8 Ways to Make Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Look BRAND NEW & Cared For
You want your sterling silver jewelry to look as new as possible. Use these 8 tips to keep your precious pieces sparkling
With the right care, it’s easy to get your jewelry looking shiny and gorgeous again in no time.
If you have a sterling silver ring or other pieces that are looking more dull than usual, read ahead. We’re breaking down eight things that you can do to get them back to looking like they just left the store.
1. Polish Often
One splendid way to keep your jewelry, from your favorite sterling silver ring that you wear daily to the necklace you save for special occasions, is by polishing it.
A soft polishing cloth is a great way to battle the first signs of tarnish and clean away fingerprints and other blemishes.
You can purchase a cleaning cloth designed specifically for polishing silver from any jewelry store or even most department stores. If you don’t have a silver polishing cloth, you can use a lint-free or microfiber cloth to clean your silver pieces.
Avoid using rough materials such as paper towels, or tissues. While they may seem harmless, they actually contain abrasive fibers that can scratch your jewelry.
If you polish your jewelry often, it’s less likely that it will tarnish. If you don’t polish often, you’ll have to resort to other tips on this list to keep your sterling silver jewelry shining and looking great.
2. Wash Your Jewelry
If you don’t wear your sterling silver jewelry on a daily basis, you might not notice when tarnish starts to show.
If tarnish has started on your favorite pieces, don’t worry. With the right care, it’s easy to reverse the signs of tarnish and get your pieces shiny again in no time.
The first thing you should do to get rid of tarnish is to wash your jewelry. Warm water and a mild dishwashing soap can get rid of mild cases of tarnish on silver jewelry. Just make sure that your soap is free of ammonia and phosphates before you let it near your silver.
3. Be Wary of Commercial Cleaners
If polishing, or soap and water don’t prove enough to get rid of tarnish on your silver jewelry, you may be tempted to try a commercial cleaner.
Commercial cleaners promise professional cleaning results that you can achieve at home. While it is possible to get your pieces clean and shiny again with these products, they are difficult to use and easy to mess up.
To begin, many commercial cleaners contain chemicals that can become dangerous if not handled correctly. For example, if your room isn’t well ventilated, the vapors from the cleaner can be deadly.
If you choose the wrong type of commercial cleaner or don’t use it according to the exact instructions of the product, you could also end up damaging your sterling silver ring or other jewelry.
4. Rely on a Homemade Cleaning Solution
If you’re concerned about using professional commercial jewelry cleaners, and polishing and washing your pieces hasn’t been enough, you need an alternative.
Homemade jewelry cleaners are a great way to get your jewelry looking new again. You can make your own cleaner using common household ingredients like baking soda, olive oil, vinegar, and more.
If your jewelry contains more than just silver, such as gemstones, be careful using even natural, homemade cleaners, as these can damage your pieces.
5. Get a Professional Cleaning
There are plenty of DIY’s to keep your jewelry looking great, but nothing can quite compare to a professional cleaning.
Taking your favorite pieces to be professionally cleaned from time to time will give you a shiny, fresh start. From there, you can continue polishing and cleaning your pieces at home to keep them looking as great as they did when you brought them home from the jewelry store.
6. Store it Properly
Tarnish appears when your sterling silver jewelry is exposed to air. While you can’t avoid this when you’re wearing your pieces, you can do something to stop tarnish when storing your sterling silver necklace, ring and bracelets.
Storing your jewelry in air-tight plastic bags can help stop tarnish from forming. Keeping in mind to store your pieces in separate bags to avoid scratching or tangling.
If you don’t want to place your jewelry in plastic bags, there are other ways to avoid tarnish while in storage.
Placing your jewelry somewhere with low humidity is one solution. Another option is to place a piece of charcoal, chalk, or silicone packs near your jewelry, as these absorb moisture and help keep your pieces from tarnishing
7. Avoid Household Cleaners
Exposure to air isn’t the only thing that causes tarnish.
Many common household cleaners, especially rubber gloves, can also cause tarnish.
Take off your sterling silver rings or loose bracelets when cleaning or cooking to keep them from coming in contact with these items.
8. Wear Your Jewelry
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to prevent tarnish and keep your jewelry looking great is by wearing it!
The natural oils on your skin can shine your jewelry and protect it. Just make sure that you’re avoiding the cleaners listed above that can damage your pieces!
Whether you have a jewelry box full of beautiful pieces or just a single prized piece, keep your sterling silver pieces and other jewelry looking great for years to come.
