Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful, yet many of us tend to shy away from sterling silver believing it to be too much of a hassle to maintain. While it is true that sterling sliver will tarnish over time, the tarnish is surprisingly easy to remove. In this article we will cover two quick and easy methods of cleaning sterling silver, and easy ways to slow down the tarnishing process.
First lets address why sterling silver tarnishes. Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver, the remaining 7.5% is another metal, usually copper, which is added to strengthen the silver. Silver in it’s purest form does not tarnish under normal conditions. However copper does tarnish, when copper is added to the silver the tarnishing processes in also added. Before cleaning your jewelry with a silver cleaner check the jewelry for hallmarks, plated jewelry can be damaged if cleaned with a strong silver cleaner.
To identify sterling silver jewelry carefully examine the piece for hallmarks. Hallmarks are usually found on the inside of rings, the back of pendants, the posts of earrings and on the clasps of necklaces and bracelets. The mark will be very small it’s a good idea to use a magnify glass.
The most common markings for Sterling Silver are:
925
925 silver.
Sterling
Sterling Silver
Liquid Dip Cleaners:
The quickest and easiest way to remove tarnish is to use a liquid dip cleaner. This type of cleaner isn’t expensive and lasts a long time. (One small tub of cleaner usually lasts one year or more depending on the brand) I have tried many brands of dip cleaners, and have found Connoisseurs Revitalizing Silver Jewelry Cleaner to be the most effective and long lasting for the price. It is not strong as some of the other brands, but unlike many brands it does not have a strong scent and will not burn your skin if accidentally spilled. It works very fast removing dark yellowish color tarnish within 5 seconds and completely removing black tarnish in 10-15 seconds. It’s amazing to see a blackened piece of jewelry return to it’s former shine. For best results choose a clearer that is designed especially for sterling silver jewelry.
To clean: Simply place the tarnished piece in the small tray (which is included with all dip cleaners), then gently lift the tray in an up and down motion. The tarnished piece will return to it’s former shine, usually this process takes only a few seconds. Once the tarnish is removed rinse the piece off in warm water, be sure that all of the cleaner is completely rinsed off it may cause a skin irritation. Gently dry the piece with a soft cloth or towel. (Tip: Small pieces such as rings and earrings can be cleaned to gather. Larger pieces such as bracelets, necklaces and pendants should be cleaned separately to avoid becoming tangled or getting starched. Dip cleaners seem to work faster if only one or two pieces are placed in the tray at a time.)
Liquid dip cleaners can be found at jewelry stores, and major supermarkets. They usually cost between $5-10 dollars.
Warnings:
Read the label before you buy, many cleaners are not meant to be used on gemstone jewelry, and can permanently damage/discolor the gems. (Jewelry containing opals, pearls or other soft gemstone should never be cleaned with this type of cleaner)
Silver plated jewelry can be damage or discolored if submerged in strong cleaners. As a general rule never clean silver plated pieces with strong sterling silver cleaners.
If you suffer from asthma be careful when choosing a jewelry cleaner. I’ve learned from personal experience that certain cleaners should not be used by those of use with asthma. The Connoisseurs cleaner works very well for me, because it’s smell is not strong compared to some of the other brands.
Silver cleaner can remove the antique finish from your jewelry, if you want to keep the antique finish new a polishing cloth instead.
Polishing Cloths
Polishing cloths will give your sterling silver a beautiful shine, it may take a little more time to use than Liquid dip cleaners but the results are worth the effort. Jewelry polishing cloths are soft squares of cloth that have been treated with cleaning chemicals. They range between $3-7 dollars depending on which brand you choose, and they last a long time. Silver polishing cloths are available at major supermarkets, and jewelry stores. Give your jewelry a polish after wearing, and before storage. This removes oils, fingerprints and dust, helping to prevent the jewelry from tarnishing.
To clean: Gently rub tarnished sterling silver with the cloth, after a few rubs the cloth will begin to turn a blackish color removing the tarnish. Continue until the piece reaches the desired shine.
How To Slow The Tarnish Process
To slow tarnishing store sterling sliver separately in small plastic bags. (Storing your jewelry separately also helps to prevent it from getting scratch) The bags cost between $3-5 dollars for a box of 100 they can be found at craft stores such as Michael’s in the beading section. Personally I have found this method to be very effective, I stored one of my pendants for two years this way, when I pulled it out last month for a wedding the pendant was not tarnished.
If you own a lot of sterling silver you may want to consider investing in a jewelry box lined with a ‘tarnish-free’ material. I have not personally tested this type of product but it seems like something worth checking into.
Another way to prevent tarnish is to wear your jewelry on a regular bases. Wearing and handling the pieces will slow the oxidation process and help to keep your silver polished. Over time the pieces will eventually develop a beautiful antique patina. (Note: Certain people will notice that their sterling silver tarnishes faster when worn. My husband has this problem, when he wears sterling silver it will turn a dark purple after only a few hours. Yet for me wearing my sterling silver seems help prevent tarnishing. Test this for yourself and see if it works for you)
