All sterling silver jewellery will tarnish as the exposed surface layer of silver reacts with elements in the air to form a faint golden glow, or patina, which then turns black over time. Luckily, it is easy to minimize this by following a few simple tips and cleaning silver when it does tarnish can be a quick and easy process.
Remove your sterling silver pieces when doing housework, taking a shower or swimming, as the chemicals involved in these activities could cause immediate tarnishing. The good news is that natural oils from the skin help minimise tarnishing, so the more frequently a piece is worn, the less it will tarnish.
Jewellery should be the last things you put on in the morning to avoid getting makeup, lotions and other personal care products on them. They should also be among the first things you take off in the evening so they don’t get caught on clothing when you undress. It’s not recommended to wear chain/necklaces in bed as they can tangle and stretch/break.
Storing your jewellery in a cool and dry place helps slow tarnishing. Individual cloth bags with drawstring ties or airtight plastic bags will also reduce tarnishing significantly, as well as prevent scratching against other loose items.
Basic cleaning equipment - a special silver polishing cloth or soft 100% cotton cloth are both great for light cleaning silver jewellery without scratching its surface. Do some light cleaning each week. Wipe your everyday jewellery with a soft cotton cloth on a regular basis.
Regular deep cleaning silver jewellery at intervals prevents tarnish build-up. Just wash in a mild soapy water solution (liquid dish detergents works well) and gently brush the crevices with an old very soft toothbrush or a baby toothbrush. Then rinse with water and dry with a soft cotton cloth. Avoid using paper towels or tissues to dry your jewellery as they sometimes contain coarse fibres that can scratch the surface of fine sterling silver jewellery.
If an item has a great deal of tarnish, clean it with a silver paste cleaner or a silver polish spray, following the directions provided by the cleaning product manufacturer. Keep in mind that silver polish cleaners or pastes are often not compatible with gemstones, cubic zirconias or pearls and can damage them. Always check cleaning methods for any stones. Also, many of these cleaners are quite abrasive and should be used lightly.
Eco-friendly silver cleaning
Cleaning silver that is heavily tarnished can also be done very effectively with non-toxic items you probably already have. As before, check cleaning guidance for any gemstones.
You will need:
A bowl that is heat resistant
Aluminium foil
Bicarbonate of soda (available in the baking section at supermarket)
Washing up liquid
Boiling water
Soft cloth
Line the dish with the aluminium foil, add a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and a few drops of washing up liquid.
Put your silver items in the bowl making sure that they are touching the foil
Carefully add boiling water
Wait for 15 mins
Rinse and then polish with a soft cloth
The tarnish disappears due to an electrolyte reaction which transfers the tarnish from the silver to the foil- like magic!
Cleaning silver jewellery has never been so easy!
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