How to Clean Gold Jewellery at Home - 2025 Updated

By Team Gullak

Last updated : Aug 20, 2025

6 min read

Some of the most popular ways to Clean Gold Jewellery at home are by using:

Here, we'll learn about these methods in depth, why they are needed & how often do you need to clean your jewellery.

What leads Gold to corrode?

Purest forms of Gold rarely corrode. Gold is one of the least reactive metals, so a 24Karat gold(high purity) generally doesn't corrode. However, most commonly used forms of Gold i.e., gold jewellery are of 22Karat or 18Karat or 14Karat purity. These types of gold have lower purity compared to 24K and have other metals like copper, silver, zinc mixed into them and are subject to corrosion over time. Here are the major reasons that lead to this:

How to Clean Gold Jewellery at Home?

Here's a detailed explanation of ways using which you can clean gold ornaments at home:

1. Mild Soap & Warm Water (Best for Regular Cleaning) -

Here's how you can clean your gold ornaments using mild soap & warm water:

2. Baking Soda & Water (For Extra Shine) -

Here's how you can clean your gold ornaments using Baking Soda & Water:

3. Vinegar & Water (Quick Rinse Method) -

Here's how you can clean your gold ornaments using Vinegar & Water:

4. Ammonia Solution (Occasional Deep Cleaning)

Here's how you can clean your gold ornaments using Ammonia Solution:

5. Polishing Cloth (For Quick Shine):

Here's how you can clean your gold ornaments using Polishing Cloth:

Comparative Analysis of all the methods to clean Gold jewellery at home

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the different methods of cleaning ornaments:

How often do you need to clean gold jewellery?

Here's how often you need to clean Gold jewellery, based on the type of gold jewellery:

1. Daily-wear gold jewellery (rings, chains, bangles, earrings):

- Light cleaning (soap + warm water rinse, or just wiping with a soft cloth) every 2–3 weeks.

- Deeper cleaning (soak + brush or polishing cloth) every 2–3 months.

2. Occasional/party wear gold jewellery:

- Clean after every 3–4 wears or at least once every 6 months before storage.

3. Gold with gemstones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, etc.):

Gentle cleaning every 1–2 months (avoid harsh methods like baking soda, vinegar, or ammonia).

4. Gold-plated jewellery:

Clean less often, only when visibly dirty, since frequent scrubbing wears down the plating.

While these frequencies more generic, here's a list of signs that you should notice before cleaning -

1. Loss of Shine – Jewellery looks dull, no longer has its golden sparkle.

2. Dark Patches / Tarnish – Black, green, or reddish tints (caused by alloy metals reacting).

3. Skin Discoloration – Finger turning green/black after wearing a ring (usually from copper/silver alloys reacting with sweat).

4. Build-up of Dirt/Grease – Oils, lotions, makeup, or sweat residue visible, especially in crevices.

5. Loose Stones or Settings – Dirt accumulation loosens clasps or settings; cleaning + inspection is needed.

6. Smell – Jewellery smells metallic or musty due to sweat, chemicals, or storage in humid conditions.

💡 Pro Tip

Even if you don’t see obvious dirt, wipe your jewellery with a soft cloth after every wear. This removes sweat, perfume, and dust, making deep cleans less frequent.

Hacks to Prevent Tarnishing of your Gold Jewellery

Here's some hacks to optimise your precious for long-term usage and prevent its tarnishing:

🌟 Everyday Care Hacks

1. Last On, First Off Rule: Put on your gold jewellery after applying perfume, lotion, hairspray, or makeup. Remove jewellery before bed, shower, or workout.

2. Wipe After Every Wear: Use a soft microfiber cloth to remove sweat, oil, and dust. It prevents residue buildup that speeds up tarnish.

3. Avoid Chlorine & Chemicals: Take off jewellery before swimming (chlorine is harsh on gold alloys). Also avoid bleach, detergents, and strong cleaning agents.

🏠 Storage Hacks

1. Store in Airtight Pouches: Use zip-lock bags, anti-tarnish pouches, or jewellery boxes with velvet lining. It Keep moisture and air exposure low.

2. Separate Each Piece: Store each item separately to prevent scratches and alloy reactions. This is especially important for chains and delicate pieces.

3. Add Silica Gel / Chalk: Place a small silica gel packet or chalk piece in the jewellery box to absorb moisture.

💡 Extra Protection Hacks

1. Gold Polishing Cloths: Occasionally rub with a polishing cloth to maintain shine and remove light tarnish early.

2. Transparent Nail Polish (for fashion/plated jewellery): Apply a thin coat on the inner side of rings/earrings (where it touches skin). It reduces direct reaction with sweat(Not needed for solid gold, but useful for plated pieces).

3. Rotate Your Jewellery: Don’t wear the same gold jewellery daily; give pieces rest days.

TL;DR

Gold itself doesn’t corrode, but alloys (22K, 18K, 14K) tarnish due to sweat, chemicals, sulphur, and poor storage. The safest cleaning method is mild soap + warm water, while options like baking soda, vinegar, and ammonia work for tougher dirt but should be used sparingly. Daily-wear jewellery needs light cleaning every 2–3 weeks and deep cleaning every 2–3 months, while occasional wear can be cleaned every few months. Signs it’s time to clean include dullness, tarnish, dirt buildup, or skin discoloration. To prevent tarnish, always wipe after wear, avoid chemicals, and store pieces separately in airtight pouches with silica gel.