How to Clean Rose Gold

Co-authored by Edward Lewand

Last Updated: September 26, 2023 References

Rose gold gets its pink color from its partial copper content. Generally, it can be cleaned like other gold jewelry, but it's important to take precautions to preserve its color, especially if it’s antique. Over time, because of the copper, rose gold develops a deeper color that actually makes it more valuable. Because of this, you don’t want to remove that color with a harsh chemical cleaner or ultrasonic machine. For items like rings or bracelets that can be submersed in liquid, stick with soap and water or a quick vinegar rinse, and for non-submersibles like watches, opt for a specially-formulated commercial cleaner.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing with Soap and Water

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Mild soap and water can be used to clean most any rose gold items. It's safe for use on stones and various types of metals. It can be tricky to rinse off completely, however, so avoid using it on items like watches that you cannot get really wet to rinse thoroughly. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser

Expert Interview. 6 August 2019.}
2
Line a clean dishpan or shallow bowl with a clean hand towel. The point of the towel is protect your jewelry by giving it something to sit on while it soaks. If you skip this step, the jewelry might roll around in the bottom of the pan and get scratched. ^{[2]
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- Any clean towel is fine as long as it covers the bottom of the bowl and still leaves enough room for you to add enough soapy water to cover the jewelry.
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The water should be warm, but not too hot so that it’s uncomfortable for you to put your hands in. After you add the dish soap, just swish the water around with your hands to mix it up. ^{[3]
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Tip : Any type of dish soap will work in most cases, but if your jewelry has organic, porous stones like pearls or opals, you should skip the soap altogether and use only warm water.
Carefully put your jewelry into the bowl and onto the hand towel. If you are cleaning a lot of jewelry, spread it out evenly so that none of it is stacked on top of each other. ^{[4]
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5
Soak the jewelry in the soapy water for at least 2 minutes. Leave the jewelry in the water without touching it for a couple minutes. Most of the oils from your skin that were dulling your jewelry can be broken down after just a few minutes of soaking. ^{[5]
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- If the jewelry is particularly dirty, you can leave it soaking for a few more minutes.
6
Remove the jewelry from the soapy water and rub it clean. Unless your jewelry is very dirty, you can rub it clean using just your fingers. Carefully take the jewelry out and rub it between your thumb and forefinger, buffing away any lingering dirt or oils. ^{[6]
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Expert Source

Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser

Expert Interview. 6 August 2019.}
- If the jewelry is very soiled, you can use a very soft brush to clean it. Opt for a very soft toothbrush or a makeup brush to prevent scratching the surface of the gold. ^{[7]
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You only need to use a bowl big enough to hold the jewelry you are washing. If you are just washing one piece, you can use a coffee mug or small glass. ^{[8]
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8
Swish the jewelry around in the water to remove the cleaning solution. Using clean hands, move the water and the jewelry around in the bowl to get all the soap or cleaning solution off of it. Keep doing that until it no longer feels slimy or filmy. ^{[9]
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- Swishing the water is especially necessary if you are cleaning jewelry with small crevices, filigrees, or stone settings. Rushing the clean water over the jewelry will help to get into those small areas.
Use a really soft cloth, like those used for cleaning eyeglasses, to dry all the water from the jewelry. Regular cotton towels or paper towels are too abrasive and can scratch the surface of the gold, creating a dull finish. ^{[10]
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Expert Source

Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser

Expert Interview. 6 August 2019.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning with Vinegar and Salt

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If your jewelry has pearls, opals, sapphires, rubies, or other porous stones, you want to steer clear of a harsh and corrosive cleaner like vinegar. Diamonds, morganite, or jewelry without stones are fine to subject to quick cleaning with vinegar. ^{[11]
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Add a few ounces of vinegar to small jar. Choose a baby food jar or other small jar with a lid. Pour white distilled vinegar into the jar until it is about ⅔ full. Don't worry about exact measurements—just put enough in the jar to completely cover the item that you want to clean. ^{[12]
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- You only want to use white vinegar. Don’t substitute another vinegar that you have in the pantry. ^{[13]
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3
Mix in table salt until it no longer dissolves. Add table salt, 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) at a time. Shake or stir the salt into the vinegar and then look at the bottom of the jar. If all the salt dissolved and there is nothing in the bottom, add more salt and mix again. Keep doing that until you notice that the salt is no longer dissolving. ^{[14]
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- Mixing salt and vinegar creates a chemical reaction that removes tarnish and causes the rose gold to shine. ^{[15]
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4
Dunk your jewelry in the vinegar and salt solution for up to 1 minute. The vinegar and salt solution is highly acidic and corrosive, so don’t leave it soaking very long. For a quick clean on a piece that is not very soiled, just dunk it for a few seconds. ^{[16]
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- The chemical reaction works very quickly. If you leave the jewelry in for longer than a minute, the solution will began to degrade the copper in the rose gold and cause it to tarnish.
The solution is acidic and can affect the quality of your gold if you leave it on for too long. After just a few seconds of soaking, rinse the gold well, making sure to remove all traces of the solution. Then, wipe dry with a lint-free cloth.
Close the jar and keep it somewhere accessible. Then, any time you notice your jewelry is a little dull or dingy, just pop it in there for a few seconds. You can reuse the same solution for several months. ^{[17]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Commercial Cleaners

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Don't use soap or a vinegar solution to clean watches or other rose gold items that cannot be submersed in water because it will be difficult to wash away those cleaners. Ask a jeweler or shop around online for a jewelry cleaner marked safe for rose gold.
If you are trying to clean a watch or other rose gold item that you cannot soak in a liquid cleaner, first make a work area that will protect the surface of the item. Lay a microfiber or lint-free cloth down on the table or counter before you begin.
Be sure to read the directions well before you begin to avoid damaging item. Commonly, the cleaner is applied with a cotton swab and left to soak for a minutes before being rubbed away.
Crevices in a watchband, filigrees, or other engravings can hold oils and dirt that are difficult to reach. To get into those hard-to-reach spaces, use a very soft-bristled brush like a make-up brush or a baby toothbrush.
To rinse, begin by running a lint-free cloth under lukewarm water. Then, wring it out well until you get most of the moisture out and it is no longer dripping. Rub the lightly dampened cloth over the surface of the item you are cleaning until you are confident there is no cleaner left behind.
Run a lint-free cloth like those used for eyeglasses over the item until all the water has been dried up. Make sure you remove any moisture to prevent water spots or a dull finish.

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Tips

Over time, rose gold gains a greenish patina that actually increases its value. To avoid diminishing the value of antique jewelry by inadvertently removing the patina, have it professionally cleaned or stick with water-only cleaning methods. ^{[18]
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Wipe down your rose gold items with a dry, lint-free cloth often to avoid having to do major cleanings. You should only have to clean a piece every couple of months if you wipe away daily oil and dirt build-up as it occurs. ^{[19]
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Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser

Expert Interview. 6 August 2019.}

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Warnings

You shouldn’t use ultrasonic cleaners or harsh chemicals when cleaning rose gold because they can ruin the finish and decrease the jewelry’s value. ^{[20]
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Cleaning organic and porous stones like pearls or opals with anything besides water or a very mild dish soap can break down the stone over time and cause expensive damage.

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Expert Source

Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser

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How to Clean Rose Gold

Steps

Washing with Soap and Water

Cleaning with Vinegar and Salt

Using Commercial Cleaners

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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