Coke has acidic properties that can effectively remove dirt and stubborn stains on gold.
This is a handy and maybe unexpected tip, but Coke does indeed clean gold. You can dip your gold in a small bowl of Coke and make sure that it is completely covered.
It's wise to be cautious when trying this on jewelry, as the acid in Coke can also strip paint and rust off metal if left long enough. Remove the jewelry and promptly rinse.
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.
For example, exposure to strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid, can dissolve gold and cause it to be destroyed. Similarly, exposure to strong bases, such as sodium hydroxide, can cause gold to corrode and become damaged. In addition to chemical reactions, gold can be damaged by physical forces.
Clean silver jewelry with Coke or a carbonated beverage.
The bubbles from the carbonation adhere to unwanted particles and remove them. Let your jewelry soak in a bowl of carbonated liquid for about ten minutes. Then, remove the jewelry, brush it with the toothbrush, rinse it, and lay it out to dry.
Chlorine can damage and discolor metals (like gold and platinum) and can slowly erode the finish and polish of gemstones. Before playing in the sand (or gardening.) Dirt and small rocks are abrasive. If not cleaned right away, your jewelry can be permanently damaged.
Although Windex shouldn't harm any hard gemstone, we seriously recommend using this method only for diamonds, and only for platinum, gold, and silver. Windex is an ammonia solution, and harmful to soft gemstones (for example, emeralds and pearls), so using it for anything else is just too big a risk of damage.
Depending on how dirty it is, let your gold jewelry sit in the small bowl for around 10 to 15 minutes submerged in the solution. This will give the vinegar jewelry cleaner enough time to work its magic and break up stubborn dirt and grime. Don't worry if you get distracted by something else.
Who would have thought that your favorite soda is also a great cleaning agent? Yes, that refreshing can of Coke that you like to drink by the pool can also clean coins. Coke's phosphoric acid can clean the oxides that cause tarnish and corrosion.
For a quick cleaning solution for gold and diamond jewelry, try a little isopropyl alcohol. You can fill a small container with some alcohol and drop your jewelry directly into the solution. Let it soak briefly and then remove the item. The nice thing about alcohol is that it will dry clear.
To clean old rusty tools with Coke, submerge the tools in a tub or bowl of Coca-Cola overnight (not sure if Diet Coke or Pepsi will work – best to stick with original Coke). If you can still see rust, leave them for a few more days.
(The average pH of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other colas is 3.4.) Carbonation combined with the acid can dissolve the metal oxides and remove tarnish from copper, brass and other metal alloys.
Acids, like the weak acid present in your can of Coke, can react with oxides to effectively reverse the process of tarnishing. The acid dissolves the metal oxides that make the tarnish, leaving only shiny metal behind.
Harsh chemicals like chlorine, acids, sulfur, and salt can damage or discolor gold,1 particularly items less than 24 karats. Chlorine can weaken your gold jewelry's structure and eventually lead to its breaking. Avoid exposing gold jewelry to hair sprays, make-up, medicated lotions, and creams.
Gold is one of the least reactive elements on the Periodic Table. It doesn't react with oxygen, so it never rusts or corrodes. Gold is unaffected by air, water, alkalis and all acids except aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid) which can dissolve gold.
The most useful and important vehicle for dissolving gold is aqua regia, (royal water), composed of two parts of hydrochloric (muriatic) acid, and one part of nitric (aquafortis).
The first step is to put and soak the jewelry in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. The high vibrancy of ultrasonic waves with a chemical cleaning solution dislodges the tiny dirt particles adhering to the metal or gemstones. The second step is polishing.