Tricks to make gold glitter in a few simple moves
All that glitters is not gold, and sometimes even gold can lose its natural luster. To restore your treasures to the beauty and luster of the early days, all it takes are a few simple steps.
Here are the most popular remedies for jeweler-proof cleaning and making gold sparkle
Flaunting gold objects, wearing them as jewelry, display them to embellish the decor of one's home, can give one great emotions and confer a unique sense of royalty. Unfortunately, however, every pleasure has its price, and even such a wonderful and sought-after material needs to receive constant care to continue to shine as it did in its early days.
Dust, dirt, stains and annoying blemishes can quickly accumulate on its surface, visibly damaging its texture and "stealing" its beautiful golden glow. The solution, however, is at hand: with careful and constant cleaning, which is both effective and gentle so as not to damage the precious object, oxidation will no longer be a problem and regaining its original luster will be child's play. But how to do it? You need to move carefully and always choose the right product so as not to irreparably ruin your tinsel and see it shine once again.
Let's look in detail at the most commonly used methods for cleaning gold without making mistakes.
Tips for ever-shining jewelry
At the top of the favorite solutions for taking care of your gold, there are undoubtedly home remedies. Ask your grandmothers, there is nothing better than a pot of boiling water to remove dirt residue from jewelry without ruining its precious appearance. But it may not be enough. If the impurities are particularly tough, don't hesitate to add a little neutral pH dishwashing detergent and let your treasure soak for a good half hour. After that, rinse with cold water and dry everything with a cotton cloth. The results will be amazing!
Ideal for wedding bands, necklaces and pendants in solid, red or pink gold, never for white, ammonia is also among the most popular methods, but great care must be taken: the product's high level of corrosiveness could damage your items irreparably; in fact, it is to be avoided on jewelry containing pearls or precious stones. The rules to follow are few and rather simple: pour the ammonia into a basin of water and let the gold soak for about a minute. Helping yourself with gloves to prevent irritation, clean everything under running water and dry with a soft towel.
If you own tightly woven, or braided jewelry, even more concentration is needed. Wet the bristles of a toothbrush with alcohol, rub gently, and polish later with cloth. Toothpaste and white vinegar are also good allies, but always remember to rinse with cold water before drying!
In this series of ad hoc remedies you certainly cannot miss baking soda, the right arm of all household cleaning: pour it into a container filled with water and soak your precious objects for about ten minutes. With the help of a toothbrush with soft bristles scrub gently and finally rinse with warm water.
If we have not convinced you with these methods and you still fear ruining your family treasures, don't worry: the solutions are not over.
A soft cloth and away: perfect, shiny jewelry
For "everyday" cleaning that is gentler and faster than the previously listed remedies, there are soft cloths on the market designed specifically for gold. There are several types, one-layer for polishing and removing more superficial stains, two-layer for greater effectiveness, these tools will prove to be an excellent find for removing dirt and removing oxidation. They can be used daily, perhaps alternating occasionally with deeper cleansing methods. Also, it is always best to choose 100% cotton fabrics, which are easily recyclable and do little harm to the environment.
Gold coins and watches, are the most common patients for this kind of operation. It is necessary, however, not to be rushed and to act meticulously so as not to ruin the beautiful object. But there is a solution for everything. In the first case, clean each disc only with a soft cloth or with warm water and mild soap for best results. Be careful though: this procedure does not apply to antique coins! The patina that forms is precisely part of their value.
For gold watches the advice is the same: wiping with a dampened, not wet, cotton cloth will take only a few moves and you can mirror yourself in the polished dial.
Now that the treasures are clean: how to store them?
To conclude this brief guide in gold cleaning, we can only offer some helpful advice on how best to store your shiny treasures. Arranging them in the special drawers with which they are sold is always a good idea, but if you cannot find one, a nice soft cloth with which to wrap them will suffice, as always.
Never store your gold items in damp boxes and drawers, and finally, most important to remember: always store jewelry separately, preventing it from coming into contact with each other, so as not to cause scratches or tears.
