Caring For Your Silver Jewellery

Author: Ryan Dalli

Author: Ryan Dalli

If you regularly wear your silver jewellery, it is inevitable that over time it will start to collect dirt and grime. Sterling silver will naturally start to tarnish due to the fact that when sterling silver is exposed to air, it will start to oxidise, this gives the material a tarnished look, also referred to as a patina.

However, keeping you jewellery looking at it`s best is not difficult, so we have decided to give you some tips on how to keep your jewellery looking good. Firstly, we suggest that when you are not wearing your jewellery, to keep it in the box that it came in. Silver is a soft metal and it can be easily scratched if it rubs against other metallic objects. Removing the scratches will mean having to take the jewellery to a jewellery store and having the scratches polished out. This is an unnecessary expense and is easily avoidable. We suggest that you keep your silver away from chemicals, perfume, hairspray and deodorant when you are wearing your jewellery. It is advisable to clean your jewellery by using a soft cloth, there are silver cleaning cloths that can be purchased which will not scratch the surface of the jewellery. There are also specialist silver cleaning chemicals that can be applied in conjunction with the silver cleaning cloth, which will help to bring back the shine to your jewellery. For more delicate jewellery, such as fine necklaces, it is possible to clean them without rubbing them and better still you can use household products to carry out the cleaning. Take a glass baking dish, which has been lined with aluminium foil, place the jewellery in the dish, pour in enough hot water to cover the jewellery and then add 2 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt to the water. Leave the jewellery in the dish for 5 minutes or slightly longer for more tarnished items and then remove the jewellery, rinse and allow to dry.

Alternatively, you can use a toothpaste that contains baking soda to clean your silver jewellery. Moisten the jewellery, add a dab of toothpaste and then use a soft cloth to gently rub the jewellery. The jewellery can then be rinsed in warm water and then a soft cloth can be used to dry the silver. Avoid using tartar control or whitening toothpastes as these may contain harmful chemicals. However, we must stress that this method is for silver jewellery which does not contain gemstones. The gemstones in the jewellery may be porous in nature, which may absorb the chemicals, which could cause them to break down! An alternative method for jewellery which contains gemstones would be to use a soft cloth and warm water containing washing liquid to gently clean the jewellery. A soft bristled toothbrush can then be used to remove any grime that may have collected on the underside of the gem. Buy gently removing this dirt, you will be allowing light to shine through the gemstone, which will give it back it`s sparkle. However, it is advisable to avoid using sharp implements to try to remove the grime as this may scratch the metal setting of the jewellery. If this home-made method of removing the patina fails, then there is the option of visiting a jeweller who will be able to polish the jewellery for you and remove the tarnish. If you have any doubts about whether you should be cleaning the jewellery yourself or if the item is an expensive antique, then it is better to seek the services of a professional.About the Author:

To see the latest range of sterling silver jewellery available then visit the Kyle Lewis London website.

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