Taking Care of Sterling Silver Jewelry: What You Need to Know

Do you have the same obsession with sterling silver as we do? Are you smitten by its beautiful shimmer, wonderfully adaptable looks, and pure glitz? We're just as crazy about amazing accessories as you are, whether you prefer classic jewels or keep up with the latest trends.

You can't go wrong with sterling silver rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings when designing your jewelry collection. But, while purchasing gorgeous jewelry is exciting and pleasant, nothing ruins the vibe like tarnish. As a result, most of us dread the cleaning process, fearing that our silver may be permanently tarnished.

But let's first understand why sterling silver tarnishes?

Sterling silver is a blended metal made up of 92.5 percent pure silver and other elements. Because of its composition, sterling silver tarnishes quickly, making it a popular metal due to its affordability and malleability.

Your silver has tarnished if you see a darker or unclean item of jewelry; however, there's no need to discard it!

Tarnish is caused by a chemical interaction between oxygen and sulfur atoms in the air. 

However, how do you keep sterling silver jewelry secure at home? Don't be worried! Anshi Silver's dedicated jewelers have compiled a list of simple, quick & correct tips and techniques to take care of sterling silver. 

Everything you need to know about daily wear and cleaning is right here!

Use These Daily Wearing Tips To Prevent Tarnish

• Remove while doing housework: 

Corrosion and tarnish are accelerated by sulfur-containing substances such as household cleaners, chlorinated water, perspiration, and rubber. It's a good idea to remove silver jewelry completely before cleaning.

• Wear it frequently: 

Believe it or not, the natural oils in your skin will help keep silver jewelry gleaming. Wearing your silver frequently rather than letting it sit in a jewelry box unworn is one of the easiest ways to prevent tarnish.

• Keep silver jewelry out of direct sunlight: 

Remove your silver jewelry before going to the beach or pool. Silver can also tarnish when exposed to sunlight.

• Wear jewelry last:

Tarnishing is accelerated by lotions, makeups, hair spray, and scents.

Tarnish Protection Products

There are a few additional things you can do if you want to keep your sterling silver jewelry from tarnishing.

• Store sterling silver jewelry with chalk: 

Adding a few bits of chalk to your sterling silver jewelry will absorb moisture and help prevent corrosion.

• Use silica packs: 

When you buy new clothes or shoes, silica packs are occasionally included. Keep these safe and put them in your jewelry box. They're fantastic at absorbing water!

• Tarnish-resistant cloths:

It's a good idea to line your jewelry box with anti-tarnish towels. Chemically prepared to avoid tarnish, these cloths absorb sulfur and moisture from the air.

How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry at Home

Cleaning silver jewelry can be done in a variety of ways at home. You've probably come across a number of options and wondered which is the ideal. Here are the silver cleaning procedures recommended by our jeweler for at-home cleanings:

• Dishshop and water

Although we previously stated that you should not expose your jewelry to water or chemicals, gentle dish soap is one of your finest options for cleaning sterling silver. When cleaning, make sure you use ammonia- and phosphate-free dish soap and carefully rinse away any soap. You should also make sure that your jewelry is totally dry to avoid tarnishing from excess moisture.

• White vinegar & baking soda

This mild cleaning procedure uses white vinegar and baking soda to remove heavy tarnish. Soak your sterling silver for two to three hours in a mixture of 12 cups white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda (combine these in a sink and prepare for the fizzing and foam). Rinse and dry your jewelry.

• Baking soda and water

Prepare a paste with baking soda and water, then gently clean with a cloth or a toothbrush. Rinse and dry your jewelry.

• Aluminum and baking soda

Place your jewelry in an aluminum container, then sprinkle baking soda on top and soak with warm water. The water should not be hot or cold. Allow 10 minutes before gently scrubbing with a gentle brush. If the design is extremely elaborate, the jewelry will almost shine like new.

This is an extremely useful tip for jewelry stores. This trick works wonders for gemstones with considerable hardness. Never try this technique with opal, emerald, or ruby. At last let the jewelry get completely dry to remove traces of water, and store in a well-sealed plastic bags.

• Apply a final coat of polish

After you've cleaned your jewelry thoroughly, use a polishing cloth made exclusively for sterling silver to finish the job.

This procedure can be repeated as many times as necessary. Keep in mind that the key to keeping your sterling silver clean is to clean it often to eliminate tarnish as it forms. Allowing an item to collect a lot of tarnish and then attempting to remove it all at once makes your job considerably more difficult.

Store Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Properly

• Consider anti-tarnish strips: To assist avoid tarnishing, provide anti-tarnish strips with your jewelry.

• Do not store in the paper, cardboard, or cotton-filled cartons because traces of sulfur may be present, causing rusting.

• Separately store your pieces to avoid scratching or tangling.

• Keep in a cold, dark area since, as previously said, sunshine, heat, and moisture hasten to tarnish. Keep your silver in a cold, dark area at all times.

• Use an airtight container to hold your silver: any container that is airtight will suffice. Zip-lock bags are convenient, but specialist jewelry bags are a more appealing option.

Final Conclusion: Purchase 925 Sterling Silver.

Any exquisite jewelry requires special attention and maintenance.

Sterling silver maintenance is quite simple if you follow these guidelines. These techniques can make your sterling silver earrings, necklaces, and rings last a long time (and look beautiful)!

Check out our stunning and timeless Fine Silver Jewelry collection right now!