Special Care Tips for Silver Jewelry

Caring for your silver jewelry isn’t difficult, but it is important. Silver is a soft metal with a soft, luminous luster. Over the years, it can acquire a soft patina that makes it even more lustrous and lovely. Improper care and harsh cleaning can leave your silver bracelets, silver chains, silver rings and silver earrings looking dark, grimy, pitted and dirty. These care tips for silver jewelry can help you preserve the beauty and luster of your favorite adornments.

Wear your silver often. Tarnish develops most frequently when silver is stored in dark places. Wearing your jewelry will prevent tarnish and keep your silver jewelry looking beautiful.

Avoid handling your silver too much. That may seem like a contradiction to the first rule, but it’s not. The oils from your skin can eventually damage the finish and luster of your silver jewelry pieces. Keep your fingers off the surface to avoid leaving oil on the silver.

Don’t wear your jewelry in the pool or the shower. Chlorine and other minerals can react chemically with silver and turn it black. While the discoloration is reversible, it will eventually eat away at the metal and ruin your silver pieces.

Always apply makeup, spray hair spray and put on perfume BEFORE putting on your silver earrings, silver barrettes and other silver jewelry to prevent a buildup of sticky chemicals on the metal surface.

Avoid using chemical jewelry cleaners on your silver rings, bracelets and other silver jewelry. The chemicals in the cleaning solutions can build up on the silver and make it more prone to tarnish and discoloration.

If your silver darkens or becomes tarnished, use a polishing cloth to gently buff the tarnish away. Jewelry polishing cloths are soft cloths impregnated with special jewelry cleaning chemicals. You can purchase silver polishing cloths for as little as $5 at your grocery store or department store. The cloths will last for years and give your silver jewelry a gorgeous shine every time you use it.

When you remove your jewelry, wipe each piece gently with a soft cloth to remove surface oils and dirt before putting it away.

Wrap your silver pieces in individual soft cloths to protect the metal from being scratched in your jewelry box. Store each piece in a sealed plastic bag to prevent tarnish and protect it from damage from other pieces.

Caring for your silver jewelry properly is easy and inexpensive. Take the few minutes to clean your jewelry pieces and put them away properly to enhance their beauty and prolong their lives.