How to Clean and Care for Gold Filled Jewelry

Gold is one of the most precious metals on the planet. And while pure, solid gold can be expensive, other options are just as good for those looking to make a statement without spending a fortune. Gold-filled jewelry, for one, is an affordable alternative that doesn't compromise on quality. For gold-filled jewelry to last a lifetime, you must learn how to care for it properly. Although it is bonded to another metal, gold-filled jewelry carries more value than other options and, therefore, must be cleaned and stored for its longevity.

We are often asked what it takes to care for gold-filled jewelry properly. The good news is that it's relatively easy to clean, care for, and maintain your jewelry. We know gold filled jewelry is relatively durable and won't tarnish, but you still need to take care of it. Those pieces won't clean themselves! If you are careless with your jewelry and pretty hard on it, there is a chance it will suffer. This is why we want to discuss the best cleaning methods for gold-filled jewelry.

Lifestyle Choices That May Harm Gold-Filled Jewelry

Several factors will determine how often you should clean your jewelry:

• Environment - If you spend a lot of time in swimming pools or hot tubs, you may need to take additional steps to protect your jewelry. Even though gold-filled jewelry isn’t as likely to tarnish, chlorine and other pool chemicals can eventually break down even the highest quality gold-filled piece.
• Lifestyle - If you are into those sweaty workouts, exposing jewelry to salt and other body chemicals can be rough on it over time. We encourage you to remove any jewelry before working out, if possible.
• Body chemistry - We all have unique body chemistry, and believe it or not, this may affect your jewelry. Hormonal imbalances can cause the gold to react negatively with your skin, which is just something to be aware of and on the lookout for.
• Home care and body products you use - Sunscreen, shampoo, makeup, body lotion, and other products can be harsh on gold-filled jewelry (or any metal, really). There are so many different products out there today; it can be challenging to determine which will cause problems. When in doubt, remove any jewelry before applying products that aren't natural.

How Often Should I Clean My Jewelry?

We now know what some of the potential risk factors are for gold-filled jewelry, so it's time to get down to the fun part - cleaning and storing your jewelry. To keep your jewelry in the best shape, you must get in the habit of daily maintenance. There are a handful of simple actions you can take (don't worry, we aren't talking about a 20-minute cleaning sesh!) that will benefit your collection as time goes on. Taking a soft cloth and wiping down your pieces after each wear is a good practice that will maintain gold-filled jewelry.

Here are additional tips for a more thorough cleaning that should be done about once a month:

• Warm water and mild soap - Be sure you are using a mild soap like Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, or Palmolive Pure + Clean. Add a tiny squeeze to a bowl of warm water and let your pieces soak for about a minute.
• Use an old toothbrush - With an old toothbrush (no, not the one you used this morning), gently brush off your piece, taking extra care on the areas where dirt builds up.
• Rinse and repeat - Rinse the piece with warm water several times until all the soap and dirt have washed off.
• Dry completely - Using a soft polishing cloth, wipe off any excess water, and allow your jewelry to dry completely before wearing.

When you aren't wearing your gold-filled jewelry, we suggest storing it in an airtight container or small ziplock bag after it's been cleaned. Caring for your gold-filled jewelry doesn't have to be a chore -- a little goes a long way. The more often you clean your jewelry, the higher the likelihood it will look as good as the day you bought it. Be sure and check out London Manori's gold collection and let us know if we can help you find the perfect piece.