Steps to good care of silver jewelry​

 

​​​Silver jewelry are more than just an accessory: they are a reflection of precious moments and personal style. By caring for these pieces with the right methods, you can preserve their beauty and shine for years to come.

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Wear your silver jewelry often

​Believe it or not, wearing your silver jewelry can actually help prevent tarnish! The oils from your skin can help keep silver shiny. 

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Avoid contact with chemicals

Silver Jewelry can tarnish when exposed to chemicals such as perfumes, lotions, hairsprays, household cleaning products, and chlorine. Always put on your Silver Jewelry after applying makeup or fragrances, and remove it before swimming, showering, or cleaning.

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Remove jewelry during activities

Take off your silver jewelry before swimming, exercising, or engaging in any activities that involve sweat or moisture. Sweat contains acids that can tarnish silver over time. Similarly, exposure to household chemicals during chores can damage the surface of silver jewelry.

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Clean your silver jewelry regularly

Regular cleaning helps prevent tarnish buildup. Use a soft silver polishing cloth or microfiber cloth to gently wipe the jewelry after each wear. This will remove oils, moisture, and dust that may cause tarnishing over time.

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Store silver jewelry properly

Proper storage is crucial for good care of silver jewelry to prevent tarnishing. Store your silver Jewelry pieces in an airtight container or anti-tarnish pouch to limit exposure to air and moisture. Use individual compartments or soft pouches for each piece to avoid scratches. 

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Keep silver jewelry dry

Moisture is the enemy of silver jewelry. Always dry your silver jewelry thoroughly after cleaning or if it has come into contact with water. Even natural body oils and sweat can tarnish silver over time, so make sure to wipe it after each wear for good care of silver jewelry.

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Polish with a silver cloth

Use a silver jewelry polishing cloth for regular maintenance. Gently rub your silver jewelry in straight, back-and-forth motions (not circles) to restore its shine. Avoid using tissues or paper towels, as these can scratch the surface of your Jewelry.

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Use a baking soda and aluminum foil method for heavier tarnish

For heavily tarnished pieces, you can use this homemade cleaning solution for good care of silver jewelry:
– Line a bowl with aluminum foil.
– Add boiling water and a tablespoon of baking soda.
– Submerge your silver jewelry for a few minutes. The chemical reaction will remove tarnish.
– Rinse and dry thoroughly.

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When the sun is out...

Sunlight usually implies a warm environment, which often leads to two things silver hates:

• Humidity: Moisture in the air acts as a medium for sulfur to settle on your jewelry.

• Skin Chemistry: If you are wearing the jewelry in the sun, you are likely sweating. The salts and oils in your sweat react with the copper often found in Sterling Silver (which is $92.5\%$ silver and $7.5\%$ copper), leading to faster dulling or green skin stains.

 

If you’re outside in the sun, you’re likely wearing sunscreen or tanning oil.

• Chemical clouding: Many sunscreens contain chemicals that react aggressively with silver, leaving a greasy film or causing deep tarnish that is much harder to polish off than standard oxidation.

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The swimming pool. Most swimming pools are treated with chlorine to kill bacteria. When silver is submerged in chlorinated water, a chemical reaction occurs that creates silver chloride.

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