Learn How To Clean Silver Jewelry

By learning how to clean and properly care for your silver jewelry you can maximise the life of those beautiful pieces aswell as maintain their immaculate shine!

Hopefully the information contained herein can help you better care for and clean your precious silver jewelry posessions.

How to clean silver jewelry is a question many jewelry enthusiasts ask, so here
are several effective, easy, and cheap ways to maintain those expensive silver
jewelry pieces. It is vitally important to care and clean your silver jewelry
items as the silver metal can become blemished and tarnish over time, turning
from shiny silver into dull and dirty. Going about the task of keeping your
silver jewelry pieces clean can ensure those lovely pieces always shine bright.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that silver is a soft metal.
Even a hefty and expensive sterling silver ring will bend if enough pressure is
impacted on it which obviously means you should take that ring off before you
do any heavy lifting or high stress activity. Storing your silver jewelry is
also a major factor of importance. Silver should never be kept with other metals
or loose in a jewelry box. When not worn, silver jewelry items should be kept in
a small zipper plastic bag or envelope by itself. This ensure that other jewelry
items don't make contact and rub the silver finish off or cause scratches, and
it will also protect the silver from air which can cause your silver to tarnish.

Tarnishing is caused by moisture and oxidization in the air. It first rears it's
unsightly presence as a golden hue on the silver, but very quickly turns black.

Wood can also be an enemy of silver jewelry. Wood, especially the oak variety,
contains acid that will mar the surface of silver jewelry. Likewise, paper and
cardboard which both contain wood pulp, have a similar affect, so it makes sense
to avoid storing silver jewelry in evelopes or cardboard boxes.

Now down to the specific cleaning methods. So how exactly do you go about the
task of keeping clean your silver jewelry? Always use a soft cotten or flannel
cloth. Never use synthetic materials which have a tendency to scratch.
Specialised silver cleaning cloths are available which contain anti-tarnish
ingredients. If you need to clean silver jewelry that has intricate scrollwork
or patterns, feel free to use a soft childrens toothbrush.

If your beloved silver jewelry possessions require just a quick clean or touchup,
such as removing light dirt or makeup, use a small amount of liquid soap or
detergent and about a half cup of warm water. Using your cloth, wipe the solution
on the jewelry, rinse under clean warm water, remember to dry thoroughly.
If using a toothbrush , scrub very gently with the solution and rinse.

If the situation is a little more dire, and you are attempting to remove heavy
dirt buildup or tarnish, a special silver cleaner is required.
These cleaners come in both liquid and paste form. 

If using a paste, the best way is to scoop a dime sized amount on your cloth
or brush and gently work it into any crevices of the patterns or scrollworks,
remembering to work it in a straight line motion. As all cleansers include
some form of abrasive ingredients, it is important to avoid working in a circular
motion to avoid causing scratches. When finished, allow the paste to dry then use
another clean cloth to wipe the excess paste away. If you prefer you can rinse
the piece under warm water, remembering to dry thoroughly.

Using the liquid, you need to dip the jewelry into the solution, and then rinsing
under warm water and thoroughly drying the piece. The simplest way to use a
liquid cleaner is to pour a small amount into a coffee cup or similar glass,
dip the silver jewelry piece into the liquid. The results are almost immediate.

If your silver jewelry piece includes gemstones or similar, often found on
sterling silver rings, then to keep it clean you need to employ a bit more
care. Both liquid and paste cleaners can dull the polished finish off the
stones. Liquids are almost out of the question due to the chemicals contained,
so your best bet is the paste. Just try your best not to touch the stones.
Work in a small area at a time until the silver jewelry piece is tarnish free
and clean. As always rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly.

As you learn how to clean your silver jewelry, you will realise that small
amounts of tarnish will give your precious silver pieces an antique look. The
more you wear your silver jewelry, the less you will have to clean them.
With proper care and storage, your silver jewelry pieces will bring you many
years of enjoyment and wear.