Here's how to clean gold plated jewelry the safe way: use a drop of mild dish soap, lukewarm water, and a soft cloth. Then rinse it quickly and dry it well. That's really all you need.
Toothpaste, baking soda, and vinegar can wear the gold away for good. Below, you'll find the easy steps, what to avoid, and how to tell if your piece needs a clean or has worn out.
What is gold plated jewelry?
Gold plated jewelry has a thin coat of real gold on top of a cheaper metal, like brass. Think of it like paint on a wall. It looks great, but scrub too hard and the paint comes off.
That coat is very thin. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (the agency that sets jewelry labeling rules) says jewelry sold as "gold electroplate" should have a gold layer of at least 0.175 microns. "Heavy gold electroplate" and vermeil (gold over sterling silver) need at least 2.5 micrometers.
A micron is one thousandth of a millimeter. So a normal gold layer is hundreds of times thinner than a single hair. That's why gentle cleaning matters so much.
What you'll need
You don't need a special cleaner. Just grab:
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A small bowl of lukewarm water (warm, not hot)
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Mild dish soap, ideally with no added scent or color
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A soft microfiber or cotton cloth
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A baby toothbrush or cotton swabs for small gaps
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A dry towel that won't leave lint behind
How to clean gold plated jewelry in 5 easy steps
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Mix. Add one or two drops of dish soap to the water.
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Wipe. Dip your cloth or baby toothbrush in the soapy water and gently wipe the piece. There's no need to press hard.
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Clean the small spots. Use a damp cotton swab on chain links, clasps, and the backs of settings. That's where lotion and skin oil like to hide.
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Rinse. Rinse quickly under clean, lukewarm water, or wipe with a cloth dipped in plain water.
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Dry. Pat it dry with a towel, then let it air dry for a few minutes before you put it away. Leftover water can cause dark spots later.
Should you soak it? Guides disagree. For everyday cleaning, we suggest skipping the soak. If a piece is really dirty and has no stones, pearls, or glued parts, a few minutes is plenty.
Is it dirty, tarnished, or worn out?
Look closely in good light before you clean. What you see tells you what will help.
If it looks dull, cloudy, or greasy, it's just dirty. A soap and water clean will fix it.
If dark spots wipe off with a soft cloth, it's buildup or light tarnish. Tarnish is the dark film some metals get over time, like the dull look on an old coin. Clean gently and dry well.
If dark spots stay after a gentle clean, the gold may be getting thin there. Don't scrub harder, because that only makes it worse.
If a different color metal peeks through, usually at edges, clasps, or earring posts, the gold has worn off. Cleaning can't bring it back.
Why does this happen? Pure gold barely changes in air, but most gold is mixed with other metals. For example, 16K gold is about 67% gold. Sweat, water, and chemicals can darken those other metals, especially once the gold layer wears thin.
What's safe and what's not
Advice online often disagrees, so here's a simple way to sort it.
Safe to use: mild dish soap, lukewarm water, a plain soft cloth, a soft baby toothbrush, and cotton swabs.
Use with care: a short soak, only for pieces without stones. Store bought jewelry cleaners are okay only if the label says they're safe for gold plated pieces. Many polishing cloths also contain a compound that removes a tiny layer of metal. That's fine for solid gold, but it rubs plating away, so a plain cloth is better.
Never use:
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Vinegar or lemon juice, because they're acidic
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Baking soda, because it's gritty and scratches
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Toothpaste, because it's made to scrub
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Silver polish or silver dip, because it strips metal
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Bleach, ammonia, alcohol, or hand sanitizer, because they're harsh chemicals
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Ultrasonic cleaners (machines that shake dirt loose with fast vibrations), because they can loosen thin gold and glued stones
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Paper towels or rough cloths, because they scratch
When you look up how to clean gold plated jewelry, you'll see some of these "hacks" recommended. They may work on solid gold or silver, but they're too rough for a thin gold coat.
Cleaning different types of jewelry
Necklaces and chains collect lotion and sweat in their links. Lay them flat on a towel, clean with a damp swab, and let them dry flat. If you wear a layered set, like one made with our necklace customizer, clean each chain on its own so they don't tangle.
Earrings touch your skin all day. Wipe the posts and backs with a damp swab, then dry them completely.
Pieces with stones or pearls need extra care, because many stones are held in with glue and water can loosen it. Don't soak them. Just wipe around the stones with a barely damp swab. Our Esther Earring, for example, has glass pearls and cubic zirconia, so it gets a gentle wipe, never a bath.
Rings and bracelets rub against things the most, so they wear faster. Take them off before washing your hands or working out.
How often should you clean it?
After every wear, give it a quick wipe with a dry, soft cloth. It takes about ten seconds and removes skin oil and sweat.
For pieces you wear every day, do the full soap and water clean every few weeks. Also clean right away after contact with sweat, sunscreen, perfume, pool water, or sea water.
How to keep it shiny longer
Put your jewelry on last and take it off first. Add lotion, perfume, and hairspray before you put it on, and take it off before bed.
Remove it before you shower, swim, sit in a hot tub, work out, or clean with household sprays. Chlorine, salt water, and sweat are all hard on jewelry.
Store each piece dry in its own small pouch or box section so pieces don't scratch each other. Skip the bathroom, since steam speeds up tarnish.
When cleaning won't fix it
If the gold has worn through, no cleaner will bring it back. A jeweler can add a fresh gold layer, called replating. That's worth it for a special piece. You can also keep wearing it if the worn spot is hidden, like the back of a pendant.
FAQs
Can I shower with gold plated jewelry?
It's best not to. Soap, hot water, and getting wet often all make the gold wear faster.
Can I use baking soda or vinegar?
No. Baking soda scratches and vinegar is acidic. Both can remove the thin gold layer.
Can I use a jewelry polishing cloth?
Use a plain microfiber cloth instead. Many polishing cloths rub off a tiny bit of metal, which wears plating away.
How long does gold plated jewelry last?
It depends on how thick the gold is, the metal underneath, and how often you wear it. Gentle cleaning and dry storage help it last much longer.
What are 86 York pieces made of?
Pieces like our Esther Earring are 16K genuine gold plated brass. Clean them with soap and water, and keep them away from anything that contains alcohol.
The bottom line
Now you know how to clean gold plated jewelry without hurting it: soap, lukewarm water, a soft cloth, and a good dry. Pick one piece you wear often and try it today. If you're shopping for something new, our gold plated earrings stay beautiful with this same easy care.
