Caring for Sterling Silver Jewelry

While sterling silver jewelry can be very beautiful, it takes a lot of care to keep it looking great. There are a lot of natural products that can cause your sterling silver jewelry to tarnish and mar. Because of this it is important that you understand how to properly clean and store your sterling silver.

Cleaning Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is a very soft metal that can be scratched and tarnished easily. Therefore you need to use delicate cleaning techniques to properly prepare your jewelry for storage or for wear. To clean your sterling silver jewelry you will need a clean, nub free, ultra soft cloth made from 100 percent cotton or flannel. You will also need a mild cleaning solutions made from half a cup of warm water and a little bit of liquid detergent. (A liquid detergent should be used as opposed to a powdered detergent because the liquid is less abrasive.) This combination of products works great for light cleanings and basic maintenance, however, if your sterling silver tarnishes or needs a deeper cleaning then you will want to use a silver cleaning paste or polish.

Understanding Your Jewelry

If you have a piece of sterling silver jewelry that also contains gemstones then you will need to understand what cleaning needs the gemstones have before you use the above cleaning methods. Some gemstones will react negatively to silver cleaners, while others react positively to the silver cleaner. Because of this you will want to learn what cleaning method is recommended for the gemstone before you clean your piece. To protect your gemstone from damage while you are cleaning the silver portion of your piece, you can simple use a Q-Tip or cotton ball to spot clean the silver, and then clean the gemstone separately using a method that is more suitable for the gem.

Storing Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Properly

As mentioned earlier there are a lot of things that silver can react to. Acid is one of those things. Because many woods naturally contain acid in their cellular structure you should not store sterling silver jewelry directly on a wood surface. To protect your sterling silver from damage and tarnishing you will want to store the piece in a soft felt or fabric pouch that can be sealed. It should then be kept in an area that has a mild temperature and low humidity.

Adding Life to Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

The better you take care of your sterling silver jewelry, the longer it will stay looking beautiful. Proper care of sterling silver jewelry includes cleaning the piece after every use, keeping the piece away from harmful chemicals and natural acids, and proper storage of the piece. If you stay true to these basic care rules your jewelry will stay looking beautiful for generations to come.