Forever versatile in its charm, silver jewellery is a stunning, timeless classic. Many different styles and types of jewellery can be created from silver. The possibilities are endless.
Unfortunately, when compared to other precious metals however, silver jewellery can also be quite fragile. Over time, as it’s exposed to the air, silver jewellery can begin to change colour through a process known as oxidisation, or tarnishing.
Silver – How to Keep it Tarnish-Free
Though it’s generally impossible to completely avoid the natural occurrence of tarnish, there are a few things you can try to slow its onset:
- When not wearing silver jewellery, keep silver jewellery stored in a dry place or wrapped in a cloth or sealed plastic bag to avoid prolonged contact with humidity in the air.
- Avoid exposure to cosmetics, perfumes, or household chemicals – these products can contain substances, such as sulphur, that accelerate tarnishing.
- Wear it more often – believe it or not, by actually wearing silver jewellery, you can delay the tarnishing process! Natural oils in your skin often act as a cleansing agent, keeping excess dirt and grime from accumulating on the metal’s surface.
What if it’s already too late though? Well, thankfully tarnished silver can be easily cleaned at home. keep reading before you rush to the cleaning products.
It’s extremely rare that silver jewellery is 100% ‘pure’ — pure silver is much too delicate and soft for jewellery manufacture. This is why we see different types of silver. I use sterling silver.
- Sterling silver: silver mixed with copper, zinc, or nickel. The most common sterling silver is stamped ‘925’, and is composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal.
How to Clean Silver Jewellery
Although there are commercially available silver polishing creams on the market, most lightly-tarnished silver jewellery can actually be cleaned at home using normal household products.
Warm water with soap
For silver jewellery just beginning to develop tarnish (easily identified by light yellowish discolouration), simply wash it using warm water and gentle, phosphate-free dish soap to bring it back to a more natural shine.
Olive oil and lemon juice
For silver jewellery that’s slightly more tarnished however (purple to black in colour) – as long as there are no precious stones which can be easily damaged – an olive oil and lemon juice mixture can be a great homemade remedy.
Gentle Cleaning with Baking Soda
Another gentle but effective method uses baking soda. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive, lifting tarnish without scratching the silver. Make a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water.
Apply the paste to your silver with a soft cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush, using gentle circular motions. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. This method is ideal for lightly tarnished 925 silver jewelry. However, avoid using it on silver with intricate details or gemstones, as the paste can be difficult to remove from crevices.
Other Natural Cleaning Solutions
Beyond lemon juice and olive oil and baking soda, there are other natural cleaning solutions for 925 silver. White vinegar can be used to soak tarnished silver. A paste of salt and water provides another gentle abrasive option.
Experiment to find what works best for your silver pieces and the level of tarnish.
Please consider that jewellery with stones may not be suitable for cleaning at home, as many of these methods use abrasive materials.