Sterling Silver has been around for centuries. Jewellery made from Sterling Silver can be very beautiful and last for many years. It’s affordable and can be worn on a regular basis and for almost any occasion. We are seeing more and more items available in the market place made from this metal than ever before.
Below are a few tips on how to keep your Sterling Silver looking great.
Silver tarnishing is a NATURAL process and reaction to the outside world.
Sterling Silver can tarnish especially when not being worn.
The correct way to storing your Sterling Silver jewellery when you are not wearing it is very important. Just placing it on your bedside table or dresser is definitely not the right way to avoid tarnishing. Find a cool dark place in your home away from sunlight, moisture and heat.
Place each piece of jewellery in a sealable plastic bag with the air squeezed out. This will prevent the metal from coming into contact with contaminants which cause oxidisation and tarnishing. Better still also add an anti-tarnish paper strip as well.
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It’s inevitable that at some time you will get your Sterling Silver jewellery wet. Although it’s best avoided it’s not the end of the world. If you accidentally wear it into the shower or forget to take it off before swimming, take a dry cloth and dry it off asap. But should you forget it is guaranteed to start tarnishing. Also, you should never leave any Sterling Silver jewellery sitting in the bathroom where it will be exposed to humidity and moisture. It’s best to get into the habit of removing Sterling Silver jewellery before showering, swimming, hot tub dipping or any other forms of getting wet for pleasure!
When returning your jewellery to your storage bag always be sure to wipe it off first with a dry cloth even if you cannot see any tarnishing.
In the event you do see some tarnishing here is the best way to deal with it :
1. Fill up a cup with warm water and a few drops of a mild dishwashing liquid.
2. Place your Sterling Silver jewellery into the cup and gently hand wash it.
3. Use a cotton swab to get deep into tight corners and clean them out.
4. Use a baby toothbrush to clean away any tarnish that you can't remove by hand.
5. Remove your Sterling Silver jewellery from the cup, wipe it down, and then allow it to air dry before you place it back into storage for safekeeping.
There are some chemical cleaners that are often recommended which are best avoided such as toothpaste, soda, bleach and acetone. These chemicals can either scratch or wear down the surface over time and generally leave the metal looking very dull.
So there you have it. The best thing to do is enjoy wearing your Sterling Silver jewellery as much as possible but remember to store it properly when not being worn and always wipe it down before storage and after getting wet.
Best Wishes,
Julia.