3 Ways To Clean Gold With Baking Soda - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Clean Gold with Baking Soda Co-authored by Nicole Wegman

Last Updated: February 18, 2026

  • Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
    • |
  • Trying Baking Soda and Dish Soap
    • |
  • Using Baking Soda and Boiling Water
    • |
  • FAQ
    • |
  • Video
|Show more |Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Nicole Wegman. Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University. This article has been viewed 147,028 times.

Baking soda is a natural and environmentally friendly way to clean your gold. You can use a baking soda-vinegar or a baking soda-dish soap solution to clean your gold pieces. You can also use baking soda and boiling water to clean your gold. Simply line a glass bowl with tin foil, then add your gold and baking soda. Pour boiling water into the boil and let it sit 3–5 minutes before rinsing and drying off your gold. If your gold contains pearls, avoid cleaning it with baking soda.

Cleaning Gold Jewelry with Baking Soda & Hot Water

  1. Line a glass bowl with aluminum foil and place your gold inside it.
  2. Cover the gold with baking soda.
  3. Pour boiling water over the gold and let it soak for 3–5 minutes.
  4. Rinse and dry the gold completely.

For popular FAQs on cleaning gold, jump to more common questions.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

  1. Step 1 Mix three parts baking soda to one part water. 1 Mix three parts baking soda to one part water. Mix the ingredients together until a thick paste forms. The paste should have a toothpaste-like consistency.
  2. Step 2 Apply the paste with a cotton swab. 2 Apply the paste with a cotton swab. You can also use a sponge to apply the paste. Cover the entire piece of gold with the paste. Then place the piece of gold in a small plastic cup or container. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Pour vinegar over the gold. 3 Pour vinegar over the gold. Use distilled white vinegar. The gold should be completely submerged in the vinegar. Let the gold set in the vinegar for five minutes.
  4. Step 4 Rinse and dry the gold. 4 Rinse and dry the gold. Place the gold under warm running water. Rinse the gold thoroughly until the baking soda-vinegar solution is removed. Use a soft cloth to dry your pieces of gold.
    • If the gold is still dirty, then repeat steps one through four, or use a different method. Also, try to avoid scrubbing the gold with a toothbrush to clean it; you may accidentally scratch it by scrubbing it with baking soda and a toothbrush.
    • Do not use this method for pieces of gold that contain pearls and gemstones. The combination of baking soda and vinegar may damage them.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Trying Baking Soda and Dish Soap

  1. Step 1 Combine warm water, dish soap, and baking soda in a bowl. 1 Combine warm water, dish soap, and baking soda in a bowl. Use one cup (236.6 ml) of water, a teaspoon (4.93 ml) of dish soap and a teaspoon of baking soda. Mix the ingredients together until they are well-combined and the baking soda is dissolved.[1]
    • If this does not make enough solution, then just double or triple the recipe.
  2. Step 2 Place the gold in the solution. 2 Place the gold in the solution. Make sure the gold is fully submerged in the solution. Let the gold set in the solution for 20 to 30 minutes.[2]
  3. Step 3 Gently scrub the gold. 3 Gently scrub the gold. Use a new (or unused) soft bristled toothbrush to do this. Scrub the gold with the toothbrush until all of the built-up dirt and grime are removed.[3]
    • Only scrub the gold if the solution did not remove the built-up dirt and grime.
    • Avoid scrubbing your gold too hard; you may scratch the gold by scrubbing it too hard.
  4. Step 4 Rinse and dry the gold. 4 Rinse and dry the gold. Place your gold under warm running water. Rinse the gold thoroughly until all of the solution is removed. Use a soft cloth to dry the gold thoroughly until all the water is removed.[4]
    • This method is safe to use on gold pieces that contain diamonds.
    • This method is not safe for gold that contains pearls.
    5. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Using Baking Soda and Boiling Water

  1. Step 1 Line a glass bowl with aluminum foil. 1 Line a glass bowl with aluminum foil. Make sure the shiny side is facing up. If you have more than two pieces of gold, then line a flat surface, like a glass pan or a cookie sheet, with foil. This way you can ensure that each piece of gold is touching the foil.
  2. Step 2 Cover the gold with baking soda. 2 Cover the gold with baking soda. Place the gold in the bowl (or pan), making sure each piece of gold is touching the foil. Sprinkle an adequate amount of baking soda onto the gold pieces until they are completely covered. You should not be able to see the gold pieces.
  3. Step 3 Pour boiling water over the gold. 3 Pour boiling water over the gold. Heat one to two cups (240 to 480 ml) of water in the microwave for one to two minutes, or until it is boiling. Then pour the boiling water over the gold until it is completely submerged. Let the jewelry soak for three to five minutes.
    • Alternatively, you can use your stove to heat the water (about eight to ten minutes on a high heat setting).
  4. Step 4 Rinse and dry. 4 Rinse and dry. After your gold has finished soaking, use tongs to remove the gold from the water. Rinse the gold thoroughly under cold running water. Then dry it with a soft cloth until all the water is removed from the gold.
    • Do not use this method if your gold contains glued on crystals or pearls. The boiling water can unglue the crystals and damage the pearls.
    • This method is safe for gold that contains gemstones, unless the gemstones are glued on.
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Common Questions: Cleaning Gold Safely

How do you clean tarnish off gold?

Clean the gold with baking soda and boiling water first. Then, after it cools slightly, scrub the gold with a soft brush and a squirt of dish soap (optional) under running water to remove the last traces of tarnish and restore the shine to your gold.[5]

Does hydrogen peroxide clean gold?

Yes, but it’s important to dilute the peroxide first so it doesn’t damage your jewelry. Try a mixture of a bowl of warm water, a few drops of dish soap, and 1 tbsp (15 mL) of peroxide. Soak your gold for 15–20 minutes, then brush lightly and rinse.[6]

Can baking soda scratch gold?

Baking soda is abrasive, so there is a slight risk it could scratch soft golds and other fine or delicate pieces of jewelry. While it’s typically fine to use in a cleaning mixture, avoid scrubbing jewelry or gold harshly with dry baking soda.

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References

  1. ↑ http://cleanmyspace.com/clean-your-diamond-ring/
  2. ↑ http://cleanmyspace.com/clean-your-diamond-ring/
  3. ↑ http://cleanmyspace.com/clean-your-diamond-ring/
  4. ↑ http://cleanmyspace.com/clean-your-diamond-ring/
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/VfiR5h5GnmI?t=67
  6. ↑ https://bostonianjewelers.com/blogs/news/the-right-way-to-clean-gold-jewelry

About This Article

Nicole Wegman Co-authored by: Nicole Wegman Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge This article was co-authored by Nicole Wegman. Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University. This article has been viewed 147,028 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 18, 2026 Views: 147,028 Categories: Cleaning Metals Article SummaryX

If your gold jewelry doesn't have pearls or gemstones, you can safely clean it with vinegar and baking soda. To make a simple cleaning paste, first, mix together 3 parts baking soda and one part water. Use a cotton swab or sponge to apply the paste to the jewelry. Once it's coated, soak the jewelry in a cup of vinegar for 5 minutes. Then, rinse it under warm running water, which should remove any dirt or grime. If it's not totally clean, you can repeat this process again. After rinsing it, dry the jewelry with a soft cloth to prevent scratches. To learn how to clean your gold with dish soap, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • D. H. Bell

    D. H. Bell

    May 20, 2019

    "I have long-stored inherited jewelry which just seems darker. I'm hoping the baking soda method will work to..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Nicole Wegman Co-authored by: Nicole Wegman Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 18, 2026 Views: 147,028 D. H. Bell

D. H. Bell

May 20, 2019

"I have long-stored inherited jewelry which just seems darker. I'm hoping the baking soda method will work to..." more Share yours!

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