How to Clean & Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry is comprised of 92.5% silver, with the remaining content comprised of another metal, often copper, to give the jewelry durability and hardness. It is the copper content that gives sterling silver jewelry the tendency to tarnish when it reacts with sulfides in the air. There are several tricks to maintaining the shine of your sterling silver jewelry. The best tip is to wear this special breed of 'bling-bling' as much as possible. The natural oils in one’s skin keep the sterling silver gleaming, so you really only need to keep a polishing cloth handy for touch ups.

Preventive Measures

Products that you use in your day-to-day life can harm your sterling silver jewelry including the gemstones, or cause a residue to build up on the jewelry surface. This residue will make your jewelry look dull and will be difficult to remove. Jewelry should be the finishing touch to your outfit – always put in on once you have totally finished bathing and grooming, as the products you use as part of your beauty routine may contribute to damaging your sterling silver. In particular, hairspray and perfume are damaging to sterling silver jewelry. Body lotion, moisturizer, shaving cream, nail polish remover, makeup and mousse also contain active ingredients that can harm jewelry.

If the ingredients in beauty products can spoil the shine on your sterling silver, imagine what the harsh chemicals contained in household cleaning products can do! Chlorine-containing bleach is the number one enemy of sterling silver. The chlorine causes your silver to oxidize, which makes it appear black. This black layer is quite difficult to remove and can ruin your favorite jewelry. Chlorine is contained in a surprising number of chemicals, so take your jewelry off before your next spring clean. Also take off your jewelry before using a swimming pool – the chlorine used to sanitize the pool will damage your jewelry.

Remove your jewelry when you do gardening or any strenuous activity to protect it from hard knocks. Working with power tools may cause your bracelets, rings, chains or earrings to get caught in the tool and break. You may even risk serious injuries, so exercise common sense and remove your jewelry before using any power tools.

Storage

It is recommended that you store your jewelry in a polyethylene plastic zip-lock bag or an air-tight container with a tarnish-prevention cloth . The cloth is specially treated to slow down the tarnishing process. Some plastics contain sulfur compounds that can accelerate the tarnishing process. Do not use polyvinyl plastic bags.

Each piece of jewelry should be stored separately to prevent the pieces from rubbing against each other and resulting in tangled bunches or scratches. It’s a good idea to store your jewelry in a safe place, but one that is also cool and dry, away from direct sunlight. To reduce humidity, place a pack of silica gel together with your jewelry.

Do not store the silver jewelry directly in contact with wood surfaces as wood usually contains acids that can damage the finish of the jewelry. Never wrap your jewelry in newspaper or aluminium foil.

Cleaning

Cleaning your jewelry often keeps tarnish to a minimum. The fastest and most economical way to clean sterling silver, if needed, includes using warm water, a mild liquid detergent and a soft toothbrush. Dry your silver jewelry pieces completely with a clean 100% cotton cloth prior to storing. Clean or dry your jewelry in an up and down direction as circular motion may cause scratches. Do not use polyester, paper or coarse fabrics to wipe or dry the jewelry because these materials contain wood fibres or synthetics which can cause tiny scratches.

Ultrasonic cleaner is acceptable if the silver piece has no gemstones. Some gemstones including organic ones will shatter or craze under ultrasound. When in doubt, do not use ultrasonic cleaners. Read gemstone jewelry care on how to clean gemstones.

If there is a large tarnish buildup, you can use silver spray polish or pastes. Rub the silver cleaner on with a soft cotton cloth to avoid scratching the piece. Extra care should be taken when using such cleaner on jewelry pieces with gemstones. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Dip polish is not recommended especially on silver pieces with oxidized patterns. The polish will remove intricate details of the jewelry.

Your grandma might tell you that toothpaste is a good cleaner to use on sterling silver and, although she’s right and it is effective, many jewelers warn that toothpaste is a little too harsh for sterling silver and may scratch and dull your precious jewelry. Using baking soda is another controversial method. Like toothpaste, it is claimed to be abrasive. You may want to try this homemade remedy for silver pieces without gemstones, involving baking soda and aluminium foil that doesn't require rubbing baking soda on the jewelry:

• Line the bottom of a glass or stoneware bowl with a piece of aluminium foil. Place the tarnished silver on the aluminium foil.
• Add 2 Tbsp baking soda and 2 cups warm water. The solution should be sufficient to cover the items. Soak for a few minutes.
• Pour out the items into a colander or strainer. Rinse, dry thoroughly and shine with a polishing cloth.

Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful and hardy and, cared for properly, can be a thing of beauty for ever.