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How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sep 13,2021 | Joycenamenecklace

Baking Soda + Water

Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is a rather mild way to clean the stubborn built-up tarnish.

  • Prepare a thick paste from baking soda and lukewarm water.
  • Apply it onto the tarnished spots with a damp cloth. Leave it for 2-3 minutes then gently rub with a soft cloth. 
  • Don’t rub too hard to avoid scratching the surface. If there are small details or crevices use a soft toothbrush to reach and clean them.
  • Rinse your jewellery with cold water and dry with a soft cloth. Buff with circular motions to polish the sterling silver.

 

Toothpaste

Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a classic, easy DIY sterling silver cleaning recipe. Best for not heavy tarnish.

  • Use non-gel and non-abrasive toothpaste. 
  • Squeeze a small amount of it on a soft cloth or paper handkerchief.
  • Rub onto the jewellery or sterling silverware with circular motions to polish it and clean off the tarnish.
  • Leave it for 5 minutes and then rinse off the toothpaste with water. 

 

Aluminium Foil + Baking Soda

Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the best recipes in our sterling silver cleaning arsenal. The aluminium-soda bath is very useful when you need to clean more than one thing or bigger items – such as silver cutlery, candlesticks, or tableware. Never use this recipe for jewellery with encrusted gemstones.

  • Cover the bottom of a large baking pan with aluminium foil, with the shiny side up.
  • Use ceramic, or glass bakeware never metal ones, to avoid unwanted chemical reactions.
  • Fill with water and add baking soda. You need 1,5 tablespoons of soda for every gallon of water.
  • Bring to boil and put the tarnished sterling silver inside for 15 seconds.
  • Take out the sterling silver using kitchen tongs. Leave the silverware on a paper towel to cool down. All tarnish is gone. For built-up, stubborn tarnish you may have to repeat the procedure. 

 

 

Aluminium Foil + Laundry detergent

Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This cleaning trick is appropriate for slightly tarnished silverware or sterling silver jewellery. 

  • Line a bowl with aluminium foil and fill it with hot water.
  • Add a tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent and stir well.
  • Drop your sterling silver items inside and let them soak for a minute.
  • Take the sterling silver out with kitchen tongs, rinse with lukewarm water and lay on a paper towel to let the items dry.

 

Hand Sanitiser

Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐

Hand sanitising products are a quick solution if you need to polish your sterling silver ring on the go. 

  • Squeeze a small amount of hand sanitiser on a soft paper handkerchief and gently rub your jewel. The mat and slight tarnish are gone and your sterling silver is clean and shiny again!
  • Don’t try this recipe on jewellery with encrusted mineral stones, because some of the ingredients of the hand sanitiser could damage the stone.

 

 

Cornflour + Water

Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐

If your sterling silver has lost its shine this recipe will help you restore it. If you are out of cornflour you can substitute it with cream of tartar.

  • Prepare a thick paste of water cornflour and apply it to the sterling silver item.
  • Let the mixture dry completely and rub it off with a towel to polish the surface and restore the shine of your jewellery and silverware. 

 

 

Window Cleaning Detergent

Recommendation: ⭐⭐

Window cleaner works great not only on glass surfaces it actually removes dirt and restore the shine of sterling silver pretty nice. Never use this recipe on antique silver like cutlery, candlesticks, jewellery or sterling silver accessories – antiques can be very fragile. If you need to clean antique sterling silver better invest in a specialised product.

  • Spray a little on a cloth and start scrubbing your jewels or silverware. Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub around small details and ornaments.

 

 

Ammonia + Water

Recommendation: ⭐⭐

This is an easy way to brighten silver cutlery, jewellery and accessories. It’s not recommended to use ammonia on antique silverware or silver jewellery.

  • Prepare solution 1 part clear ammonia and 2 parts of warm water.
  • Soak your sterling silver items in the liquid for 10 minutes.
  • After the time is up take them out of the solution, wipe with a soft cloth and buff with a dry cotton cloth to polish the surface. 

 

White Distilled Vinegar + Baking Soda

Recommendation: ⭐⭐

This recipe isn’t appropriate for antique sterling silver items. Still, it’s a great way to restore the lustre and shine of your sterling silver jewellery and cutlery.

  • Put the sterling silver items in a bowl of appropriate size and cover them with white distilled vinegar.
  • Add baking soda into the bowl – the approximate proportions are 4 tablespoons of baking soda for every cup of vinegar.
  • Leave the sterling silver in the mixture for 1 hour. Rinse with clean water and dry well with a soft cotton cloth.

 

 

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