How to Clean Gold Jewelry: The Complete LIL Milan Guide
Let’s start with something few people know: gold doesn’t tarnish.
Pure gold - 24 karats - is one of the most stable metals in nature. It doesn’t rust, darken, or lose its color. That’s why archaeologists still find ancient Egyptian jewelry glowing after thousands of years.
And yet, it happens to everyone. One random morning, you look at your favorite ring and think: was it always this dull? The chain looks matte, the engraving less defined, the diamond less brilliant. Something feels off.
The point is simple: your gold isn’t pure gold.
LIL Milan jewelry in 18kt or 9kt gold contains 75% and 37.5% pure gold respectively. The rest is an alloy of other metals—silver, copper, zinc—added for strength, structure, and color. Without them, a thin ring would bend just by holding someone’s hand.
And those other metals? They react.
They react to sweat, cosmetics, chlorine, sea salt, detergents, perfumes sprayed directly onto the skin. Nothing dramatic: a thin, almost invisible film forms, softening the shine. The jewelry looks… tired.
That’s when it’s time to pause for five minutes.
The LIL Milan method, in three steps
You already have everything at home.
What you’ll need:
- A small bowl
- Warm water (never hot)
- Mild soap or liquid Marseille soap
- A soft toothbrush (even a children’s one works)
- A microfiber or soft cotton cloth
That’s it.
Step one: the warm bath
Fill the bowl with warm water and add a couple of drops of soap. Mix gently until it foams slightly. Immerse your jewelry and leave it there for 10–15 minutes. No more.
This step dissolves cream, soap residue, sebum, dust, everything that builds up without you noticing.
Step two: the gentle brush
Take the soft toothbrush and clean the jewelry with slow, circular motions. Focus on hidden areas: behind settings, between chain links, around engravings.
No force needed. Just patience. Think of it as a small massage.
Step three: drying
Rinse under warm running water. Very important: close the drain or hold the jewelry tightly.
Never an open sink.
Then pat dry (don’t rub) with a soft cloth. Once dry, the gold should shine like new.
That’s it.
When water isn’t enough: Make It Shine
For days when you don’t feel like using water and soap - or when the jewelry is dull but not truly dirty - there’s a shortcut.
It’s called Make It Shine, our gold polishing cloth.
It’s a dry system made of two 100% natural cotton cloths:
- the inner white cloth cleans
- the outer cream cloth polishes
No water. No products. Nothing else needed.
Just glide it gently over the jewelry, and in 30 seconds, the shine is back.
A small note: the cloth will darken over time. That’s normal, it means it’s working. Don’t throw it away. Keep using it.
One exception: don’t use it on the Stardust necklace, which requires different care.
Use it daily, while traveling, or when you have five minutes before going out.
The warm water method remains your deeper ritual, every three months.
The two methods work perfectly together.
What if there’s a stone?
It depends on the stone.
Diamonds - natural or sustainable (read the article to know the difference) - love warm water and soap. They’re among the hardest materials in nature and benefit from occasional cleaning to restore their brilliance.
Pearls and other stones (emeralds, opals, turquoise, lapis lazuli), on the other hand, are delicate.
Never soak them. Never brush them. Never use soap.
Just a slightly damp soft cloth, followed by a dry one. Nothing else.
If in doubt, ask us.
What NOT to do. Ever.
This is the most important part. Save it.
No toothpaste.
It contains micro-abrasives that scratch gold over time.
No baking soda (dry).
It’s abrasive.
No alcohol, acetone, or bleach.
These are aggressive chemicals. Bleach, in particular, can literally damage the metal.
No at-home ultrasonic cleaners.
Especially for delicate settings—they can loosen stones.
No abrasive cloths or sponges.
18kt and 9kt gold is soft. It scratches easily.
Treat your jewelry like you treat your skin.
Daily habits that make the difference
Deep cleaning is occasional. Care is daily.
- Put them on last. After perfume, creams, makeup.
- Take them off first. Before washing your hands.
- Don’t sleep with them. Chains twist, rings press, earrings bend.
- Remove them at the beach, pool, gym. Chlorine is one of gold’s real enemies.
- Store them separately. Gold scratches gold. Stones scratch more.
How often should you clean them?
It depends on how you wear them.
- Everyday jewelry: every 2–3 months
- Occasional pieces: 2–3 times a year
One rule always applies:
If it looks dull, don’t wait. Five minutes is enough.
When to bring them to us
Some things can’t be done at home (and shouldn’t be).
If a stone feels loose, a clasp doesn’t work, or something seems off, bring it to us.
At LIL House we offer:
- Professional polishing
- Ultrasonic cleaning
- Stone setting checks
- Ring resizing
- Soldering repairs
Every LIL Milan piece comes with a two-year warranty and more importantly, with people who know how to care for it.
Write to us. Visit us in Milan.