Jewellery Care: How To Clean Silver Jewellery? February 18, 2021 – Posted in: Blog
Silver jewelry is one of the most popular types of fine jewelry. Silver is so popular, it’s even preferred over gold. If you properly care for your sterling silver jewelry, it can last for an extremely long time. It is to maintain a beautiful and lustrous appearance for every piece in your collection. Silver requires a little more maintenance and cleaning than other metals used in jewellery, but people still seek out sterling silver jewellery because of its captivating shine and color, and because it offers the best value by far of all the precious metals used in jewellery making.
But how do you care for sterling silver? You want to clean it to ensure the silver jewelry maintains its brilliance. But harsh cleaner can potentially damage the jewelry.
It’s easy to simply neglect cleaning silver, but doing so risks tarnishing the jewelry.
Don’t worry — AuGrav can help you!
WHY IS SILVER JEWELLERY POPULAR?
The use of silver in jewellery has become increasingly popular today and there are many reasons why that is so.
- It is ideal for daily use and doesn’t attract too much attention.
- It is versatile and can be worn with multiple outfits, hence doesn’t require switching out in between.
- Silver is said to have auspicious value hence, it is a gifting item that is often presented to babies in the form of spoons or bowls.
- Its shade is said to stimulate calmness and tranquility.
- Jewellery aside, silver is also used in crafting luxurious dishware and cutlery which are used for gifting or special occasions.
BENEFITS OF WEARING SILVER JEWELLERY
Besides its understated glam, these are the benefits that silver is said to lend one’s body.
- It is an antimicrobial agent that can aid in repair of damaged cells, keeping away infection and healing of wounds.
- It may be able to regulate internal heat produced in the body
- It may improve energy levels and blood circulation of the body
- It can help one avoid toxic substances as it changes its colour when reacting to it
CLEANING SILVER JEWELLERY
Silver jewellery gets dirty from wear and tear, or even from transport and handling when you’re displaying it to customers. Also, silver reacts to the oxygen and sulfur in the air- tarnish gradually occurs when sulfur becomes bound to the surface of the silver.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
The best way to prevent tarnishing and maintain a piece’s lustrous appearance is to keep silver jewellery in a sealed bag when it isn’t in use or being displayed. This limits its exposure to the oxygen and sulfur floating in the air. When placed in a sealed bag, silver jewellery must also be completely dry, because exposure to water can cause tarnishing as well.
Also Read: Rose Gold Jewellery – The Trend That Just Won’t Go Away
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER JEWELRY THE SIMPLE WAY
Silver is a soft, lustrous metal, so gentle cleaning is key. A mix of warm water and mild dishwashing soap, or even baby shampoo, will usually do the trick for cleaning everyday jewelry. This method also works to clean gold jewelry.
- Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to warm water. Mix until bubbles form.
- Soak jewelry in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Use a soft-bristle brush, such as a toothbrush, to clean any crevices.
- Rinse jewelry in warm water.
- To dry, gently rub jewelry with a silver cloth or microfiber towel. (Note: Avoid using paper towels, as these can scratch the silver.)
Fine silver jewelry with diamonds or other precious gems can often be cleaned with soap and water as well. However, consider speaking to a jeweler before cleaning valuables or have the piece professionally cleaned to be safe.
HOW TO CLEAN STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
The silver pieces in your jewelry box are likely made of sterling silver rather than pure silver. If soap and water don’t do the trick, you can try other DIY methods for cleaning silver that utilize common pantry and household staples, including baking soda, lemon juice, olive oil, white vinegar, salt, and toothpaste.
Make a Baking Soda Paste
Mix two parts baking soda to one part water to make a paste, then gently rub the mixture onto the jewelry. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth or microfiber towel. You can also follow a similar method using cornstarch. Just let the paste dry completely to remove the tarnish.
Mix Lemon and Olive Oil
Mix 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon olive oil into a solution. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and gently rub the silver until it shines. Rinse and dry.
Combine Vinegar and Baking Soda
Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda together, then let your silver jewelry soak in the mixture for two to three hours before rinsing and polishing.
Try Toothpaste
A small amount of diluted toothpaste and a soft-bristle brush can do wonders for cleaning sterling silver jewelry. Just make sure the toothpaste is not a whitening formula, and don’t use this method on anything silver-plated.
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER RINGS
Silver maintains its shine best when worn frequently, so everyday all-silver rings tend to maintain a certain level of daily sparkle. But rings that have been set aside for long periods of time (or not stored properly) might require extra care.
If soap and water aren’t enough, you can use a clean toothbrush to scrub any detail work that remains tarnished. The DIY methods described above can also work to clean silver rings.
Photo Credits: arjl.com
The best method for cleaning silver rings will depend on the other materials in the piece, such as turquoise, pearls, and other gemstones or precious metals. These could be damaged by certain cleaning methods. Vinegar, for example, can harm porous stones, and baking soda can scratch soft metals. Again, if the ring is precious, consult a professional before cleaning.
Also Read: Ways To Keep Your Jewelry Organized In Luggage On A Trip
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER CHAINS
Silver chains on necklaces and bracelets can tarnish easily from contact with lotions, perfumes, and perspiration, and these delicate pieces often need special care. Luckily, you can use the same method used to clean silver flatware for chains.
The tarnish on silver is often silver sulfide, which is created when sulfur atoms combine with the silver. This cleaning method uses aluminum foil to pull the sulfur atoms away from the silver to make the piece sparkle. Note that this strategy is effective, but it can smell unpleasant.
- Line the entire surface of a large bowl or pan with aluminum foil.
- Fill the pan with boiling water.
- Add 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 teaspoons kosher salt to the water and stir. Bubbles will form.
- Place silver jewelry in the solution and mix gently, taking care not to hit the pieces together or against the sides of the pan.
- Let sit for up to 5 minutes.
- Remove and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
HOW TO PREVENT TARNISH ON SILVER JEWELRY
The key to tarnish-free silver jewelry is prevention. Although you can’t completely protect silver from air, heat, or moisture, you can do your best to limit exposure.
First, all silver jewelry should be stored properly in soft, anti-tarnish bags in a cool, dark place. The lower the humidity, the better. Some people add a piece of chalk, a packet of charcoal, or even silica gel to the bags to help remove moisture. Extra moisture is also why leaving jewelry in the bathroom is not a good idea. Remove rings, earrings, and other silver pieces before showering, swimming, or doing dishes, and be sure to put your jewelry on last, after all your perfumes and lotions have had time to sink in.
Another somewhat surprising way to prevent tarnish is to simply wear your silver. The daily friction of life actually does wonders for making silver shine.
There’s an old adage in the medical community: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Surprisingly, this also applies to keeping sterling silver jewellery looking new and beautiful. With proper care using only an inexpensive jewellery polishing cloth, a well-constructed piece of silver jewellery will maintain its beauty and shine for decades.
AuGrav (Au-Gold, Grav-To Etch, to Engrave) Strongly believes that any Jewel should be a natural extension of yourself. It could be as simple as your Names, to your Fingerprints, your Voice Waves, or anything that describes your Persona. To create a piece that will be worn by only 1 out of 7 billion people on earth, Get In Touch with us. Our Jewelry experts have all ears to listen to your story and suggest creating a masterpiece.
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