How to Clean Silver Jewelry at Home: A Professional Jeweler’s Guide

Regardless of the type of collection you have, it will surely become dull and less shiny after some time due to exposure to moisture, skin oils, sulfur in the air, and cosmetics. The appearance of tarnish on the surface of your jewelry collection is no more than a normal chemical reaction.

However, despite the temptation to apply harsh household cleaning chemicals or chemical dips in order to clean your tarnished jewelry collection, it is advisable for you to stop yourself from it. Otherwise, you may ruin your sterling silver jewelry pieces through scratching, stripping off the finish, or even damaging the gemstones on them. You need to have knowledge about caring for your different jewelry pieces at home like sterling silver rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, as well as gemstone jewelry. Here is the proper way to clean your silver jewelry at home.

1. Mild Daily Clean (Ideal for Regular Cleaning)

While cleaning jewelry, it is never recommended to use aggressive chemical solutions, as no matter how simple this procedure may be.

Instead, you should choose a mild wash to ensure that you maintain the quality of your silver bracelet or fine chain.

• Solution: In a fresh bowl mix 1 cup lukewarm water with a few drops of dish soap.  
• Rinse: Put the jewelry right into that mix, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes so the oils on the inside can loosen up and vanish.  
• Cleaning: Use a super soft baby toothbrush or a microfiber cloth to carefully clean around the spaces between gems and the links of your jewelry.
• Final Step: Rinse the piece in clean lukewarm water, then dry it with a microfiber towel.  

TIP: For delicate silver earrings like hoops, or post style earrings with butterfly clasps, do it in a shallow bowl or a mesh strainer so nothing gets snagged or bent.

2. The Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda Approach (Good for Severe Tarnish)

In case you have a piece of jewelry made of oxidized silver, which usually turns dark or black in color, electrochemistry may be recommended by the jeweler. The next method demonstrates how to clean jewelry at home.

• Preparation of a Bowl: Get ready a small glass or ceramic bowl, and coat its inner surfaces with aluminum foil.
• Placement of Your Jewelry: Place the oxidized silver items in this bowl ensuring that they touch the aluminum placed in the bottom of the bowl.
• Preparation of a Solution: Sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda on the jewelry, and then pour very hot water into this bowl. In an instant, a bubbling chemical reaction will take place meaning that tarnish goes from the silver to the aluminum.
• Cleaning of Your Jewelry: Leave the jewelry in the solution for 2-5 minutes, and then remove it from the bowl using tongs, and rinse it with warm water.
  

(Note: This technique should not be applied for the antique silver with dark patina since it erases the black details.)

3. Proper Care for Gemstone-Accented Silver

The silver jewelry pieces that have diamonds, cubic zirconias or colored gems require special attention when they get dirty.  

• Testing Your Jewelry: First, spend some time examining the settings on your how to clean silver jewelry with stones jewelry in order to find out if there are any loose or broken prongs.
• Avoid Making Your Stones Wet: Do not put jewelry with porous or glued stones (for example, opals, turquoises, pearls, or emeralds) in hot water or a cleaning liquid. Cleaning Using Cotton Swabs: Soak a soft cotton swab in a gentle mixture of soap and warm water, and then clean the stones and metal of the jewelry.
  
  

4. Professional Polishing Cloths

After removal of active tarnish, it will be best to use a high-grade polishing cloth designed specifically for jewelry polishing.

• Techniques: When polishing metals, always apply the cloth on the metal in a straight motion; never apply circular friction on the metals. This type of polishing process tends to highlight microscratches that have been made on polished sterling silver surfaces.
• Frequency: Polish silver only when absolutely necessary because whenever silver is polished, it loses its microscopic amount of metal.
  
  

What Jewelers Say You Should NEVER Do

To safeguard your expensive investments from any possible damage, you should not do the following in your home cleaning efforts:

• No Toothpaste: Forget the old myth about the effectiveness of toothpaste for cleaning your silver. The reason is most toothpaste brands have strong silica abrasives which will cause permanent scratches on your highly polished silver pieces.
• Avoid Using Liquid Chemicals: You should avoid using any liquid chemicals since they are highly concentrated and therefore, may damage the protective coating of your metals.
• Don’t Use Paper Towels: Paper towels should not be used to clean your jewelry since they have wood fibers, which may scratch your precious metals.
  
  

What actions should I perform to prevent tarnish from occurring quickly in my sterling silver jewelry?

The most effective action is to use your jewelry as much as you can since the oils on your skin will create a protective layer on your silver jewelry. Also, when wearing your jewelry, always apply your perfume, lotion, or hair spray and then wear all your silver jewelry.

Conclusion

In order to protect the condition of your sterling silver jewelry, you will not have to purchase expensive accessories. Cleaning with the help of dish soap solution, electrochemical process to clean your heavily tarnished jewelry, and polishing with a polishing cloth will assure you that your jewelry will stay shining forever. Protect your silver jewelry from moisture.