The safest way to clean gold jewellery is also the simplest: warm water, a drop of mild washing-up liquid and a very soft brush. What changes from piece to piece is how gently you go, and that depends on what it is made of. Solid gold can take a thorough clean. Plated gold and silver need a lighter touch, because the colour is only a thin layer on the surface. Most of the pieces in our jewellery edit are plated or coated, so this guide covers every finish, not just solid gold.
Check the description or the care card before you start. The finishes in our edit vary from brand to brand: Talis Chains uses 18 carat gold plating on brass, 2.5 microns thick; Coluri uses 18k gold PVD over stainless steel; and some By Alona chains are gold-filled. Each needs slightly different handling, and the sections below explain why.
How to clean gold jewellery at home
This method suits every gold finish, from solid gold to plate.
1. Soak. Fill a small bowl with warm, not hot, water and add a drop of mild washing-up liquid. Leave the piece for five to ten minutes to loosen skin oils, make-up and dust.
2. Brush. Use a very soft toothbrush to work gently around links, clasps and settings, where grime collects.
3. Rinse. Hold the piece under clean, lukewarm water until no soap remains.
4. Dry. Pat it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth, then leave it to air dry completely before storing it. Trapped moisture is what dulls plating and tarnishes silver.
5. Buff. Finish with a plain soft cloth. Polishing cloths impregnated with cleaner are mildly abrasive, so keep those for solid gold and sterling silver.
Solid, plated, vermeil or PVD: why it matters
Solid gold is gold all the way through, usually stamped 375, 585 or 750 for 9, 14 or 18 carat. It can be cleaned as often as you like, and a jeweller can polish out scratches.
Gold vermeil is a thick layer of gold over sterling silver, and gold plating is a thinner layer over a base metal such as brass. Both are surface finishes, so never scrub them or use anything gritty. Plating wears gradually with time, fastest on rings and bracelets that rub against surfaces. Pieces from Talis Chains are a good example: thickly plated for everyday wear, and best kept away from water and perfume.
PVD is a coating bonded to the metal underneath, usually stainless steel, and it is harder wearing than standard plating. Coluri's chains are finished this way. Gold-filled jewellery has a much thicker layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure, so it can be cleaned much like solid gold, gently.
How to clean silver jewellery
Sterling silver darkens over time as it reacts with sulphur in the air. A silver polishing cloth removes light tarnish in a minute or two, and the soap-and-water method above lifts everyday grime. Silver-plated pieces need the same light touch as gold plate: soap, water and a plain cloth, with no polish or dips. Avoid chemical dips on anything with stones or a deliberately darkened finish, which they will strip.
What to avoid
Toothpaste, baking soda and salt are abrasive, so they scratch solid gold and can wear through plating altogether. Chlorine in pools, hot tubs and bleach damages gold alloys and plating alike, so take everything off first. Perfume, hairspray and body lotion leave a film that dulls the surface, which is why jewellery should go on last when you get ready. Ultrasonic cleaners are best avoided at home for plated pieces, pearls and most stones.
Pearls and stones need extra care
Pearls should never be soaked. Wipe them with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing and let them dry flat. Several of our gold-plated pieces include freshwater pearls, so clean the metal around them with a damp brush rather than in a bowl. Semi-precious stones such as jade and tiger's eye are best kept out of long soaks too: brush around the setting, rinse quickly and dry straight away. Orelia's jade and pearl pieces are a good example of where this matters.
How to store gold and silver jewellery
Store each piece separately, so metal never rubs against metal. A soft pouch or a lined box with compartments works, and many of our pieces come with a drawstring pouch for exactly this. Fasten chains before you put them away to stop them tangling, keep everything somewhere dry, and add an anti-tarnish strip to the box if you own a lot of silver.
Keeping it bright
A little and often is the whole secret. Wipe pieces with a soft cloth after wearing, give everyday jewellery a gentle wash once a month, and take anything with stones to a jeweller once a year to check the settings. Browse our necklaces and earrings for the pieces we have in now. We buy in small numbers and do not restock, so what is on the site is what we have.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to clean gold jewellery at home?
Soak it for five to ten minutes in warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid, brush gently with a very soft toothbrush, rinse, then pat dry with a lint-free cloth. The method is safe for solid gold and plated pieces alike.
Can you clean gold-plated jewellery?
Yes, gently. Use warm soapy water and a soft brush, rinse, and dry it thoroughly. Never use toothpaste, baking soda or impregnated polishing cloths, which can wear through the plating.
Can I use toothpaste to clean jewellery?
It is best avoided. Toothpaste is abrasive, so it leaves fine scratches on solid gold and silver and can remove plating altogether.
How do you make gold jewellery shine again?
Clean it with warm soapy water, dry it completely and buff it with a soft cloth. Solid gold can be professionally polished by a jeweller; plated pieces with worn patches can often be replated.
How do you clean tarnished silver jewellery?
A silver polishing cloth removes light tarnish on sterling silver. For silver-plated pieces, use only warm soapy water and a plain soft cloth, as polishes and dips can strip the plating.
Can you wear gold-plated jewellery in the shower?
It is better not to. Water, soap and shower products wear plating down faster, so take plated pieces off before showering, swimming or exercising.
