Jewelry, you should never clean gemstones with vinegar because its acidity can damage gemstones permanently, particularly porous or organic stones. [5]
Optimal Cleaning Solution for Gold
Kay Jewelers says the best method for cleaning gold jewelry is to soak it in warm water with mild soap and gently use a soft toothbrush to scrub away dirt and buildup. Rinse it thoroughly, then dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth. [6]
Tips:
- Use distilled water to avoid mineral buildup that may be present in the water.
- Do not use soap that contains moisturizers, which can lead to a film buildup.
- Use a soft cloth to dry your gold jewelry rather than a paper towel, which could scratch the soft metal.
- Gold is easily scratched, so avoid at-home jewelry cleaning advice that includes abrasive products such as baking soda and toothpaste.
Cleaning Tarnished Gold
Burdeen’s Jewelry of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, suggests removing tarnish from a gold jewelry piece by soaking it in a solution of warm water with mild soap and a few drops of ammonia for a short time, followed by a gentle rub down with a lint-free cloth. Additionally, if you have a plain gold item soiled with grease, give it a quick dip in rubbing alcohol. This method should not be used with a gold item that contains gemstones. [7]
Keeping Gold Looking Its Best
Gold jewelry is easily damaged by certain chemicals and corrosive, even by those everyday items found in the home. Zales jewelers caution you to wait to put on your jewelry until after applying hand lotions, hairspray, and perfumes, which could contain chemicals that could damage your jewelry. You should also remove your rings before working with household chemicals that can damage gold jewelry, such as products containing chlorine, bleach, and acetone. [8]
References
- [1] The Vinegar Institute – “Uses & Tips.”
- [2] Reader’s Digest – “How to Clean Jewelry at Home: 14 Household Items That Work Miracles.”
- [3] Dersovitz, Nicole Hendelman – NicoleHD Fine Jewelry – “8 Common Jewelry Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.”
- [4] Miotto – “How to Clean and Protect Silver Plated and Gold Plated.”
- [5] Roberts, Cheryl – Lexie Jordan Jewelry – “How to Clean Sterling Silver with Gemstones.”
- [6] Kay Jewelers – “Clean, Safe, and Sparkling: Kays Advice for Cleaning Jewelry at Home.”
- [7] Burdeen’s Jewelry – “Five Best Ways to Clean Fine Jewelry.”
- [8] Zales – “Jewelry Care.”
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