How-to
How to Polish Gold Silverware: Cleaning & Care
Gold-plated flatware needs gentler care than silver. Learn how to identify the finish and clean it without wearing away the thin plating.
Before you reach for polish, check whether the pieces in your drawer are gold plated at all. Plenty of gold-colored flatware is finished with a titanium nitride coating, which looks similar but responds to cleaning differently, and the wrong method can take real plating off a spoon in a few passes.
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Check whether the pieces are plated at all
Gold-colored flatware falls into a few families that gold silverware set picks break down by finish. Real gold plating is applied as a very thin layer over a base metal. Titanium nitride is a coating that gives a similar color and is usually tougher than plating. A small number of pieces are solid bronze-type alloys that are gold toned but never gold colored in the way plating is.
A quick clue is the listing. If the set is advertised as dishwasher safe, the finish is more likely titanium nitride than real gold, since thin plating rarely survives a dishwasher cycle. Because the plating on gold-plated pieces is so thin, it can handle very little rubbing, so knowing which family you own decides how hard you can clean.
The best gold silverware set roundup lists each model's finish and care notes, which makes it a good starting point if you are unsure what your current pieces are made of.
Five steps to a gentle polish for gold-plated flatware
Start with the gentlest method, because it lifts tarnish through a chemical reaction rather than abrasion. The foil and washing soda routine converts the tarnish back to metal, so the gold layer stays where it is. Work in a container that does not conduct the way a metal sink might, and keep the pieces in the solution only briefly.
- Line the bottom of a non-metallic sink or dishpan with aluminum foil.
- Pour in hot water mixed with washing soda, following the directions on the box.
- Lay the pieces on the foil and leave them in the solution for just a couple of minutes.
- Lift the pieces out, rinse them, and wipe them gently with a soft silverware cloth.
- Move to a metal polish only if the tarnish remains, and apply it sparingly.
Keep metal polish for stubborn spots only
Metal polish seems like the obvious fix, but on most gold-plated pieces the layer underneath is so thin that every pass with a polish can take some of the gold away. Use the foil routine first, and follow it with a light wipe rather than a scrub.
If the pieces still look dull after that, the finish may not be real gold plating, or the plating may be too worn to restore. Replating is possible, but it is labor intensive and costly, and the bill can exceed what the flatware was worth when you bought it.
Daily habits that keep the finish from wearing
Most of the damage to gold-plated flatware happens in the sink and the drawer, not on the table. A few routine habits do more to preserve the finish than any polish. Hand washing is the safest choice, even for pieces labeled dishwasher safe, because the cycle and the detergent are harder on thin plating.
Storage matters too. Anti-tarnish strips and bags made for silver are a reasonable choice for gold-plated pieces, because keeping air and moisture away slows tarnish. The habits below cover most of what the finish needs.
- Hand wash with a mild detergent, and avoid citrus-scented formulas.
- Dry each piece right away with a soft cloth so no water spots form.
- Do not leave the pieces soaking in water or in food.
- Skip wire brushes and hard sponges, which scratch the surface.
Frequently asked
Is gold plated silverware dishwasher safe?
Usually not. Real gold plating is very thin and can pit or mar after a dishwasher cycle, especially when it rubs against stainless steel. If a set is listed as dishwasher safe, the finish is more likely a titanium nitride coating, though hand washing still extends the life of any set.
Does gold silverware stay gold?
It depends on what the finish is. Thin real gold plating wears through with use and cleaning, while a titanium nitride coating is usually more durable. Good care slows the wear, but it cannot bring back plating that has already worn away.