How to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home (Safe Methods)
Gold gets dull from oils and lotion. Learn the Dawn dish soap method and why you should be careful with ultrasonic cleaners.
Our team of certified gemologists and jewelry experts provides in-depth analysis to help you make informed purchasing decisions.
How to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home (Safe Methods)
Gold is a noble metal. It doesn't tarnish in the same way silver does.
However, gold gets dull. Hand lotion, soaps, dead skin, and grease build up behind the settings and diamonds, blocking light. When your diamond looks cloudy, it's usually just dirty.
The Dish Soap Method (The Gold Standard)
This is the method recommended by jewelers for 99% of gold jewelry (14k, 18k, Rose, Yellow, or White).
What You Need:
- Warm water (Not boiling).
- Blue Dawn dish soap (It is the best degreaser).
- A soft bristle baby toothbrush.
The Process:
- Soak: Mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap in a bowl. Let the jewelry soak for 15-20 minutes. This loosens the hardened grime.
- Scrub: Take the toothbrush and gently scrub behind the stone and in the crevices of the setting.
- Rinse: Rinse under warm running water (plug the drain first!).
- Dry: Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
Ultrasonic Cleaners: Are They Safe?
Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to vibrate dirt out of tiny gaps. They are effective, but dangerous for specific stones.
- SAFE: Solid Gold chains without gems, Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies.
- UNSAFE: Emeralds (almost always treated with oil—the machine shakes the oil out), Opals, Pearls, Tanzanite, or any stone with significant fractures. The vibration can crack them.
If you own an ultrasonic cleaner, use it only for your engagement ring and gold bands.
Special Care: White Gold vs Yellow Gold
- Yellow Gold / Rose Gold: These are solid alloys. You can polish them moderately without issue.
- White Gold: White gold is actually yellow gold dipped in Rhodium to make it bright white.
- NEVER use abrasive polishes, toothpaste, or stiff brushes on White Gold. You will scrub the Rhodium plating off, leaving yellowish patches.
- If your white gold ring looks yellow, cleaning won't fix it. You need to take it to a jeweler for "re-dipping" (Rhodium plating), which costs $40-$80.
Professional Steam Cleaning
Jewelers use a high-pressure steam jet to blast dirt out. It is more powerful than anything you can do at home.
Most local jewelers will steam clean your ring for free. Do this once every 6 months. It serves a dual purpose: while they clean it, they will check for loose prongs.
Recommended Products
Maintain the brilliance of your jewelry and add to your collection with these favorites:
- Connoisseurs Diamond Dazzle Cloth: Perfect for polishing gold, silver, and platinum without scratching.
- Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner: Restores shine to intricate jewelry pieces in minutes.
- Ana Luisa Kiara Teardrop Earrings: Hypoallergenic, water-resistant, tarnish-free chunky gold teardrop earrings. A viral dupe that looks like solid gold luxury.
About this guide
Written by the TheCaratCut Editorial Team. Our recommendations follow our editorial policy, and we may earn commissions through affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.