Care & Maintenance
Keep it brilliant
A little care keeps solid gold glowing for years. Here’s how to clean, wear, heal and store your Golditude pieces.
The basics
Solid gold loves daily wear
14k & 18k gold won’t tarnish — it’s happy in the shower and through daily life. (A fresh piercing is the exception — see below.)
On last, off first
Perfume, lotion and hairspray dull shine and can harm stones. Put jewellery on after them, take it off before bed.
Avoid harsh chemicals
Take pieces off for cleaning products, chlorine pools and hot tubs — they’re tough on gold and stones.
A quick buff goes far
A gentle wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth after wear keeps your gold looking its best.
Five gentle steps
Mix warm water with a few drops of mild, unscented soap.
Soak for a few minutes, then gently loosen any buildup with a soft toothbrush.
Rinse — over a bowl, not the open drain (small pieces disappear fast).
Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Finish with a light buff to bring back the shine.
Skip the commercial jewellery dips on piercing jewellery. Those cleaners are made for jewellery worn on the body, not in it. Warm, soapy water is all your gold needs — no toothpaste, abrasives or harsh chemicals.
Tougher vs delicate stones
A simple rule of thumb — for the full guide, see our materials page.
Tougher stones
- Diamond, sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, citrine, garnet, amethyst
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush, then dry gently
Delicate stones
- Opal, pearl, emerald, peridot, moonstone, turquoise
- Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth only — no ultrasonic, heat or chemicals
Healing the right way
Fresh piercings need a little extra love. Here’s the routine we recommend — but always follow your professional piercer’s advice.
Wash your hands first — every single time, before you touch it.
Clean twice a day with sterile saline (0.9% sodium chloride) — spray or soak, front and back.
Dry gently with clean gauze or a paper towel. Never cotton pads or wool — the fibres catch.
Then leave it alone. Don’t twist, turn or remove it while it heals.
Do
- Wash hands, then clean with saline twice a day
- Sleep on the other side — a travel pillow helps
- See your piercer to downsize or change jewellery
Don’t
- Twist, play with or change the jewellery early
- Swim, soak or use hot tubs while it’s healing
- Use alcohol, peroxide or ointments — saline only
Downsizing: once the first swelling settles (often around 4–6 weeks), your piercer can fit a shorter post for comfort and healing — keep it in for several months after. Reinserting a fully healed piece? A quick wipe with an alcohol swab beforehand helps.
This is general guidance, not medical advice. Golditude isn’t a medical provider. Always follow your professional piercer’s instructions, and if you notice signs of infection — spreading redness, heat, swelling or discharge — see your piercer or a doctor.
Wear it (or don’t)
Keeping pieces safe
Keep pieces apart
Store in a soft pouch or lined box so pieces don’t scratch each other.
Dry & out of sunlight
Humidity and direct sun can dull stones over time — keep it cool and dry.
Delicate stones, on their own
Give opal and pearl their own pouch — they’re softer and scratch easily.
Something not quite right?
We repair, not replace. Every solid-gold piece is backed by our lifetime guarantee — so a loose stone or a tired clasp is no reason to give up on a piece you love.
See the Golditude Guarantee