Sterling Silver Jewelry Care and Cleaning

Sterling Silver Jewelry
Care and Cleaning

Sterling silver can oxidize (tarnish) with time, but properly maintained silver jewelry improves with age and develops a lush patina. This black oxidation develops naturally and is often purposefully used by the designer to create an earthy feel or to introduce an additional color in the piece. Recessed areas tend to oxidize and remain that way. Raised areas tend to stay free of oxidation due to the abrasive nature of daily wear. Silver is very soft and highly polished surfaces are impossible to preserve with normal wear. Silver is sometimes rhodium plated, which inhibits tarnish. It also helps to hold a polish. This plating wears off over time and must be replated to maintain the original look of the piece.

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Clean your silver jewelry with a mild soap and water solution, and dry with a soft cloth. Dish soap works well. For more stubborn dirt, you can use a toothbrush.
To remove tarnish, line a pot with aluminum foil. Add baking soda and boiling water to the pot. Put your silver jewelry in the solution being sure that the silver is in contact with the aluminum. Leave the jewelry in the solution until the tarnish is gone. It shouldn't take a long time.
Store your silver in a cool, dry place if possible. If you wrap each item in a soft piece of felt or cloth, it will prevent scratches and help reduce tarnishing. There are tarnish-preventive bags that can be effective, especially if you live in a moist, corrosive atmosphere.
As much as possible, avoid rubbing your silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or a fine piece of felt. The small fibers in tissue paper or paper towels can cause fine scratches. We can provide the proper polishing cloth to keep your silver jewelry looking good.
Make sure your silver is not exposed to light during storage – this can cause silver to tarnish more quickly. Heavily-chlorinated water and some household chemicals can also increase oxidation.