How to clean gold jewelry: a guide to caring for and storing it
Cleaning at home, everyday care and how to store your gold jewelry so it never loses its shine.
Knowing how to clean gold jewelry helps you keep it shiny without damaging it. Gold doesn't tarnish like silver, but everyday wear, lotions and sweat leave a film that slowly dulls it. And if your piece is gold-plated, care matters even more.
Here's how to clean your pieces at home, how to store them and what to avoid so they keep looking like the day you got them.
Solid gold, vermeil or gold-plated: what kind of piece do you have?
Before you clean, it's good to know what your piece is made of, because they're not all treated the same.
| Type | What it is | How to spot it | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid gold (18k, 14k, 9k) | Gold alloyed with other metals throughout the whole piece | Hallmark 750 (18k), 585 (14k) or 375 (9k) | Durable; can be cleaned with soap and water |
| Gold-plated silver (vermeil) | 925 silver coated with a layer of gold | 925 hallmark and gold color | Delicate; gentle cleaning, no rubbing |
| Gold plating over brass or another metal | Thin layer of gold over a base metal | No precious metal hallmark | The most delicate; soft cloth only |
On plated pieces, the gold is a surface layer: the gentler you clean them, the longer they'll keep their color.
At San Saru, our pieces are plated in 22k gold, which gives them a warm golden tone. That's why we recommend following the cleaning steps for plated jewelry you'll find below.
Why does gold lose its shine?
Pure gold doesn't tarnish, but jewelry contains other metals in the alloy or under the plating. That's why, with wear, pieces can look dull or take on darker tones.
The most common causes are:
Tap each cause and watch the shine fade:
Most of the time it isn't wear, just built-up dirt, and a gentle clean brings the shine back.
How to clean gold jewelry at home
Quick clean after every wear
Wipe them with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth to remove sweat and leftover cosmetics. It's the simplest habit and works for any kind of gold jewelry.
Warm water and mild soap (solid gold)
How to clean gold-plated jewelry
Gold plating is a thin layer, so keep cleaning to a minimum:
Important: if your piece has natural stones, pearls, mother-of-pearl, leather or thread, don't submerge it. Clean only the metal part with a slightly damp cloth.
How to care for and store gold jewelry
Day to day
How to store them
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Each piece separately. Gold is a soft metal and scratches easily when it rubs against other pieces.
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In fabric pouches or a lined jewelry box. One cotton or velvet pouch per piece, or a jewelry box with compartments.
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Away from moisture. A bedroom drawer is better than the bathroom.
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Chains fastened. Close them before putting them away so they don't tangle.
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Always dry. Never put away a damp piece.
Common mistakes when cleaning gold jewelry
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Using toothpaste or baking soda. They're abrasive and scratch gold; on plated pieces they can strip the gold layer.
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Bleach, ammonia or alcohol. They damage the alloy, the plating and the stones.
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Silver cleaners. They're made for a different metal and can ruin gold plating.
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Scrubbing hard or using scouring pads. They leave micro-scratches and wear down the plating.
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Soaking plated pieces. Long exposure to water weakens the gold layer.
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Storing them together or damp. They scratch each other and lose their shine sooner.
FAQ about cleaning gold jewelry
It means the layer covering the piece is 22-karat gold, which is 91.6% pure gold. It gives a deeper, warmer gold color than 18k or 14k gold.
It's not a good idea. Water, soap and shower products wear down the plating over time.
With warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. If it's plated, don't soak or rub it; if it's solid gold, you can also use a soft-bristled brush.
Give them a wipe with a cloth after every wear, and a gentle clean whenever you notice they're losing their shine.
Usually because of leftover cosmetics, sweat or moisture. On plated pieces, it can also be the plating wearing off in high-friction areas.
Better not. They're acidic and can damage the gold plating and the stones.
Your gold jewelry, always ready to wear
Cleaning gold jewelry doesn't take special products: a wipe with a cloth after wearing, a gentle clean every now and then and a good place to store it. With those simple habits, your pieces will keep looking like the day you got them.
Looking for a new piece? Discover our 22k gold-plated jewelry, with handmade boho and ethnic designs.
Shop gold-plated jewelry
