6 Tips for Cleaning Silver Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, silver is an incredibly popular and versatile metal. Sterling silver jewellery offers chic and timeless style that can be adorned by men, women and children alike. From wedding gifts to christening presents and everything in between, silver jewellery is an excellent way of taking your outfit from everyday to stylish and classic. 

However, with all of the wear your silver jewellery undergoes, there will come a time when your silver items need to be cleaned to prevent the build-up of dirt and the discolouration of the metal. 

Where this can be done by your jeweller, for the utmost convenience and fast and effective results, you can clean your silver jewellery yourself in the comfort of your own home. But to ensure it’s done to the best possible standard, we’ve left some tips for cleaning your silver jewellery properly, whilst ensuring its integrity and appearance simultaneously.

 

1. Make sure you have everything you need before you start

There are some things you’ll need to make sure you have before you commence with cleaning your silver jewellery. First of all, confirm that it is, in fact, silver. Look for a small marking on the inside of the jewellery. It might also be displayed on a small tag made of the same material. 

That marking should read “925”, which indicates that it’s 92.5% silver and the remaining 7.5% being another metal. The more pure the silver is, the quicker the item will tarnish, generally. Now that you’ve determined that the material is, in fact, silver, you will need the following items to clean your silver jewellery items at home:

• A small bowl
• Some gentle washing up liquid
• Warm water
• A soft-bristled toothbrush
• A cloth that is both clean and soft
• A polishing cloth
• Some polishing cream

 

2. There are certain ways of cleaning different jewellery items – know which technique to use 

While you may think that there’s a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to cleaning silver items, you’d be mistaken. There are actually different methods of cleaning different jewellery items, usually depending on their size and whether or not other things are incorporated into them, such as diamonds or gemstones. In summary, here’s how to go about cleaning different silver jewellery items:

• How to clean silver earrings – remove the earrings and place in a saline solution. This will gently remove any dirt and debris. Once done, dry with a clean and soft cloth. If it contains a diamond or a gemstone, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies
• How to clean silver rings – instead of leaving in a saline solution, polish the ring using a soft cloth and silver polish. Only rub up and down rather than side-to-side or in circles. Youshould then rinse the band with warm water to remove the polish and dry using a soft, clean cloth
• How to clean silver chains – you should opt to put your chain into a bath or dip it into a QuickShine jewellery cleaning solution, making sure you’re following the instructions on the packaging. Don’t be tempted to clean the chain link-by-link, because you’ll be there for a while

 

3. Use a silver polishing cloth for complete ease & convenience

You can purchase soft and clean cloths that have been designed and manufactured with the cleaning of silver jewellery in mind. They’re a far safer, easier and straightforward way of cleaning silver jewellery, without having to worry about scratching or damaging your silver items in any way. 

As well as being used to polish cream into your silver jewellery, these clothes can also be used to dry the silver items you may have left in a saline solution to clean them instead. Either way, and no matter how you use them to clean your silver jewellery, a silver polishing cloth is a must-have item in your silver-care tool kit.

 

4. Silver polishing creams also work wonders

Silver polishing creams offer an effective way of buffing up and cleaning silver items, more so for items that are larger than earrings but smaller than necklaces, such as bracelets or rings. Apply the silver polishing cream to a clean, soft cloth. Then use that to buff the silver jewellery items. Make sure you’re following the instructions on the polishing cream and avoid getting it on your skin. You should also be able to use silver polishing cream on larger items. Those things include: silver charger plates, candelabras, dishes, Cups and knives and forks.

 

5. Only clean silver jewellery when it begins to look tarnished

It’s important to know how often your silver jewellery needs to be cleaned. However, the general rule of thumb is to clean it when it starts to look tarnished or dirty. Although, most people don’t have the time to meticulously inspect their silver jewellery for signs of wear. So look to clean your sterling silver items once a month or every other month. 

If you have pure silver jewellery items, then give them a good clean once every six months or so. It should be noted, however, that, like with anything, over-cleaning can do more harm than good. Don’t be tempted to clean your silver jewellery too often. This can speed up wear and tear, having the opposite desired effect.

 

6. Ensure you’re storing your silver jewellery correctly

By making sure that you’re storing your silver items in the correct way, you’ll limit the need to clean your silver on a more regular basis. Where it won’t completely prevent silver from tarnishing, it will keep them in top condition for as long as possible. 

Something to remember is to limit the amount of exposure your silver has to both air and moisture. Most people will look to store their silver jewellery items in zip-lock bags or felt pouches. On the other hand, you can also store items in a jewellery box with silica sachets for good measure. This will help to keep the moisture at bay.

 

Little Star Jewellery is pleased to offer a wide range of silver jewellery items, as well as gold and rose gold accessories for every taste and preference. From mummy and me, and daddy and me matching gift sets to individual pieces like earrings, bracelets and necklaces for men, women and children, we have a wealth of options available for every occasion, including christenings, birthdays, weddings and so much more. If you would like further information about the gold, rose gold and silver jewellery items we have available, get in touch with a member of our friendly, professional team today – we are also proud to offer personalised jewellery options.