Toothpaste is abrasive and has a hardness of around 3/4 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Metals such as gold and silver are softer, so toothpaste can actually scratch damage your gold and silver jewellery. Not to mention, the chemicals in the flavour oils used in toothpaste are corrosive to metal.
Never use toothpaste, baking soda, or a commercial metal cleaner on gold. If you use these abrasives, you may scratch the gold.
Avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, as they can strip away the gold plating. This includes using toothpaste or baking soda, which can be too abrasive for delicate gold-plated surfaces.
Avoid using products like toothpaste or chlorine to clean your white gold with, as they can permanently damage and discolour jewellery.
The short answer is no. Toothpaste is not a good option for cleaning your ring. Toothpaste contains scrubbing particles to polish your teeth, but these particles are often harder than the metals in your ring, especially gold or white gold. Using toothpaste on your jewelry could cause scratches or pitting in the metal.
It's a common myth that toothpaste can be used to clean jewelry. However, toothpaste can easily damage your diamond ring and gemstones. Diamond might be hard and strong, but this doesn't mean it has to be cleaned using toothpaste. The chemicals in the flavor used to make toothpaste are corrosive to metals.
Dish soap
Pour about 3 drops of a mild dish soap into a bowl of warm water (you could also follow the rule of 1 drop per half glass of warm water). Stir to mix and then, place the gold jewellery in the solution for about 5-7 minutes depending on how tarnished it is.
It's possible to leave teeth marks in objects containing pure gold, silver, or copper because they are all soft metals. The biting method was utilized to verify if gold coins and other gold objects were genuine or forgeries.
Gold plating is sensitive to water, so avoid wearing your gold-plated jewelry when you're showering or even washing your hands! As chlorinated and salt water can damage and discolor gold, it would be a good idea to take off your gold-plated jewelry before you head to the pool, sauna, or hot tub for a refreshing dip.
Here are a few stamps or markings that you may see on your jewelry: A Number Followed by a K: If you see a 14K, 18K, or 24K on the inside of your ring or on the clasp of your jewelry and no other markings, chances are your jewelry is solid gold. GP: This stands for Gold Plating.
Assuming your ring is either just platinum, gold or silver and ONLY has diamonds, you can use Windex to clean it.
Baking soda is abrasive, which is why it's great for cleaning sinks and toilets, but that abrasive quality can scratch gemstones and precious metals. So steer clear when it comes to cleaning jewelry.
Use a Lubricant
Yes Windex! The surfactants help to reduce the surface tension between the ring and the skin, making the ring easier to maneuver off of the finger.
Diamonds are loved because of their shiny structure. The truth is, they shine even with dirt on them. Yet, they still become duller with daily grime. Jewelers use ultrasonic cleaners with high-frequency sound waves and chemicals to professionally remove dirt off of diamonds.
You should avoid harsh chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, bleach and acetone, as these can break down the base metal in your ring and compromise the structure.
Vinegar is incredibly corrosive. So, if your gold jewelry is made of a different metal or alloy, the vinegar will cause it to tarnish. Gold is a non-reactive metal, so it will not react to vinegar.
Never use a firm toothbrush, baking soda, or other abrasives on gold. They will scratch. If the above method does not improve the shine and luster of your gold jewelry, it will likely need to be cleaned professionally. If it is gold plated, and the plating was removed, it may need to be reapplied.
Gently drop your gold item into the water. Real gold is a heavy metal and will not float, so if your gold item floats you know it is not real gold. Also, if you notice rust or tarnishing on the item after being in water, this is also a sign it is not real gold since gold doesn't rust or tarnish.