A touch of gold can instantly add elegance and polish to any outfit. Unfortunately, solid gold jewelry is a very expensive accessory. Gold-plated jewelry is a good substitute for solid gold, as it is difficult to tell the difference and is nowhere near as expensive. Gold-plated jewelry still needs to be given a certain amount of care if you want the gold to stay bright and keep the luster. Following a care regime for your gold-plated jewelry is worth the extra few minutes it takes.

Mix a few drops of a gentle dishwashing detergent with a few cups of warm water. Rinse your jewelry in the soap solution and allow the piece to air dry.

Buff the jewelry with a soft microfiber cloth. Do not use too much elbow grease or the gold may flake off or become loose.

Place the jewelry in a plastic bag, squeeze the excess air out of it and seal it. Doing so will keep it both dry and protected from scratches. The lack of oxygen with the piece will keep the alloy metals in gold-plated jewelry from tarnishing.