As mentioned in a previous post, sterling silver jewelry tarnishes when the metals in the alloy react to the air. Some tarnished pieces look wonderful when it lends a vintage look to the piece. Most of the time, however, we wish to clean our jewelry to return it to its sparkly beginnings. Below are some methods to help restore your jewelry to its shiny state.
“Oxidized” is another term used to describe silver tarnish. For some pieces jewelers intentionally allow parts of the jewelry to darken and oxidize, typically small details, to make them stand out more. This detailing can be lost, though, with excessive cleaning and polishing. So be sure to identify any purposefully oxidized pieces you have and set them aside for separate cleaning.
Important note: It should be noted, however, that silver cleaners are not for all types of silver jewelry. You should not, for instance, ever immerse jewelry adorned with pearls or opaque gemstones (e.g. turquoise, opal, carnelian, onyx), as this could seriously damage these softer stones.
Even for jewelry with clear gemstones (e.g. blue topaz, amethyst, garnet), take special care when using a silver cleaner: the chemicals could lodge under the gemstone settings or loosen any glue. And remember, do not use silver cleaners on your oxidized jewelry — stick to the polishing cloth instead.
After using any cleaner, be sure to thoroughly rinse your silver with running water or a clean, damp cloth. This is especially important for detailed or etched items, since polish can stick in small crevices and harden. After, dry the pieces with a microfiber cloth to prevent white water spot stains from forming
Polishing Cloth
Perhaps the simplest method is to simply clean the piece with a polishing cloth. Simply polishing the silver works the best when the tarnish is not too severe. It’s also the best method for cleaning oxidized silver, as you can stay away from the intentionally tarnished areas.
You can use a special silver cloth to polish your items, but a lint-free flannel, microfiber, or other soft nonabrasive cloth will do as well. Do not use paper towels or tissues to polish your jewelry as they contain fibers that can scratch the silver.
To clean the silver, wipe the cloth back and forth rather than in circles. When polishing a delicate piece or chain, remember to run gently.
Homemade Silver Cleaners
When making your own silver cleaners, take care. Some recipes with baking soda, can scratch your silver. Test homemade recipes on a hidden piece of the jewelry, such as the underside of a bracelet, before applying to the entire piece. Again, delicate pieces should be cleaned gently.
Cleaning with vinegar is a home method that is usually gentler on the piece but takes more time. Simply place your jewelry in a jar or bowl and cover the pieces completely with white vinegar. Let it sit for 2-3 hours, depending on how tarnished the silver is. Then, rinse and dry the jewelry.
Professional Care
Very old, fragile, or valuable pieces should also be cleaned by a professional.
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