Using abrasive cleansers to clean gold-banded crystal can leave the banding scratched and worn away in places. You can remove the damaged gold banding for a set of crystal glassware without trim.
Things You Will Need
Abrasives
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Mix baking soda with water to form a paste-like consistency. You can also use white toothpaste or jeweler's rouge. Baking soda, toothpaste and jeweler's rouge are abrasive cleansers that may cause light scratches on the crystal surface
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Dip a damp rag in the baking soda, jeweler's rouge or white toothpaste. Rub lightly back-and-forth over the gold decoration.
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Continue to rub until the gold is no longer visible. You may need the crystal professionally polished after removing the gold banding to remove scratches.
Acids
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Wet a paper towel with lemon juice and sprinkle salt over the top.
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Lay the paper towel on the gold trim or if the banding encircles the rim of the glass, stand the glasses upside-down on the paper towel for 10 to 12 hours. Re-wet the paper towel with lemon juice as necessary to keep it moist.
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Rub the gold banding with a nylon scrubbing pad until no gold banding remains. Lemon juice and salt may cause a white haze on the crystal. You may have to repeat several times before the banding is removed.
The Drip Cap
- Crystal manufacturers apply a gold band to trim the glasses and stemware as a decorative accent.
- Washing gold-banded crystal glasses in a dishwasher can result in damage to the banding and a hazy appearance on the crystal.
- Continue to rub until the gold is no longer visible.
- Lay the paper towel on the gold trim or if the banding encircles the rim of the glass, stand the glasses upside-down on the paper towel for 10 to 12 hours.