Sterling silver jewelry, overtime, ages and loses its luster. While they are coated with a thin protective overlay, this protective coat fades. Thus, leaving your sterling silver more vulnerable to tarnish.
Sterling silver accessories are 92.5% (.925) pure silver and 7.5% other minerals. Some have 95% pure silver and softer. They tarnish easily, requiring more care and cleaning.
Luckily for you, you don’t have to worry no more. I’ll be sharing ways to clean your silver accessories and make them good as new!
Good Ol’ Dishwashing Soap and Water
Cleaning your sterling silver with water and phosphate-free dishwashing soap is like the salt and pepper of silver cleaning – the basic cleaning approach for tarnished silver.
If this method fails to bring back the shine of your jewelry, feel free to proceed with other cleaning methods.
The Great Baking Soda
From cooking, eliminating foul odor, or cleaning, baking soda is a miracle ingredient fit to do almost any cleaning!
Baking Soda and Water
If dishwashing soap didn’t work, mix baking soda and water until it forms a paste.
Once ready, use a clean cloth to rub on your jewelry. For hard to reach areas, use an old toothbrush. Run your sterling silver under warm water after cleaning and get ready to pair it with your outfit for the day.
Just a heads up, use a thinner paste to avoid ruining intricate details on your silver jewelry.
Baking Soda, Salt, and Aluminum Foil
Perhaps, this is the most aggressive form of cleaning your silver jewelry. It is safe to use, but make sure to not breathe in the steam that comes out.
Take a container and place the shiny side of the foil facing upright inside. Place your silver inside and pour boiling water. Add two tablespoons of salt and two tablespoons of baking soda. Mix the solution thoroughly to dissolve the salt and baking soda to avoid any scratches on your jewelry. Let it sit for five to ten minutes before draining the solution and taking your silver out.
Use this method for severely tarnished jewelry as the solution transfers the tarnish onto the foil.
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
If the other method is not enough and the aluminum foil method is too harsh, you can use baking soda and vinegar instead.
Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with half a cup of white vinegar and let your jewelry sit in for about three hours. Dry your silver jewelry and see the results yourself.
Olive Oil and Lemon Juice
If you don’t want to use baking soda, you can use lemon juice and olive oil.
Combine half a cup of lemon juice and two teaspoons of olive oil in a container where your accessory is. Polish with a clean cloth and you have yourself a good as new jewelry.
Cleaning Service
If you don’t have the time for some DIY cleaning, you can always ask the help of a professional. Most jewelry shops offer cleaning services.
Prevention is Better than Cure
As we’ve heard before: prevention is better than cure. However, regardless of how hard we try, tarnishing of our sterling silver is a natural process.
We can, however, delay tarnish. Our body’s natural oil help maintain the cleanliness of our sterling silver and keep it neat! Thus, wear your silver jewelry constantly.
Also, avoid direct sunlight and chemicals like perfume, hairspray, and lotion. These can accelerate the tarnishing of your jewelry.
You can also regularly polish your silver. Use gentle materials like microfibre or special silver-cleaning cloth to wipe your jewelry and prevent further scratches and damage. Lastly, clean your silver in a back and forth motion to follow the material’s grain.