Make Gold Jewelry And Trinkets Shine Like New With The Help Of Light Beer

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Beer isn't the most luxe beverage out there, but if you have some gold jewelry or objects in need of cleaning, it can certainly help re-glam them. It's mostly composed of four core ingredients — hops, barley, yeast, and water. When fermented, these ingredients create the refreshing, intoxicating brew we know as beer. The same ingredients and fermentation process also happens to create a gentle cleaner for select gold and gold-plated items, helping to restore their shine without damaging the finish.

This unexpected way to use beer around the house isn't particularly well-studied, but when you take a deeper look at the science, the logic seems to check out. First, beer is slightly acidic. Most beers have a pH of around 4, placing the beverage between wine and coffee on the scale. This acidity is a natural result of the fermentation process. As the yeast metabolizes the sugars in the brew, it releases by-products, including acids, that drop the overall pH level of the mixture.

This process is also responsible for another beneficial cleaning characteristic of beer: carbonation. The little bubbles that come from fermentation and give the drink its pleasant effervescence can also help dislodge and lift grime from gold objects, reducing the need for aggressive scrubbing. These bubbles are why you can use club soda to clean your bathroom — the carbonation loosens dirt. If you have a pile of dirty gold jewelry and a brewski in the back of your fridge, it's certainly worth trying this hack.

While this hack is pretty simple, there are a couple of caveats worth noting. First, try this method on solid gold or gold-plated items containing gemstones or other non-gold decorative accents at your peril. You can't be sure how those materials will react when exposed to a bubbly, acidic liquid like beer. Hard gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies will probably be fine, but soft stones and minerals like pearls and opals may be at risk of damage.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution and go with a more traditional cleaning method, like the Weiman Fine Jewelry Cleaner Liquid or a simple mix of warm water and dish soap. You should also avoid using darker beers for this hack. They may have added caramel coloring, which could stain your pieces.

With that out of the way, it's time to get to work. Fill a small bowl or glass with light beer, then drop your gold items into it. Soak them for around ten minutes to allow the bubbles and acidity to do their job, then fish the pieces out and scrub them gently with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse off any remaining beer with some warm water, then pat the pieces dry with a soft cloth or paper towel. After their beer bath, the gold should look a bit shinier and brighter. Pop the cleaned pieces in the DIY jewelry box that keeps your closet organized and you're done!