How to Clean 24KT Gold Paint

Preserve the beauty of your gold-covered treasure.

Having an antique or ceramic covered in 24-karat gold paint can add much elegance to your home. Of course, in order to keep it looking its best, you'll have to do some upkeep from time to time. Taking care of items covered in 24-karat gold paint (also known as gold leaf) is simple to do. However, as gold leaf can be very delicate, you'll need to take the proper precautions to ensure that your gold-covered items stay well preserved.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton gloves
• Soft-bristled gloves
• Warm water
• Soft cotton cloth
• Mild dish detergent

Instructions

1. Put on your soft cotton gloves and move the gold-covered item to the area you'll be cleaning it at. It is important that you handle the item only with gloves to prevent scratching or other tarnishes.

2. Take your soft-bristled brush and very lightly brush off all of the dirt on the item. Don't press too hard or you could accidentally remove the paint.

3. Fill up a small bucket with warm water and mild dish soap, making sure the mixture isn't too soapy.

4. Dip your soft cloth in the bucket, and rinse the rag out. Very lightly, wipe off any dust on the gold item. You will want to do this in small sections, making sure you get all of the dirt off in one section before moving on the the next. If there are crevices you need to clean, you can use a cotton swab dipped in the soapy water to do this.

5. Let the gold item dry naturally, and then set it back in its place.

References

• All Experts: How to Clean Gold Leaf
• Gold Leaf Explanation