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How To Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry is a staple in every women's jewelry box. To ensure your sterling silver necklaces, earrings, rings and pendants continue to look new here are the best ways to care for your Sterling Silver.

Sterling silver is an alloy that contains about 7.5% percent of another metal, such as copper. (Copper is the primary culprit behind tarnish on sterling silver jewelry.) Silver is actually a very soft metal, so it’s combined with other metals to make it stronger and more functional. The silver that’s in sterling silver can tarnish when it comes into contact with certain environmental pollutants, and the alloy metals are often reactive with oxygen, making sterling silver prone to corrosion and tarnishing.

Soap And Water

  • Add a few drops of a mild liquid dish soap or baby shampoo to warm water.
  • Mix until bubbles form.
  • Soak jewelry in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Use a clean soft-bristled toothbrush to reach any detail work that remains tarnished.
  • Rinse jewelry in warm water.
  • To dry, gently rub jewelry with microfiber cloth.

We recommend trying this method first before using any of the following methods.

Remember, silver is a very soft metal and you can scratch it if you aren't careful so don't rub it too hard.

Baking Soda And Water

  • If soap and water aren't enough, combine water with baking soda to make a thin paste.
  • Apply a pea-sized amount of the paste to a microfiber cloth and lightly rub.
  • Use a clean soft-bristled toothbrush to reach any detail work that remains tarnished.
  • Rinse jewelry in warm water.
  • To dry, gently rub jewelry with microfiber cloth.

Toothpaste And Water

  • Dilute a small amount of toothpaste in warm water. Do not use a whitening toothpaste
  • Use a clean soft-bristled toothbrush to reach any detail work that remains tarnished.
  • Rinse jewelry in warm water.
  • To dry, gently rub jewelry with microfiber cloth.

Olive Oil And Lemon Juice

  • Mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice with 1 tbsp. of olive oil
  • Dip a microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution.
  • Apply to the jewelry with a light rubbing.
  • Rinse jewelry in warm water.
  • To dry, gently rub jewelry with microfiber cloth.

Baking Soda And White Vinegar

  • It's a gentle way to remove heavy tarnishing. Soak the tarnished jewelry in a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar with 2 tbsp. of baking soda.
  • This combination will cause solution to fizz.
  • You should soak the item in the solution for between two to three hours.
  • Rinse jewelry in warm water.
  • To dry, gently rub jewelry with microfiber cloth.

Note: Depending on the other materials in the jewelry, such as turquoise, pearls, and other gemstones or precious metals could damaged by this method. Vinegar, for example, can harm porous stones.

Note: We recommend that you don’t use silver dips for removing oxidation from your silver jewelry as it will leave microscopic pits causing it to darken faster. Instead, focus on preventative care by storing your jewelry in a closed box or plastic baggy as silver will tarnish when exposed to air.