Gold Gilt frame - how to clean ?

[Bagpuss]

I've been asked by a customer who has an ornate Gold gilt frame with a mirror, she wants to clean it, the best I could suggest was some light brushing with an old toothbrush and some cotton wool. Is there a better way which won't be too abbrasive ?
Thanks in advance,
Adam/Bagpuss

[JFeig]

If it is real water golded gold leaf................. a feather duster is the only cleaning tool.

[vintage frames]

There's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes attached to that question. Is the frame a fragile antique with a watergilded finish or a cheap faux gilt repro with a hard as nails finish? Suggest to your customer that the best advice is to carefully dry-brush the finish with a pure bristle household paint-brush. This will preserve any patina that exists on the surface. If they think that the frame is so filthy that it needs "cleaning", then they need to show it to an antique restorer.