In an ideal world we would be able to rely on hallmarks to verify whether something is real gold or not. Unfortunately, however, this is not always the case. Acid is commonly used to test gold and you can do this at home using white vinegar: 1: Pour white vinegar into a glass 2: Place your item into the glass of vinegar. 3: Let the item sit in the glass of vinegar for approximately 15 minutes. 4: Remove the item and rinse with water If it’s real gold, your item will shine brightly. If it’s fake gold then there will be a reaction with the ascetic acid in the vinegar and it will become discolored. Note: It’s important to know that this test can permanently discolor the item you are testing if it is not real gold.