Can You Wear White Gold In the Shower?

Published: 25 Dec 2024

Every person who buys white gold jewelry wears it daily due to its elegance and modern look. But what will happen if you wear your white gold during a shower?

Can it be damaged? Or can it lose its shine? These are some common questions that many people are confused about.

Generally, wearing white gold during a shower is safe; water doesn’t harm it, but showering products like soaps, shampoos, and some others can cause issues.

Here is how showering products can damage your white gold, what to do if these products already tarnished your jewelry, and how can you care for your white gold to enhance its lifespan.

So are you ready?

Table of Content

Can You Wear White Gold In the Shower? What Are Risks?
Showering Product Elements That Can Affect White Gold.
What to do if showering products tarnished my white gold?
How to Care for Your White Gold.
So My Champs.
Have More Queries.

Can You Wear White Gold In the Shower? What Are Risks?

Guys technically, you can wear white gold in the shower, but it’s not recommended.

Why? Our shower routine is not just about bathing with water only; it also includes soap, shampoo, and many other products that contain chemicals.

These chemicals can directly affect your white gold shine and can make it dull.

Guys, you know, white gold is made from mixing pure gold, silver, palladium, and nickel. It has an upper thin layer of rhodium metal, which makes it shiny and bright. Unfortunately, when we expose our white gold jewelry to water and other chemical-based products, the rhodium layer reacts and breaks.

The result? Our white gold will turn yellow and lose its shine. If your white gold has expensive stones such as diamonds, the continuous exposure to water can loosen the settings over time.

This will definitely increase the risks of losing your stones, which can be heartbreaking and costly to fix.

Showering Product Elements That Can Affect White Gold.

Showering Products contain elements that can directly affect white gold jewelry. Most of them break down the rhodium plating, which basically makes white gold shiny. Here are some elements that may harm white gold.

Sulfates (e.g., Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)

Sulfates are surfactants found in many shampoos and soaps, and while they help to create lather,

Unfortunately, sulfates can be harsh on white gold. Over time, they can strip away the rhodium plating and cause the gold to lose its luster.

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives found in many beauty products to prevent bacterial growth. However, these chemicals can interact with white gold and tarnish it.

Alcohols (e.g., Ethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol)

These alcoholic elements are commonly found in hair care products like hair sprays or some shampoos.

Alcohol can dry out the metal and cause the rhodium coating to peel off, leaving the underlying metal exposed and vulnerable to further damage.

Fragrances and Essential Oils

Many shower products contain synthetic fragrances or essential oils for added scent.

These oils can leave a residue on white gold jewelry and can make them dirty, dull, and cloudy in appearance

Silicones

Silicones are found in conditioners and hair serums to make them smooth and silky.

Unfortunately, these substances can coat white gold jewelry and can attract dirt. This dirt may cause greasy build-up that makes white gold dull and cloudy.

Chlorine.

Guys, chlorine is the key element that damages the rhodium plating of white gold.

While it’s not a direct ingredient in soaps or shampoos, it’s a key mineral in tap water.

White gold’s frequent exposure to chlorine can damage its rhodium plating and can cause discoloration.

What to do if showering products tarnished my white gold?

Guys, I will give you a brief answer that is “re-plate your white gold jewelry again by a jeweler”

If these harsh chemicals tarnish your white gold, go to your nearby jeweler and tell him to re-plate your jewelry with rhodium.

Rhodium plating will make your white gold shiny and bright again and you will really be happy.

How to Care for Your White Gold.

Guys, here are some steps; by following them, you can easily keep your white gold safe.

Remove your gold before you go for showering or swimming.
Clean it with a mild soap and a soft cloth.
Always store your gold jewelry in soft-lined boxes or pouches when not in use
White gold needs rhodium re-plating every 1-2 years depending on your care. So re-plating them again can bring their previous shine.
Avoid exposing your white gold jewelry to harsh chemicals such as perfumes, and chlorine-containing products

So My Champs.

In this article, we’ve covered can you wear white gold in the shower in detail. We discussed that you should avoid wearing white gold in the shower to maintain its beauty and longevity.

A little care goes a long way in preserving your precious jewelry. If you want your white gold to stay radiant for years, take it off before stepping into the shower.

You also need to care for it properly. If your gold seems a little bit faded, you should re-plate it with rhodium to get the previous shine again.

Thank you & Good Luck 🤞

Have More Queries.

Guys, these are some questions that people often ask related to the topic we discussed.

Can you shower with white gold?

Yes, you can shower with white gold, but It’s not recommended. Shower products and water can damage the rhodium plating and can make it dull and less shiny.

Is white gold waterproof?

Yes, white gold is waterproof, but frequent exposure can wear down its rhodium plating over time.

Can you wear 14k gold in the shower?

Yes, but It’s best to avoid it, as water and chemicals can tarnish and weaken the metal.