When your favorite gold ring appears dingy and dull, you can skip the pricey jewelry cleaning, and polish this precious metal at home. White gold and yellow gold differ in color due to the concentration of metal alloys such as copper or nickel. Mixing a high concentration of nickel with yellow gold creates a whitish gold metal that is more scratch resistant and lightweight than yellow gold. Using a simple cleaning process, you can add sparkle to your white gold ring without damaging its shiny, silver-hued finish.
Mix two cups of warm water and three to four drops of mild dishwashing liquid soap in a small bowl. Swirl with your fingers to create a soapy mixture.
Soak plain white gold bands in the solution for 15 to 20 minutes, then gently scrub with a very soft toothbrush. However, if the ring is set with diamonds, pearls or other gemstones, do not immerse your ring in the soapy solution, to avoid damage -- simply dip the toothbrush in the soapy solution before cleaning.
Rinse your ring under a stream of warm water to remove any soap residue. Dry your ring completely with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth, then add shine with a jewelry polishing cloth.