Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world, but it can get as dirty as the rest of them. Not all that glitters may be gold, but we definitely want our gold to glitter. If your piece of jewelry has decided to dull, use these hacks to get back the shine.
Soap and Water
Sounds basic, right? That’s because it is. Combine 1 cup of warm water and 1 cup of soap in a bowl and allow the gold jewelry to soak in the solution for 10-15 minutes. Using a toothbrush, polish the jewelry in a circular motion. Rinse off the soap using hot water and dry with a soft tissue. Once the jewelry has air-dried, restore the shine by rubbing with a dry cloth.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar is not just for salad—it’s an incredibly powerful cleaning agent that is excellent for lightening gold that has gone black. Add 3 teaspoons of baking soda for every 2 teaspoons of water and stir until you create a thick paste. Coat the jewelry with the paste and submerge it in a plastic container filled with white vinegar for 10 minutes. When done, wash the jewelry with warm water and dry with a tissue.
Lemon and Salt
Next time you’re doing tequila shots, keep some lemon and salt aside as this combo is great for cleaning grease off gold. Mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice with enough salt to form a paste. Using a cloth, rub some of the paste onto the jewelry and buff for 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water to remove any residue and dry well.