Top 11 ways to clean white gold at home: care tips

White Gold is gradually gaining popularity, as the jewelry looks noble. The composition includes additives that allow the product to withstand the effects of mechanical stress. But when choosing a cleaning agent, take into account the peculiarities of interaction between the metal and the components in the solution or paste.

This is due to the fact that this type of product has a coating, which is damaged if handled improperly.

To avoid having to reapply, you should choose an appropriate method, like white gold cleaning at home. Consider means of care without abrasive, aggressive chemicals.

White gold: composition and plating. Why white gold becomes yellow and dull

If yellow gold contains copper and silverThe main additives for white gold are platinum group metals. In the past, silver and nickel were predominantly used. However, recently there has been a tendency to develop contact dermatitis when wearing white gold jewelry with this composition.

The reason is the nickel content. Since 2000, the European Union has restricted the use of the metal. The European Union has restricted the use of this metal and banned the use of nickel in the manufacture of white gold jewelry. Palladium compounds are used instead.

Another feature of white gold is its improved appearance and nobility due to its silver color and luster. The alloy itself is white, but its characteristics are further improved after rhodium-plating. For the coating of metal, a special kind of material is used. Rhodium is applied in a thin layer, by electroplating.

The reasons for the loss of attractiveness of products with this coating:

• mechanical damage: point defects are formed, for example, chips, scratches;
• natural wear and tear - the coating is thin, and regular friction reduces its thickness;
• natural reaction when the rhodium layer is damaged by aggressive environments: it darkens in contact with sweat, sebum secretion, cosmetics.

Peculiarities of care of white gold

When choosing a method, how and what to restore the primary properties of products made of platinum group metals, consider the rules for handling them:

• Avoid abrasives and brushes: gold jewelry in this group can withstand mechanical stresses thanks to additives, but the rhodium finish is not (scratches appear);
• Do not use ammonia and acids: chemicals aggressive action destroys the protective coating, after which it will be necessary to restore it at the jeweler - polish and cover with a new layer;
• Dental cleaners are contraindicated: tooth powder is a known abrasive, and toothpaste also contains fine-grained components or aggressive substances that increase the quality of brushing, but harm the sensitive rhodium coating of the jewelry, except that you can consider gel-type products, but use them after studying the composition.

Top 11 effective ways to clean white gold jewelry at home

There are many folk recipes for caring for jewelry, preserving its appearance. But it is important to learn to distinguish between mild and aggressive substances/mixtures. When choosing ways of cleansing gold containing platinum-group metals define the goal: to eliminate weak or more complex contaminants, cleaning gemstones (for this choose other methods).

How to clean jewelry at home

There are plenty of household remedies that can be used to restore luster without the risk of damaging the fragile rhodium coating. It is recommended that you first try to improve appearance jewelry in these ways. If it doesn't work, you can always take your jewelry to a jeweler for polishing and resurfacing.

Soapy water and a soft cloth

If you need to clean white gold in at homeAmong the first to be considered are recipes that contain soap as the main component. For the work prepare:

• Dishes made of materials that behave neutrally with the active ingredients: plastic, glass, ceramic, and enamel-coated metal will also do;
• liquid soap or shampoo, it is not recommended to take a bar of laundry soap for this purpose, as the product will lose its luster;
• water, it is better to use a slightly heated liquid, because the soap will dissolve faster;
• A soft, lint-free rag is used instead of an abrasive.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the working solution: soap is mixed with water until a foam is formed.
2. The decorations are submerged in the dish. Make sure that they disappear under the water.
3. After 30 minutes, the jewels can be taken out and cleaned with a rag.

Alcohol

Quick eliminate blackness from white gold jewelry will help vodka. To clean it, you will need:

• Cookware made of any material except stainless steel, aluminum;
• Vodka, take an arbitrary amount: the liquid must cover the jewels;
• a soft, lint-free cloth.

Instructions:

1. Vodka is poured into the container. And take a large container so that the decorations do not scratch each other.
2. Immerse the rings, earrings in the prepared liquid.
3. After 5 minutes, the product should be thoroughly rinsed with water, wiped with a rag.

Baking soda and hot water

This product effectively cleans rhodium plating without the risk of affecting its appearance. You will need:

• Enamel-coated metal or glass/ceramic cookware;
• watercolor brush;
• soda - 1 tsp;
• hot water - 200 ml.

Instructions:

1. First pour boiling water into the container.
2. Before the water cools, add baking soda.
3. Once the temperature of the liquid decreases, you can perform white gold cleaning at home: jewels are dipped into the solution.
4. Soaking time is 15 minutes.
5. To delete The product is washed with water, scrubbing hard-to-reach places with a brush.

Important: Do not use soda powder to clean gold containing platinum group metals, it will leave micro-damage, to return the original appearance of the jewelry, you will need to polish it, to apply rhodium coating again.

Sweet Water

The method requires soaking the jewelry in a working solution for 12-15 hours. It is prepared:

• dishes made of plastic, glass;
• Spoon;
• lint-free rags;
• sugar - 2-3 tbsp;
• water - 250 ml.

The recipe is simple, but effective, after treatment in this way the stone and metal will shine:

1. To dissolve the sugar immediately, it is mixed with hot water.
2. When the liquid cools, dip the jewelry in it. It is better to soak them in the evening, then in the morning you will be able to clean rings and earrings.
3. After rinsing, the jewelry is wiped with a lint-free cloth. It is important that the material be durable but at the same time soft and well absorbent. And velvet and flannel are the most suitable.

Boiling salt bath

Among the safest remedies is a salt solution. Do not use it in dry form - it is a strong abrasive. To prepare a liquid remedy you will need:

• enamel-coated metal cookware;
• salt - 3 tbsp;
• water - 50 ml.

It is important to prepare a solution of high concentration. Instructions:

1. They're heating water.
2. When the liquid boils, add salt.
3. After the grains are completely dissolved, drop the jewelry into the container. They are first exposed to hot water, when it cools down, the impurities will be separated thanks to the salt solution. It is recommended to leave the jewelry overnight.

Folk ways of cleaning precious metal

If for various reasons it is not possible to use remedies based on salt, sugar, soap, you should choose the option of folk recipes, with the main ingredients are products (onions, eggs), cosmetics, etc.

Onion porridge

When choosing how to clean white gold, consider a common onion without additives. You'll need:

• onion, 1 pc;
• meat grinder or blender;
• a container of polymer material or glass.

Instructions:

1. Chop the onions any way you like. The easiest way to do this is with a blender or meat grinder.
2. Juice is squeezed and the pulp is thrown away.
3. The product is treated blackened jewelry.
4. Rings, bracelets and earrings are left in this form for 1-2 hours, only after that they are washed with water without additives.
5. So that the products shiningThey are rubbed with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Beer and egg

It is quite possible to take care of the jewelry, using original methods, for example, based on a weak alcoholic beverage and the protein of a chicken egg. You will need:

• 1 egg;
• 200 ml of beer;
• container of polymer material;
• corolla;
• rags.

Instructions:

1. In a bowl whipped with a whisk beer and white chicken egg.
2. When a substance of uniform consistency is formed, it is applied to contaminated products.
3. The product is treated jewelry, for which use a soft sponge or cloth, then washed with water.

Hygienic lipstick

A cosmetic product containing titanium oxide restores luster. You will need:

• hygienic lipstick;
• a cotton pad or a rag.

Instructions:

1. A small amount of lipstick is applied to a cotton pad or lint-free cloth.
2. Treat contaminated areas of the jewelry.
3. Thoroughly rinse rings, bracelet, earrings.

This method has the disadvantage that fatty components can remain on the surface of the jewelry, which will later create conditions for the formation of a dense plaque. For this reason, it is important to properly clean the items after treatment.

Tip: Hygienic lipstick is allowed to clean jewelry with stones (diamonds, sapphire, fianite, etc.).

Porridge of lime, salt and water

It is necessary to prepare the components and improvised means:

• capacity;
• salt - a pinch;
• Soda - 1/2 tsp;
• lime - 1 tsp;
• water - 1 tsp.

It is not possible to apply the product immediately. Wait 3 days before starting the treatment. Sequence of steps:

1. All components are mixed simultaneously, obtaining a mass of uniform consistency.
2. After a few days, you can start cleaning your jewelry.
3. The treated products are left in this form. Recommended duration of exposure is 4 hours.

The product removes yellowing (provided it appears weakly).

How to clean white gold jewelry with a stone

Jewelry, inlaid stones of natural and synthetic origin, need careful care. Special products are used for inserts of different types. The choice is made taking into account the level of hardness. This will allow you to maintain the external appeal even after cleaning the products at home.

Types of hard stones and appropriate cleaning

This group can include varieties:

• diamonds;
• quartz;
• emerald;
• topaz;
• sapphire;
• aquamarine.

To maintain the white color of gold based on platinum group metals, you should periodically use products containing ammonia. You will need:

• container of polymeric material, glass;
• ammonia (ammonia, aqueous solution 10%) - 6 drops;
• water - 1 cup.

Instructions:

1. Mix the main components.
2. Jewelry is immersed in the solution.
3. The duration of the effect of the active ingredient on the rhodium coating is 30 minutes.
4. Rings and bracelets, crosses, earrings should be rinsed with water.

Types of soft stones and gentle cleaning methods

Soft stones are those that have a low hardness on the Mohs scale:

• pearls;
• coral;
• malachite;
• turquoise;
• amber;
• opal.

To care for these products use a combined method, combining dry cleaning and treatment with a soapy solution. You will need:

• utensils made of neutral material;
• soap;
• water;
• soft material: flannel, velvet.

Instructions:

1. The remedy is prepared on the basis of liquid soap and water: the components are taken in any quantity.
2. Items are cleaned with a cloth soaked in a soapy solution. The soaking method is not recommended for cleaning soft stones.
3. The precious metal is rubbed with a dry cloth, making smooth movements. Strong pressure should not be applied to the pieces.

Polishing a clean product to a high gloss

Gold is rhodium-plated, so polishing it is not recommended. However, if scratches or micro-damages do occur. It is necessary to wait until there are more of them, as frequent mechanical action can contribute to the rapid thinning of the coating. To polish earrings, rings made of gold with platinum group metals, it is necessary to use a soft rag. The items should be cleaned beforehand by wiping them with a cloth soaked in a solution containing soap.

How to properly care for white gold jewelry to maintain beauty

Simple recommendations that will allow you to keep your jewelry attractive:

• Do not expose jewelry to water, chlorine;
• Rhodium-coated items cannot be worn all the time, the coating wears out quickly;
• decorations take it off before doing your homework;
• For storage, prepare a casket in which there will be enough space for all the jewelry, it is important that they do not touch each other.

Video: white gold self-cleaning at home

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Jeweler's comment

Molokanov N.M.

Jeweler, experience in jewelry manufacturing 26 years.

Ask a question

Common household remedies for cleaning yellow gold (vinegar, hydrogen peroxide) are often unsuitable for other types of jewelry. The composition of the jewelry is different, as well as its properties, and therefore it is necessary to use special methods. It is better to know how to restore the attractiveness of jewelry, because sometimes new gold jewelry that contains platinum group metals quickly lose their luster. It can be restored by using mild means, such as sugar or salt solution or ammonia. But they are ineffective when the rhodium layer is already damaged.