Jewelry is an investment in your collection and wardrobe, it's the #1 gift given to make special occasions or milestones memorable.You also usually know exactly what you are looking for and saving for and not often bought on impulse.Jewelry and heirlooms get's passed down through generations and can be such a sentimental treasure. But, it can be easy to neglect these treasures if they are not part of our everyday pieces. When unused for a while, your items that you love so much, can tarnish! 😥

Tarnish?

You’ll know exactly what I mean if you own and love, silver jewelry.

When I say tarnish, it's that annoying dirty appearance and that discolouration of your pieces - only on the surface thankfully. It's the process of oxidisation of metal, and it starts to happen over time when your pieces come into contact with chemicals and natural oils in your skin, then left exposed to air (oxygen).

Good thing there's plenty of tips and hacks you can use to care for Silver (and Gold). Instead of using harsh and abrasive chemicals to clean tarnish, you can go for eco-friendly cleaning choices.

 

Tips to Prevent Tarnish

Prevention is the best cure! Here's how:

Wear your jewelry! 

Strange but true, but by wearing your jewelry as often as you can, it will help you avoid tarnish. Your skin is amazing and produces natural oils that "clean" the metal as it moves, rubs and touches your skin, keeping it looking good as new.

But..., this oil will also cause tarnish when your jewelry is left unworn for long periods of time, so the best way to stop your Silver tarnishing is to wear it!

Avoid chemicals & cosmetics

Best to keep your jewelry out of contact with household chemicals, chlorine, or anything containing ammonia, sulphur, phosphates or rubber. 

Skin lotions, perfumes, hair spray/products and even sweat can cause Silver to oxidise. Jewelry should be the last thing to put on when you get ready.

Sunlight can also cause silver to tarnish, so don’t store your jewelry in a bright spot and where possible, take off your silver jewelry before swimming, tanning and heading into the spa.

Storage Is Important!

Because jewelry tarnishing is simply exposure to oxygen in the air, the storage area should be dry and with low humidity.

An easy way to prevent tarnish is to store silver jewelry in airtight bags, so recycle some zip locks and put them to use in your jewelry box. It's best to include anti-tarnish strips (or a dry/freshness sachet out of purchased goods/groceries). Adding a piece of chalk or activated charcoal can also help minimise tarnish.

Cleaning

The Polishing Cloth

My favourite. If your jewelry is stored in a jewelry box or other exposed area, use a polishing cloth regular to keep them looking shiny. I love them so much I send one free of charge with every purchase you make from me. 

You can also use any  soft nonabrasive cloth to polish your pieces (like a microfibre). Do not use tissues or paper towels though - it may scratch your piece.

Silver dip cleaner

When you need something a little more heavy duty. You can buy dip cleaners in large supermarkets, like New World. Please note though, they can be too harsh for some types jewelry especially pieces with gemstones and pearls, the solution can damage them quite severe, so always read the instructions.

Dishwash liquid

A mild dish wash liquid can be a great cleaner at home for a variety of jewelry including silver, diamonds, and even delicate pearls. Just make sure it does not contain chemicals, like phosphates or ammonia.

Simply mix the liquid with some warm water and dampen a soft cloth in the solution. Gently rub the pieces and rinse thoroughly in cool water. You can use a soft bristle brush, like a bamboo tooth brush if you want to clean in grooves/textured areas or around diamonds.

Not all gemstones can withstand soapy water so make sure to check the stone type before cleaning.

If you are cleaning pearls this way, keep in mind that you should only submerge them in soapy water for short bursts of time, leaving them under or scrubbing them vigorously can damage them, dry them with a soft cloth immediately after cleaning.

Vinegar & Baking Soda

You can use Baking Soda on it's own or add some vinegar for some extra strength cleaning when you need it.  

Quick and easy, dampen a cloth with water (or vinegar) and rub it into some baking soda, then gently rub it onto the surface to polish. 

To get into the crevices of pieces or behind stones, create a thin paste with basking soda and a small amount of water. Use a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush with the paste to get into all the parts.

Never use vinegar on gemstones or pearls as it can damage them!

Caring for your pieces at home with eco-conscious methods is an easy way to keep them shining. Check your jewelry often for tarnish and clean them before it gets too bad.