How To Clean Gold Over Sterling Silver

I know what it's like to fall in love with jewelry that's plated, and wanting to keep it looking good so you can wear it forever and ever. Cleaning gold plated jewelry, though, is a little different from cleaning solid sterling silver or solid gold. Because there's a different metal underneath all that gold (brass, in our case), you'll want to be a little more gentle.

Below I've assembled my top tips for cleaning gold plated jewelry and keeping it looking like new:

YOUR TOOL KIT:

A small bottle filled with a gentle, chemical-free liquid soap like Dawn or Dr. Bronner's
A soft-bristled toothbrush
A small towel (I prefer thin Turkish towels to thicker terry towels)
A microfiber lens cloth (like what you'd use for cleaning eye glasses)

OTHER SUPPLIES:

A small bowl or cup
Lukewarm water
Seltzer (optional)

WAIT, DOES YOUR JEWELRY HAVE STONES IN IT?

Pearls and opals are super delicate and can absorb liquids they come in contact with, so avoid submerging them in anything, even water. Clean around them, covering them with your finger if you can. Hard stones like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies can withstand tough cleaning, but chemicals and off-the-shelf jewelry cleaners can mess with other stones. I prefer to play it safe and avoid anything but water and gentle liquid soap for all other stones.

NOW ONTO THE CLEANING:

If your jewelry needs a slight buff, grab that microfiber lens cloth and give it a gentle, circular rub . That'll help get rid of most smudges and fingerprints. You can also use that soft-bristled toothbrush to brush away any dirt that has built up behind stones or on jump rings. Jewelry tends to get gunky where different parts rub together, and the toothbrush is perfect for getting into nooks and crannies.
If it needs a light clean, mix lukewarm water in a bowl with a squirt of the gentle dishwashing liquid, and use the soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub away the dirt. You can also use seltzer water for jewelry with stones in it, as the bubbles can help carry away dirt in the settings. Give it a final rinse with clean water and dry it completely with the towel. Leaving water sitting on the surface of your jewelry can lead to dark spots, and Turkish towels fit into tighter spaces well for drying. For extra points, leave the jewelry in a safe, warm place for 10 minutes to finish drying out; in the winter I'll put it near our stove fireplace, and in the summer I'll put it on a sunny spot on our table outside).
Stay away from both chemical cleaners AND polishing cloths. Chemical cleaners can react with the plating and corrode it, while polishing cloths can be too abrasive, and when rubbed too hard, can cause shiny spots in matte finishes or even wear through the plating.

AND HOW TO MAINTAIN IT:

Chemicals are not your friend, so take off your jewelry before swimming, showering, or washing your hands. There are chemicals lurking in pool water, your shower gels, and hand soaps that can turn plating funny colors or break down plating faster. Keep a jewelry dish by your sink so you don't lose rings when taking them off.
Oils and sweat can also lead to faster tarnishing, so take off your jewelry before hitting the gym, and put your jewelry on a few minutes after applying lotion or perfume. I like packing a small cloth bag in my gym bag so my jewelry stays safe and won't get lost. I will also put my jewelry on last, especially if it has pearls or opals in it (which are notoriously delicate).
Hang necklaces to prevent tangling. Find a necklace stand you'd be excited to display vs. something you'll want to hide behind a cabinet door. If you can't see your jewelry you'll forget you have it, and your jewelry is begging to be worn!
Stash jewelry in dust bags when you can, especially when you travel. It prevents pieces from scuffing each other or scratching off the plating.
Give your jewelry stash an occasional dusting with your microfiber lens cloth. It'll keep dust away, especially if it's a piece you don't wear often.

I hope these tips help keep your favorite pieces looking better for even longer. Are there any other cleaning tips you'd swear by? Leave them in the comments!