How to Polish Gold

Co-authored by Kennon Young

Last Updated: June 25, 2021 References

Gold is a beautiful, but soft precious metal that requires gentle use. You should only polish gold once or twice a year. Polishing gold too much can cause damage. But, with special care and effort, you can have your gold shining like new.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Doing a Routine Polishing

1
Soak the gold in water, baking soda, and dish soap. Fill a bowl with water. Add a small amount of baking soda and a mild dish soap. Submerge the gold into the mixture. Allow it to soak for a few minutes.^{[1]
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2
Scrub the gold with a soft-bristled toothbrush. A new, baby-sized soft-bristle toothbrush is ideal to use. Gently scrub the gold with the toothbrush. You do not need to apply that much pressure while scrubbing. Make sure that you get into the crevices of the gold if there are any.^{[2]
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3
Rinse off the gold. Once you have used the toothbrush, run the gold under warm water. Make sure that you rinse off all of the baking soda mixture. Inspect the gold to see if you are happy with the outcome.^{[3]
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4
Dry the gold with a cloth. Use a soft cloth to dry off the gold. Avoid using products such as paper towels to dry it off because they can scratch the gold. You can also allow it to air dry.^{[4]
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5
Use a jeweler's cloth to finish up the polishing process. Gently wipe off the surface of the ring. Wipe off any remaining debris. If there isn't any debris or dust left, go over the ring a few times to further brighten the gold.^{[5]
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- You can purchase a jeweler's cloth online, at a jewelry store, or at some supermarkets, like Walmart.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Scratches from Gold

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Clean the gold with dish soap and water. Begin by cleaning the gold. Put a gentle dish soap and water onto a soft, clean dishcloth. Gently rub the surface of the gold. Then, rinse off the gold with water and allow it to air dry.^{[6]
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2
Combine water and ammonia. Pour one-part ammonia and six-parts water into a bowl. Ammonia can be purchased anywhere cleaning products are available, like Walmart. Make sure to wear gloves and be fully clothed when handling ammonia.^{[7]
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3
Soak the gold in the mixture. Put the ring into the mixture. Allow it to soak for up to one minute. Do not leave the gold in the mixture for longer than a minute.^{[8]
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4
Use a tissue to dry off the gold. Take the gold out of the ammonia mixture after one minute. Inspect the gold to see if the scratches have been mostly removed. Dry the gold with a tissue or let it air dry. Repeat the process if necessary.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Protecting Gold

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Avoid wearing gold during strenuous activity. Do not wear gold jewelry when you will be taking part in an activity that causes you to sweat. Sweat is acidic, and it can damage gold. If taking off the gold during activity isn't possible, make sure to wipe it off as soon as possible with a soft cloth.
2
Don't use lotion while wearing gold. Certain cosmetic items can cause damage to gold, like lotion. Other items that could cause damage are hairspray and perfume. You can use these items while wearing gold, but make sure that the two materials don't make contact.^{[10]
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3
Be mindful of your movement. You don't have to stay still at all times when wearing gold, but it helps to be mindful of what you're doing. Try to avoid bumping into things and hitting the gold up against other objects. Being careful will prevent scratches and damage to the surface fo the gold.^{[11]
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4
Wear delicate gold less often. It is tempting to show off your beautiful gold as much as possible, but try to limit its use. Avoid wearing expensive and less durable gold on a daily basis. Try to save the gold for special occasions. Wearing it less often will prolong its lifespan.^{[12]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Can you polish scratches out of gold?

Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.

Kennon Young

Master Gemologist Appraiser

Expert Answer

If you're visually seeing scratches, you really need to have the jewelry professionally buffed. Even the deepest scratches can be removed with laser welders these days. They literally fill in the scratches, and the piece can then be sanded and polished so you'll never notice it.
Question

How do you remove tarnish from gold?

Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.

Kennon Young

Master Gemologist Appraiser

Expert Answer

Gold will only tarnish after 50-60 years. If you have gold that's old enough to be tarnished, removing the tarnish will most likely devalue the gold as the tarnish is showing its antiquity, so don't detarnish gold.

Warnings

Do not use an abrasive when polishing your goal. You may scratch it.^{[15]
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Do not use soap (unless it's a mild dish soap), or chlorine on gold.^{[16]
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