Silver jewellery is gorgeous, stylish, and timeless. It is undisputed that silver pieces, such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, add elegance to any look.
But with time, silver can tarnish, so it doesn't have the beautiful shine that it came with.
Whether you wear your silver jewellery every day or just occasionally, regardless of the frequency of wear, it does require some care to keep it looking its best.
We’ve gathered simple and effective ways to clean your tarnished silver jewellery, offered tips on how to care for your silver pieces, and discussed how to store them so they don’t tarnish in the future in this article.
Why Does Silver Tarnish?
When it responds with chemicals such as sulfur and oxygen in the air, silver darkens. When silver comes into contact with moisture, sweat, perfumes, and lotions, it becomes tarnished and loses its shine. Tarnish is a natural process, but you can inhibit the tarnishing of your silver pieces.
Types of Silver Jewellery
Understanding the types of silver used in jewellery making is key to caring for your silver jewellery in the right way. The variety of silver will also determine how you clean and care for your items.
Pure Silver:
Pure silver, also known as Fine Silver, is soft and easily scratched. It doesn’t tarnish as quickly as other silver varieties but can become dull.
Sterling Silver :
Sterling silver is the most frequently used silver in jewellery. It is typically composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The copper component causes tarnishing, though sterling never gets too dirty due to its sensitivity.
Silver-Plated:
This type of jewellery has a thin layer of silver over another metal, such as copper, brass, or bronze. Silver-plated ornaments have less longevity, and the thin coating of silver can get tarnished and cleaned off.
The things you will need to clean silver jewellery:
Fancy tools or expensive cleaning products aren’t necessary when cleaning silver jewellery. Fortunately, most of what you need are things you likely have around the house- things that will leave your Jewellery looking shiny and clean without harming it!
Tools:
Soft-bristled Brush: Your toothbrush or a soft-bristled brush can be used to brush up tight spots of your jewellery, without ruining the surface of your piece.
Microfiber Cloth: This is very good at cleaning silver jewellery and does not have fibers falling off, which can be potentially harmful.
Big Bowl: You want to be able to soak your jewellery in a cleaning solution, so use a big bowl to avoid a soapy mess.
Materials:
Dish Soap: The gentle liquid dish soap is a good choice to clean sterling silver and silver-plated jewellery.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a mild chemical that is an effective remedy for cleaning tarnish from silver Jewelry.
Aluminium Foil: Aluminium foil is one of the most advanced cleaning techniques to rid tarnish from silver.
Kosher Salt: Combined with baking soda, kosher salt can remove tarnish from silver jewellery.
Best Ways to Clean Silver Jewellery:
You should be able to restore your tarnished silver Jewelry to its former shiny glamour with a few household items. Here are some of the options best suited to that purpose:
1. Cleaning Silver with Dish Soap
The easiest method to clean silver Jewelry involves mild dish soap and warm water.
Steps:
Mix the Solution: Add a couple of drops of dish soap into warm water, and combine until it bubbles.
Dunk the Jewelley: Now let your silver jewellery rest in the solution for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Scrub Lightly: Gently scrub the jewellery with a soft-bristle brush in any crevices or details.
Rinse and Dry: Rinse jewellery with warm water and pat dry with a soft microfibre cloth.
This method is better for pieces that just need a little cleaning — for instance, if you haven’t worn them enough to tarnish.
2. Baking soda and lemon juice as paste
If you want to remove tarnish from silver jewellery, use bicarb soda. It’s a mild abrasive that can break down tarnish without harming the silver.
Steps:
Prepare a Paste: Dab two parts of baking soda and one part of water or lemon juice into a paste.
Place the Paste: Apply the paste to the tarnished areas of your silver jewelry with a soft cloth or toothbrush.
Scrub Lightly: Massage the paste into the jewellery, particularly in discolouring areas.
Rinse and Dry: Rinse your Jewelry under warm water and wipe dry with a soft, clean cloth.
For extra-stubborn tarnish, you can let the paste sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing. This technique is perfect for sterling silver and silver-plated jewellery.
3. Silver Polishing Cloth
A silver polish cloth is a simple, convenient method of keeping silver jewellery tarnish-free. These cloths are treated with a special polish that removes tarnish but won't scratch your pendant.
Steps:
Buff the jewellery in a circular motion with the polishing cloth.
Concentrate on the spots until the silver is shiny.
This method is great for light tarnishing that needs a quick shine.
4. Silver Bath Cleaning with Aluminium Foil
A silver bath with aluminium is very powerful for badly tarnished silver. Baking soda, salt, and boiling water work together to lift tarnish from the surface.
Steps:
Line a Bowl with Aluminium Foil: Put the shiny side of a piece of aluminium foil down on the bottom of the bowl.
Pour Boiling Water: Bring a pot of water to a boil, then pour it into the bowl to cover the jewellery.
Add Baking Soda and Then Salt: Stir one tablespoon of baking soda and two teaspoons of kosher salt with the water.
Soak the Jewellery: Drop your silver items in the solution and allow them to soak for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse and Dry: Remove from cleaner and rinse with warm water before drying with a separate clean, dry microfiber cloth.
This technique is good for silver chains, rings, and smaller designs.
5. Toothpaste Cleaning
You can clean silver jewellery with normal toothpaste since it has gentle abrasives to clean away tarnishes.
Steps:
Use Toothpaste: Place a small amount of non-whitening toothpaste on a soft toothbrush.
Gently Scrub: Diligently scrub the jewellery, paying particular attention to tarnished areas.
Rinse and Dry: Rinse jewellery in warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
This works well, but I would not use it on fine, delicate silver jewellery with stones in it, as the abrasives in toothpaste can scratch the stones.
How to Care for and Store Silver Jewellery
The method of hold and care is the most essential part of keeping your silver jewellery bright.
How to Store Your Silver Jewellery:
Store Silver Jewellery in a Cool, Dry Place: Moisture accelerates tarnishing, so don’t leave your jewellery in a bathroom or other damp place.
Wrap silver in Anti-Tarnish Pouches or Boxes: To shield silver from air and moisture, keep it in a zip-lock bag or an anti-tarnish pouch.
Use Moisture Absorbers: Keep silica gel packets or charcoal in your jewellery box to absorb extra moisture.
Cover Jewellery with Cloth: Place silver jewellery pieces on microfiber or velvet cloth before storing them.
Avoid Chemicals: Remove your jewellery when applying lotion, perfume, or hairspray, as these will cause it to tarnish faster.
How frequently should you clean silver jewellery?
It depends on how you usually wear it and the conditions. For everyday wear, give your silver jewellery a monthly respite. If you only wear it once in a while, cleaning every few months should be enough.
Suppose your jewellery comes into contact with sweat, water, or chemicals more often. In that case, you may need to clean it 3-5 times weekly to prevent tarnishing.
Final Thoughts
Silver jewellery is a stunning accessory that is both classic and sophisticated in design. However, it does require some care to maintain its natural beauty.
Whether you’re applying DIY cleaning techniques such as baking soda, a polishing cloth, or a silver bath, common cleaning practices and proper storage of your jewellery are critical to keeping it shiny and elegant.
With these helpful hints, you can ensure that your silver remains sparkly for years to come, keeping you in style whether at a concert or show!
When well taken care of, silver jewellery can continue to look beautiful and make you feel a little more glam for a long time to come.
