Many women prefer jewelry made from precious metals. However, such products require careful handling and careful maintenance. For example, a drop of iodine can greatly spoil the appearance of your favorite gold ring. When iodine reacts with gold, it forms dark spots on the surface of the product. Unfortunately, cleaning with soapy water will not help here. We have to figure out how to purify gold from iodine.
Gold jewelry
Reasons for iodine getting into gold
Iodine can get onto a gold surface completely by accident. When treating a small cut on your hand, it is easy to drip the solution onto the ring.
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
By the way, iodine is used as an indicator of the authenticity of the metal. Samples 585 and 583 are checked more often, since the alloy contains a high concentration of alloy - the surface acquires a reddish tint. A cotton swab soaked in iodine is brought to the inside of the ring.
In addition to iodine, vinegar, a magnet, ceramics and even bread are used to authenticate.
How to remove iodine from a ring with stones
Stones (organic and inorganic origin) require special treatment. When using aggressive agents or abrasive substances, the appearance deteriorates: micro-scratches remain, the insert on the ring darkens or becomes cloudy.
Thorough wiping with available means
Common milder remedies:
- toothpaste or powder;
- soap solution;
- aqueous solution of ammonia (1:1).
For application, use a cotton swab (in areas of complex configuration) and lint-free rags. To remove more complex contaminants, hydrogen peroxide is used. Its mixture with ammonia (1:2) and the addition of water can have a negative effect on stones, so it is used in extreme cases.
Professional cleaning pastes
You can improve the quality of cleaning a gold ring using professional products. Paste-like substances are considered the most effective. An example is Mellerud. Country of origin: Germany. The product is used to restore the attractiveness of gold, silver, bronze, brass, and zinc. The average price is 550 rubles.
What happens if you drop iodine on gold?
If the solution gets on a precious item, bluish stains will form. The volume depends on the amount of iodine. Gold is considered an inert substance that does not react when interacting with the environment or aggressive environments. The metal does not react to acids unless it is “regia vodka” (a concentrated compound of hydrochloric and sulfuric acids). However, there are exceptions to this rule.
Gold reacts to substances:
- mercury;
- bromine;
- liquid cyanide;
- iodine.
Iodine is one of the halogens, an exclusive group of substances with which gold reacts. White gold is a soft metal that requires different care.
How to get rid of iodine stains
They are considering 2 ways: going to a jewelry workshop, where specialists can clean the product from stubborn stains; self-removal of traces of iodine. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, and both differ in price.
Cleaned ring
Contact a jeweler. Average cost of service
If damage of any kind appears, color changes, or stains form, you should contact a specialist. This will allow you to eliminate defects in a safe way, taking into account the composition of the metal. But the cost of the service is high, and precious items get dirty and scratched quite often, especially with regular wear.
The jeweler uses special tools and equipment. To clean gold from traces of other chemicals, prices are compared. The average cost of such a service varies, depending on the region, salon, size of the product and ranges from 100-500 rubles.
Get rid of brown spots yourself at home
When trying to deal with stains on your own, the desired result is not always achieved: the stain is not removed; The iodine is removed, but at the same time traces of the reagent remain on the gold jewelry.
The advantage of cleaning metal yourself is that there is no need for investment - often they use improvised means that are already at home.
Cleaning a gold ring at home
Cleaning methods
The first way is time. You will have to wait a long time, but the result will not disappoint. If you need to solve the problem quickly, soap or washing powder will be powerless.
Kitchen method
The “old-fashioned” method allows you to prepare a solution using improvised means, which in an hour and a half will return gold to its rightful, even shine. Mix (one tablespoon at a time) into a liter of water: soda, salt and lime. The jewelry is then placed in the solution until completely clean.
Ammonia
Ammonia helps in cleaning silver from blackening. To do this, use a mixture of the substance with hydrogen peroxide or tooth powder. When working with gold, results are not guaranteed.
Hyposulfite cleaning
Another way to effectively clean a gold ring is to place it in a solution used to develop photographic film. It is called a “fixer”, the scientific name is “hyposulfite”. It is sold at the pharmacy. The solution in which the product is placed is prepared in the following proportions: one tablespoon of the substance per 250 ml of heated water. After an hour and a half, the gold is cleared to a shine.
Which way is better?
Hyposulfite is an affordable and effective way to purify gold from iodine. It will not leave a specific smell for three days, like ammonia, and guarantees a renewed appearance of the jewelry. If you use the “kitchen” method, the effect may not appear the first time. Then the jewelry is placed in the solution again. Abrasives and mechanical stress will leave scratches on the product.
Preparing for cleaning
Before you start exposing a product to chemicals, it is necessary to prepare it. Gold should be cleaned of dust and dirt. It is not recommended to use abrasive pastes and brushes for this: this can leave scratches on the surface of the metal, since gold is very soft. Therefore, it must first be soaked so that the dirt softens and some of it goes away on its own, and the remains can be easily removed using available materials.
Let's prepare a soap solution. To do this, take water with a temperature of about 60 degrees and add any detergent to it. This could be shampoo, dishwashing liquid, or regular soap. Do not use detergents containing alkali or acid.
Dip the gold item into the prepared solution and leave it there for several hours. After this, gently, without pressing, wipe hard-to-reach areas with a soft brush. If you use a soap solution, then the chance that dirt can be removed immediately with less damage to the metal surface is much higher.
How to properly purify gold from iodine at home
Cleaning gold is a simple process, but it also has its own nuances. The procedure will be completed successfully if you follow the step-by-step instructions.
Preparing Jewelry for Cleaning
At home, metal is coated with thin layers of substances that prevent the removal of contamination or delay the cleaning process. Therefore, the surface is degreased. To do this, wipe it with alcohol or acetone. If there is foreign dirt on the gold, it is removed.
Cleaning process
With rough mechanical action of abrasives or needles, there is an increased risk of damaging the smooth surface of the jewelry. Therefore, it is customary to clean products in solutions.
The cleaning process itself is limited to placing the jewelry in a container with a cleaner. After removal, wipe it with a soft cloth. The described means remove the first microlayer of metal with a stain that does not penetrate deeper.
Chemical cleaning variations
After we have thoroughly washed our gold or silver and have not achieved the desired result - stains still exist - we proceed to radical cleansing measures. These measures are very effective compared to a solution of soap or powder.
Chemical products include ammonia solution, hydrogen peroxide, sodium thiosulfate, etc. Despite the complex names of some products, they are all very common and can always be purchased freely in pharmacies or hardware stores.
1. Ammonia. A favorite product of conscientious housewives for high-quality and quick cleaning of windows, adding shine to glass and crystal dishes. The excellent properties of ammonia - an alcoholic solution of ammonia - will also be useful for our procedure.
To carefully clean your favorite product, you need to dilute the concentration of the caustic substance. We will need moderately hot water, 10-20 ml of ammonia and any washing liquid to soften the solution. Again, you need to soak the jewelry in the resulting substance for several hours or even longer.
In this solution, silver may acquire an unnatural light shade. To enhance the effect, you can add hydrogen peroxide to ammonia - a powerful chemical that is used in a wide variety of areas of life: from stopping bleeding to bleaching laundry.
You can roughly calculate the concentration of the cleaning solution by taking equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia (a little - 20 milliliters each). Water should be added, bringing the volume of the solution to 100 ml, no more.
Chemical solutions consisting of several components are quite active chemical media, and precious items should not be left in them for a long time.
Therefore, leave the gold or silver for about 10 minutes, periodically removing and visually inspecting the item. If the stains have faded significantly, you can gently clean them with a cotton swab using the same solution.
2. Sodium thiosulfate (hyposulfite) is a very common pharmaceutical drug that has an antitoxic effect. The medicine is freely available in pharmacy chains and can be purchased at a low cost.
The drug is available in ampoules of 10 ml, it is very convenient to open one ampoule and mix with water in the following proportion: 1 ampoule per 0.5-1 glass of water. Soak the gold or silver for about half an hour and patiently wait for the reaction time.
We take out the jewel that is dear to our hearts and rinse it thoroughly under running water. As practice shows, the result can be very impressive. Your efforts will not be in vain - your jewelry will shine like new.
Your favorite chain will highlight the color of your skin, and its shine will be magnificent. A ring on a finger will casually highlight the beauty of the fingers and remind the owner of feminine charm and attractiveness...
But lyrical digressions aside, some interesting methods for cleaning precious metal await us.
How to clean jewelry with stones
Cleaning inlaid gold is a process that takes into account the type of stone and the method of its attachment. There are soft stones: amber, pearls. And hard ones - diamonds, sapphires, topazes.
Soft stones cannot withstand the aggressive environment created by ammonia and vinegar. The best cleaning option is water and alcohol. After exposure, wipe the product dry, because soft stones are hydrophobic.
If the inlay is held on by glue, the acidic environment will corrode it. In this case, wipe the contaminated area with a cloth soaked in the solution. Gloves must be used here. Products with hard stones can more easily withstand aggressive environments, so you don’t have to be “gentle” with them.
White gold
White gold looks especially luxurious. But it is precisely this that is the most capricious and requires individual care. It's all about his alloy.
The original color of the metal appears due to nickel, and the surface is pollinated with rhodium. But rhodium changes its original appearance over time; To preserve it, it is recommended to clean the product with a napkin.
To clean this metal, you cannot use tooth powder, paste, or hard brushes. Soap products and ammonia are effective.
There is a traditional method that has proven itself well. You will need half a glass of beer and an egg yolk. Mix the ingredients well. Dip the fabric into the resulting mixture and rub. Rinse and dry. Moisture has a negative effect on this metal.
Rules for wearing, caring for and storing gold jewelry
Gold jewelry should be worn carefully. Accessories designed to decorate the external image are recommended to be removed if there is likely exposure to foreign objects or kitchen fumes. A negative factor will be sudden temperature changes. In addition, the danger to jewelry is posed by:
- eau de toilette and deodorants;
- humid environment;
- contact with cutting, abrasive objects.
Places where jewelry is taken off:
- gyms;
- spa centers, beauty salons;
- baths and saunas, etc.
It is better to store your personal jewelry collection separately. When they come into contact, they leave scratches and become deformed. For this purpose, special velvet bags and cases have been created, similar to those found in jewelry stores. Jewelry accessories do not interact well in plastic, so it is better to avoid cases made of this material.
Excessive exposure to direct sunlight spoils jewelry. Therefore, they must be kept in a closed, dark space.
Question-answer section
How to wash a ring with cubic zirconia from iodine?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
Different types of stones can behave in special ways when in contact with an aggressive environment. The risk of ring damage increases if it contains natural stone inserts. Moreover, cubic zirconia requires special attention. To remove traces of iodine, prepare an aqueous solution of ammonia (1:1). It is applied carefully using a cotton swab.
Is it necessary to do sputtering after testing gold with iodine?
Expert opinion
Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich
Jeweler 6th category
If the ring is coated with a protective material, then when testing in one of the areas it will have to be damaged to ensure contact between the reagent and the gold. In addition, such actions will lead to the appearance of purple marks on the product. This means that it will take more effort and money to restore the original properties of the metal. First of all, the product is sanded; sometimes it is necessary to completely remove the old coating. After this, the ring is cleaned and prepared for re-application of the protective layer.
Gold jewelry and iodine
Is it necessary to test gold with iodine if it was purchased at a salon?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
You can pay attention to the parameters of gold jewelry in the store. The ring should have a characteristic shine, weight, and when it falls on a glass display case, it should produce a special ringing sound, like crystal. But if you still have doubts about the authenticity of the gold, you can ask for a certificate for the product. Most often, jewelry sold in salons is of high quality and corresponds to the stated parameters. This means that gold testing is not mandatory, especially since the procedure can ruin the appearance of the ring. It is carried out when the need arises, if there is a suspicion of low quality jewelry.
Silver
Silver jewelry also needs cleaning. There are several methods that are used for this metal.
Starch will save your item. You just need to fill the decoration with it, and if there is none, finely chop the potatoes, put the product there and leave it for a while. It will not be possible to remove the stain - it will only be disguised, the dirt will acquire a bluish tint.
Toothpaste and baking soda work well for cleaning.
You can get rid of iodine stains using peroxide and soap. You need to mix soap with peroxide and place the jewelry there for at least 30 minutes. Afterwards you need to rinse the product.
Silver cleaning
Not only gold items can be stained, but also silver items. And now we will look at how to clean silver from iodine. As with gold, there are several methods to clean iodine from a silver item. Let's take a closer look at them.
Method 1
Starch will help get rid of the stain. For this:
- Briefly cover the decoration with starch or place it surrounded by potatoes cut into small pieces.
- Starch does not completely clean the product, but repaints the stain blue, that is, makes it less noticeable.
Method 2
A solution of peroxide and soap will also help to remove iodine from silver:
- Make a solution consisting of water, soap and ammonia.
- Keep the product in this solution for at least 30 minutes.
- Wash with warm water and dry the jewelry.
Important! As an addition to the method, if it does not produce noticeable results, use toothpaste or baking soda. They should help you get rid of the stain.
Method 3
- Prepare a 10% ammonia solution.
- Immerse the product in it for 15 minutes.
- Wash in warm water and dry the product using a soft cloth.
Important! Hyposulfite cleaning is not only suitable for yellow precious metal jewelry, but also for silver!
Step-by-step gold purification
Step-by-step gold cleaning includes:
- The washing up;
- Dry cleaning;
- Mechanical cleaning.
At the first stage, gold jewelry is simply washed in a soapy solution. How can it be prepared? This requires hot water, a temperature of 60°C is sufficient, and detergent. For the latter, you can take soap, shampoo, washing powder and even dishwashing detergent. The jewelry is immersed in the water for a while. After a couple of hours, the dirt on the jewelry will become limp and can be easily scrubbed off with a regular toothbrush.
You can try to wipe off the dirt immediately, but if the gold has darkened in hard-to-reach places - grooves, fastening screws - it must be kept in soapy water before cleaning. After this soaking, the soaked dirt can be easily removed with soft bristles. After the “soap bath,” the jewelry is washed with water and left to dry.
After the first stage of gold purification, the products need to be inspected: this is necessary to assess how effective the procedures are. If there are residual contaminants, you should try repeating the soaking in soapy water. If, after repeating the procedure, the jewelry does not return to its former shine, then it is necessary to proceed to dry cleaning.
How to clean gold from oxidized metal? To remove oxidized elements from the surface of jewelry, an ammonia solution is usually used. Oxides formed on gold jewelry are compounds of silver or copper with oxygen. Ammonia enters into a chemical reaction with them, resulting in compounds that are easily soluble in water.
Chemical cleaning of gold is carried out in this case using a regular ammonia aqueous solution (preferably with a concentration of at least 25%), which can be bought at a pharmacy. First, the solution is poured into a small container, then the decoration is lowered for 2-3 hours. After the procedure, the products are washed again with running water and dried. Heavily soiled jewelry can be left in the ammonia solution overnight.
If chemical procedures also do not lead to a positive result, the product must be mechanically cleaned.
Dry cleaning cannot remove sulfide deposits, which cause black deposits to form on gold.
How to clean gold from such blackness? For this, abrasive materials are used. Soda will not work here, as it will scratch the surface of the decoration. It is best to purchase a special paste for cleaning precious jewelry. The products are wiped with a soft cloth with a small amount of paste in one direction, then washed with vodka or alcohol to remove the fatty components of the cleaning agent, and finally sent for rinsing with water and drying.
