Can You Shower With Gold Plated Earrings? Care Guide for Lasting Shine

Can You Shower With Gold Plated Earrings?

The short answer? It's best to remove your gold plated earrings before showering. While a single shower won't immediately ruin your beautiful earrings, regular exposure to water, soaps, and shower products will gradually wear down the gold plating, revealing the base metal underneath.

Gold plating is a thin layer of gold applied over a base metal. This layer gives you the luxurious look of solid gold at a more wallet-friendly price. However, this plating can be delicate and susceptible to wear over time, especially when exposed to moisture, chemicals, and friction.

Taking a few seconds to remove your gold earrings before stepping into the shower will significantly extend their lifespan and keep them looking beautiful for much longer. Think of it as a small habit that offers big rewards for your jewellery's appearance.

Understanding Gold Plating: Beauty with Care

Gold plated jewellery is crafted by applying a thin layer of real gold over a base metal (often brass, copper, or sterling silver). This process creates beautiful pieces that offer the warm, luxurious glow of gold at a more accessible price point.

The thickness of gold plating can vary, but it's typically measured in microns (a micron is one-thousandth of a millimetre). Most quality gold plated jewellery has a plating thickness between 0.5 and 2.5 microns. While this may seem thin, with proper care, this plating can maintain its beauty for years.

Gold plating is not permanent – it's a surface treatment that requires gentle handling to preserve its appearance. Understanding this helps you make informed decisions about when to wear your favourite gold earrings or other gold plated pieces from our jewellery collection.

How Water Affects Your Gold Plated Jewellery

Water itself isn't necessarily harmful to gold plating in small, occasional amounts. However, several factors make showering with your gold plated earrings problematic:

• Shower Products: Shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and soaps contain chemicals that can be harsh on gold plating. These products can accelerate tarnishing and wear away the gold layer faster.
• Chlorine and Minerals: Tap water contains chlorine and minerals that can react with the base metal under the gold plating, potentially causing discolouration and deterioration over time.
• Frequent Exposure: Daily showers mean daily exposure – this repeated contact with water and products creates cumulative damage to the plating.
• Hot Water: The heat from shower water can accelerate chemical reactions and potentially speed up the breakdown of the gold plating.

The same concerns apply to swimming pools (with high chlorine levels) and hot tubs, which can be even more damaging to your gold plated earrings and other jewellery pieces.

Daily Care Tips for Gold Plated Jewellery

Keeping your gold plated jewellery looking its best requires some simple but consistent care habits:

• Last On, First Off: Make your Ella & Eve jewellery the final touch to your outfit after applying makeup, perfumes, lotions, and hairspray. Remove it first before showering or exercising.
• Avoid Water Activities: Remove your gold plated earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets before showering, swimming, using hot tubs, or engaging in water sports.
• Avoid Chemical Contact: Keep your jewellery away from household cleaners, perfumes, hairsprays, and other chemical products that can damage the plating.
• Wipe After Wearing: Gently wipe your gold plated pieces with a soft, lint-free cloth after each wear to remove oils, sweat, and other residues that might affect the plating.
• Rotate Your Collection: Give your favourite pieces a break by rotating through your jewellery collection. This reduces wear on any single item. Our current offer makes expanding your collection easy: Buy 1, get 50% OFF a second piece!

Gentle Cleaning for Gold Plated Jewellery

Safe Cleaning Method

When your gold plated pieces need cleaning:

1. Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water (not hot).
2. Add a tiny drop of mild, phosphate-free dish soap (avoid harsh detergents).
3. Gently swish the solution to create light suds.
4. Soak your gold plated jewellery for 1-2 minutes only.
5. Use a very soft brush (like a baby's toothbrush) to gently clean any crevices if needed.
6. Rinse thoroughly with clean, room-temperature water.
7. Pat completely dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
8. Allow to air dry fully before storing.

What to Avoid

To protect your gold plated jewellery, never use:

• Abrasive materials or cloths that might scratch the plating
• Ultrasonic cleaners, which are too harsh for plated items
• Jewellery dips or solutions designed for solid gold
• Toothpaste, baking soda, or other abrasive cleaners
• Steam cleaning methods

Remember: Less is more when cleaning gold plated jewellery. Gentle, infrequent cleaning is better than aggressive or frequent cleaning, which can wear away the plating faster.

Storing Your Gold Plated Treasures

Proper storage is just as important as proper wear and cleaning when it comes to preserving your gold plated jewellery:

• Store Separately: Keep gold plated pieces in individual pouches or compartments to prevent scratching and tangling. Necklaces should be fastened to avoid knots.
• Use Your Ella & Eve Packaging: Every piece of our jewellery comes with a complimentary gift box and gift bag. The lined box provides excellent protection – use it for storage when you're not wearing your jewellery.
• Control Humidity: Store in a cool, dry place away from bathrooms or other humid areas. Humidity can accelerate tarnishing of the base metal, which can affect the plating.
• Add Anti-Tarnish Strips: Consider using anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packets in your jewellery box to absorb moisture and prevent tarnishing.
• Avoid Direct Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can affect some gold plated finishes over time. Store your jewellery in a drawer or closed box.

The Ella & Eve Experience: Gifting, Value & Style

At Ella & Eve, we believe beautiful jewellery should come with beautiful presentation. That's why every single piece of our gold plated jewellery includes our elegant free gift box and branded gift bag. Perfect for gifting to someone special, and equally perfect for safely storing your treasured pieces.

Our gold plated collection combines timeless style with exceptional value. From delicate gold earrings that frame your face to statement gold necklaces that elevate any outfit, each piece is designed to bring joy for years with proper care.

Ready to expand your collection? Take advantage of our current promotion: Buy 1 piece of jewellery, get a second piece 50% OFF! It's the perfect opportunity to pair complementary pieces or try something new.

Your Gold Plated Jewellery Questions Answered

How long will gold plated jewellery last?

With proper care, gold plated jewellery can maintain its beautiful appearance for several years. The lifespan depends on factors including the thickness of the plating, how often you wear it, your body chemistry, and how well you follow care guidelines. Removing it before showering, swimming, and sleeping will significantly extend its life.

Can I wear my gold plated earrings to the beach?

It's best to leave your gold plated jewellery at home when heading to the beach. Salt water, sand, sunscreen, and sweat can all damage the plating. If you want to wear jewellery to the beach, consider pieces specifically designed for water activities.

Is it normal for gold plated jewellery to change colour over time?

Yes, with regular wear, gold plated jewellery may eventually show signs of the base metal as the plating gradually wears. This is normal for all plated jewellery. Following proper care guidelines will significantly slow this process and keep your pieces looking beautiful longer.

Can gold plated earrings be replated when the gold wears off?

Yes, many jewellers offer replating services for gold plated jewellery. When the plating eventually wears thin, you can have your favourite pieces replated to restore their original appearance rather than replacing them.

Enjoy Your Gold Plated Jewellery with Confidence

Gold plated jewellery offers the perfect balance of luxury, style, and value. While showering with your gold plated earrings isn't recommended, with the right care, your Ella & Eve pieces will continue to shine beautifully for years to come.

Remember that a little care goes a long way – simple habits like removing your jewellery before showering, swimming, or applying products will help preserve its beauty. And proper storage in your Ella & Eve gift box when not being worn will keep it looking its best.

Explore our stunning collection of gold plated earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets – designed with quality and timeless style in mind.