How to Remove Rust from Jewelry

When investing in an expensive piece of jewelry, it’s important that you understand what happens to the metal over time so that you can care for it properly. Pure gold is one of the best materials to use, in terms of keeping its color, because it will never rust or tarnish. However, it’s very difficult to create pieces made from pure gold because it’s far too malleable to keep its shape and protect itself from dings and nicks.

Pure gold is often mixed with metal alloys to make it easier to work with and more durable. But, many types of gold chains and other jewelry can then rust for a number of reasons, so we’ve got the deets on how to get rid of that annoying rust.

Why Does Jewelry Rust?

Pure gold and silver should never rust. However, both gold and silver jewelry can tarnish—and probably will over time, which is why it’s important to know how and when to clean your pieces. In theory, gold jewelry should never rust if it’s pure, but, as we know, gold jewelry is almost always mixed with another metal to make a stronger piece of jewelry.

Gold doesn’t rust because the metal does not react with oxygen. However, if you’re investing in a plated gold chain for men, then there is a chance that your jewelry will begin to rust or tarnish over time.

No worries, my dudes. It’s pretty normal for gold-plated jewelry to wear down over time, which is why it’s cheaper than its solid gold counterparts. The gold plating can begin to chip off, revealing the metal underneath, which is susceptible to rusting, or the metal underneath may react with the environment even though the gold is covering it. Cleaning and maintaining your jewelry properly will help you avoid these issues.

How to Remove Rust from Jewelry

• Baking Soda and Salt

If you do notice some of your pieces starting to change colors and you’re wondering how to remove rust from jewelry, there are a few good ways of going about it. Baking soda and salt can easily scrub off some of that rust without damaging the metal of the chain. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cover the inside of a bowl with aluminum foil, making sure that the shiny side of the foil is facing up.
2. Then, warm up one cup of water (make sure that it isn’t boiling, though) and pour it into the bowl. Stir in one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of salt.
3. Add your jewelry to the bowl. Each piece of jewelry should be touching the aluminum foil as it soaks.
4. Let it sit for five to 10 minutes, depending on how rusty the piece was, and then use cold water to rinse it off.

• Vinegar

Vinegar is another great household item that can easily be used to get rid of rust, but it isn’t able to help with tarnishing. You must use another cleaning method for that problem. Vinegar can potentially damage certain gemstones and precious metals, so be sure to do your research before using this method. Here are the four easy steps:

1. Pour one cup of vinegar into a bowl (use more if you have a large collection of jewelry to clean).
2. Add your gold bracelets and chains to the mix.
3. Allow this to sit for anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how rusty the pieces are and what materials they’re made from. If you’re unsure how long your pieces need, simply check on your jewelry to see if the rust is beginning to come off.
4. Rinse with gold water and dry off with a soft cloth.

• Dish Soap

One of the most popular methods for cleaning jewelry and removing rust, using dish soap is easy and readily available. Here’s what to do:

1. Pour one cup of warm water into a bowl and add two drops of dish soap, preferably unscented.
2. Add your jewelry to the water and scrub with your fingers or a soft toothbrush to get hard to reach places.
3. Rinse the soap off your jewelry in another bowl of warm water. Then use a soft cloth to dry.

Keeping Your Chains Safe

After dropping a bunch of dough on a few dope gold chains, the last thing that you want is to find some rust creeping its way on to your jewelry. Taking care of your collection by storing it safely, cleaning it regularly, and scheduling a once-a-year professional cleaning can help your gold chains to last much longer. Here at Frost NYC, we want to make you feel like the king you are, so we’ve got a huge collection of the best gold chains in the game that are guaranteed to maintain their high-quality finish for years.

Image Credits

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