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Beauty & Fashion
> Jewelry
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.
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