Silver, cleaning tips

Pure silver is too soft to be used in jewelry. It’s combined with other metals such as copper to make it more durable. Sterling silver jewelry must contain at least 92.5% pure silver, which is why it’s stamped as 925. Sterling silver can range from bright white to grayish white and can have a matte or shiny finish. When oxygen or sulfur come in contact with silver, they chemically bond to its surface and cause the silver to appear dirty or discolored. Direct sunlight causes silver to tarnish, so be sure to take off your silver jewelry before you go swimming and sunbathing. Lotions, cosmetics, hair spray and hair products, and perfumes are also “enemies” of silver and will accelerate tarnishing.

There’s a reason generations of women have been getting dressed with jewelry last, as a finishing touch! You can avoid tarnish by wearing your jewelry often. The oils in your skin will “clean” the silver and keep it looking shiny. If it’s not possible, storing silver in airtight plastic bags with anti-tarnish strips is a great preventative measure. Just make sure you don’t store multiple jewelry pieces in the same bag: the individual pieces can scratch each other. Link or chain bracelets should be kept unclasped or unhooked to prevent scratching as well. If you can’t use plastic bags, try to make sure that the storage area has low humidity. Polishing your silver works well when the tarnishing is not too severe. It’s also the best method for cleaning oxidized silver, as you can stay away from the tarnished areas.