1. Apply warm, soapy water with a soft cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush.
2. Gently brush your jewellery with the solution.
3. Rinse the sterling silver after brushing it.
4. Then pat dry with a soft piece of cloth.
How To Clean Sterling Silver The Right Way (Proven & Tested)
So, you just got yourself a lovely piece of sterling silver jewellery! Wonderful, indeed! Gifts of silver are always gifts of value and meaning. Naturally, you’d want to keep it as pristine as the day you first saw it. Here are a few tips on how to clean sterling silver, store it, and keep it looking new for years to come.
How to Store Sterling Silver
To keep tarnish at bay, wrap each piece in soft tissue paper and individually store your sterling silver jewellery pieces in resealable plastic bags. Tarnishing happens when the surface is exposed to air and moisture. Sealing them in a zip lock bag or any resealable organizer keeps them from water and air.
How to Clean Sterling Silver
Your sterling silver pieces will inevitably need cleaning and polishing regularly. This is important to remove oils, cosmetics debris, fingerprints, dirt, and even naturally-occurring tarnish.
The two most effective cleansers can be found right in the bath – warm water and a block of mild bar soap. Avoid liquid soaps. Liquid soap leaves an unsightly film and a dull finish. Here’s what to do:
This warm, soapy water solution works excellent for non-porous gemstones such as garnet, peridot, amethyst, topaz, and zirconia. Avoid using this method for porous gemstones such as emerald, opal, pearl, turquoise, amber, onyx, and coral.
To polish, invest in a silver polishing cloth. These fabrics are chemically treated to remove tarnishes and leave a polished shine. To polish, invest in a silver polishing cloth. These materials are chemically treated to remove tarnishes and leave a polished shine.
Begin by rubbing your sterling silver piece. Despite the dark residue, your polishing cloth is good for several years with regular use. DO NOT launder your polishing cloth because this will remove the cleaning agent.
How To Enjoy Your Sterling Silver
Life is short! Silver jewellery should be used and enjoyed often. Wear it for your daily grind or flaunt them on those nights out. Either way, sterling silvers are great partners for almost every outfit.
However, as much as we’d love to have you wearing them often, remove your silver pieces for these activities:
SWIMMING – Chlorine can cause severe damage not just to silver pieces but also to gemstones.
HOUSE CHORES – Most cleaning products have harsh chemicals that can cause metals to break down. We don’t recommend rubber gloves because friction can loosen stones and prongs. Best to remove jewellery altogether.
GARDENING – Losing jewellery in the garden is a nightmare! But more than that, gardening projects constantly expose your silver pieces to dirt, hard debris, and other rough materials. Rocks and sand can scratch the soft metal. Gardening tools don’t guarantee safety either. Bracelets can get caught, and rings are prone to scratching.
BATH AND SHOWER – Besides the dangers of sliding off into the drain, shampoo, conditioners, bath gels, and the like leave a slimy film on the surface of most jewellery.
Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry. These reminders above on how to clean sterling silver can keep your jewellery long-lasting and pristine.
We got other tips we might have missed? We’re all ears! Comment your suggestions in the section below.
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