How to clean gold

Gold jewellery can usually be cleaned safely at home using nothing more than warm water, a mild soap and a soft brush. The method is simple, but a few small mistakes, like using the wrong cleaning product or being too rough with delicate pieces, can do more harm than good. Here's how to do it properly, along with what to avoid and when it's worth getting professional help instead.

How to clean solid gold jewellery at home

This gentle method works well for most solid gold pieces, including rings, chains and bracelets without delicate stones:

1. Fill a small bowl with warm, not hot, water and add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid
2. Leave the piece to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, which helps loosen any dirt, oil or grease
3. Gently brush the surface with a soft-bristled brush, such as a clean, soft toothbrush, paying close attention to any grooves or detailed areas
4. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water to remove any soap residue
5. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth and leave the piece to air dry fully before storing or wearing it again

This method is gentle enough for regular use and doesn't require anything beyond what most people already have at home.

Does this work for white gold, gold plated, vermeil or gold filled too?

Not quite in every case. Solid gold and gold filled pieces can generally be cleaned the same way, since both have a thick, durable gold layer that can handle gentle soaking and brushing.

Gold plated and vermeil pieces need a bit more care, since the gold layer sitting on the surface is much thinner. With these:

• Avoid long soaking times, since prolonged contact with water can wear at the coating over time
• Skip the brush altogether and use a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth instead
• Wipe gently rather than scrubbing, even if the piece looks dull

White gold is usually finished with a rhodium-plated layer, and that layer can also wear thin with frequent or rough cleaning. If a white gold piece looks duller or slightly yellow despite being clean, this is often down to worn rhodium rather than dirt, and cleaning alone won't restore the original shine.

What to avoid when cleaning gold

A few common habits can cause more damage than they fix, even with good intentions:

• Chlorine bleach and harsh household cleaners, which can weaken metal and damage certain gold alloys over time
• Toothpaste, despite being a popular home remedy, since most toothpaste is mildly abrasive and can leave fine scratches with repeated use
• Rough cloths, paper towels or abrasive sponges, which can scratch softer metals and worn plating
• Ultrasonic cleaners, particularly on plated, vermeil or gemstone-set pieces, since the vibrations can loosen settings or wear thin coatings faster
• Soaking pieces with delicate or porous gemstones, such as pearls, opals or emeralds, which can be damaged or discoloured by prolonged exposure to water and soap

If you're ever unsure whether a cleaning product is safe for a particular piece, it's generally safer to do less rather than more.

When to leave it to a professional

Some pieces are best left to a jeweller rather than cleaned at home. This includes antique or sentimental items, pieces with loose or fragile stone settings, anything with a weak or worn clasp, and jewellery you simply aren't sure how to clean safely. A professional can assess the piece properly and use methods suited to its specific materials and condition.

Do you need to clean gold before selling it?

Not at all. If you're going through old jewellery with selling in mind, there's no need to give it a clean beforehand. Our specialists assess every item based on its actual gold content, including weight and purity, rather than how shiny or polished it looks on arrival.

This applies whether a piece is tarnished, dusty or has clearly been sitting in a drawer for years. Surface condition simply isn't part of how the underlying value is worked out.

How the process works if you do decide to sell

With over 33,000 Trustpilot reviews, we aim to keep the process clear and straightforward from start to finish. If you'd like to understand more about how items are assessed once they arrive with us, our How It Works page covers the full process in more detail.

So if you've got gold jewellery sitting unworn because it's lost its shine, a quick clean at home might bring it back to life, or you might decide it's simply time to find out what it's worth. Either way, there's no need to polish anything before sending it in.