HOW TO CLEAN SILVER JEWELRY AT HOME
Here's a list of what you'll learn in this post:
- The Cleaning Methods:
A. Cleaning silver jewelry with water+soap
B. How to clean silver with baking soda:
C. Cleaning silver jewelry with olive oil+lemon juice
1. The soaking method
2. The tabbing method
E. Cleaning silver jewelry with white vinegar+baking soda
- Silver cleaning mistakes to avoid
- How to prevent silver from tarnishing
Do you have silver jewelry that needs a little TLC? Cleaning it at home can be a great way to restore your pieces and make them shine like new! In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple steps for how to clean silver jewelry at home.
THE CLEANING METHODS:
1. CLEANING SILVER JEWELRY WITH WATER + SOAP
2. HOW TO CLEAN SILVER JEWELRY WITH BAKING SODA:
Supplies:
-Warm Water
-All-Natural Dish Soap
-Baking Soda
-A Small Bowl
-A Soft-Bristle Toothbrush
-A Soft, Cotton Towel
STEP 1. Fill a small bowl with warm, fresh water and add a few tablespoons of all-natural dish soap. Include baking soda to the mix if your jewelry is especially dirty.
STEP 2: Place your silver jewelry into the soapy water solution and soak it for 15 minutes.
STEP 4: Rinse your jewelry pieces with fresh water. If your silver jewelry still looks "dirty," repeat this process to remove any remaining tarnish.
STEP 5: After rinsing your silver jewelry, allow your pieces to air-dry on a soft cotton towel before placing them in storage. Remember to thoroughly dry your silver, as any remaining moisture can be harmful to the metal and cause tarnish stains.
Never use harsh paper (such as napkins, paper towels, etc.) to dry your pieces because these abrasive materials can cause slight scratches on your silver.
3. CLEANING SILVER JEWELRY WITH OLIVE OIL+LEMON JUICE:
A. THE SOAKING METHOD
STEP 1. Place your silver jewelry in a small bowl filled with fresh water.
STEP 2. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the bowl of warm water, and add one teaspoon of olive oil.
STEP 3. Allow your silver pieces to soak for 30 minutes.
STEP 4: Next, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to rub the tarnish off gently. Make sure you scrub all the metal, even in tight places where the tarnish might be hiding.
STEP 5: Rinse your jewelry pieces with fresh water. If your silver jewelry still looks "dirty," repeat this process to remove any remaining tarnish.
STEP 6: After rinsing your silver jewelry, allow your pieces to air-dry on a soft cotton towel before placing them in storage. Remember to thoroughly dry your silver, as any remaining moisture can be harmful to the metal and cause tarnish stains.
Never use harsh paper (such as napkins, paper towels, etc.) to dry your pieces because these abrasive materials can cause slight scratches on your silver.
B. THE TABBING METHOD
STEP 1: Add 1 tsp olive oil to a small bowl and whisk in a 1/2 cup of lemon juice.
STEP 2: Place a small cotton cloth into the mixture to soak up your homemade cleaning solution.
STEP 3: Next, wring out the wet cloth and use it to scrub the jewelry gently.
STEP 4: Rinse your jewelry pieces with fresh water. If your silver jewelry still looks "dirty," repeat this process to remove any remaining tarnish.
STEP 5: After rinsing your silver jewelry, allow your pieces to air-dry on a soft cotton towel before placing them in storage. Remember to thoroughly dry your silver, as any remaining moisture can be harmful to the metal and cause tarnish stains.
Never use harsh paper (such as napkins, paper towels, etc.) to dry your pieces because these abrasive materials can cause slight scratches on your silver.
4. CLEANING SILVER JEWELRY WITH WHITE VINEGAR+BAKING SODA
Supplies:
-Warm Water
-White Vinegar
-Baking Soda
-A Soft, Cotton Towel
STEP 1: Combine a cup of lukewarm water, ½ cup white vinegar, and two tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl.
STEP 2: Let your jewelry pieces soak in the cleaning solution for two to three hours.
STEP 3: Next, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to rub the tarnish off gently. Make sure you scrub all the metal, even in tight places where the tarnish might be hiding.
STEP 4: Rinse your jewelry pieces with fresh water. If your silver jewelry still looks "dirty," repeat this process to remove any remaining tarnish.
STEP 5: After rinsing your silver jewelry, allow your pieces to air-dry on a soft cotton towel before placing them in storage. Remember to thoroughly dry your silver, as any remaining moisture can be harmful to the metal and cause tarnish stains.
Never use harsh paper (such as napkins, paper towels, etc.) to dry your pieces because these abrasive materials can cause slight scratches on your silver.
SILVER CLEANING MISTAKES TO AVOID:
Many people erroneously believe you can most effectively remove the tarnish on sterling jewelry with chemical products marketed as silver polish, cleaner, dip, etc. The truth is, if you don't know what you're doing, harsh chemical products like these might destroy your silver jewelry! Read on for a list of common cleaning mistakes just like this to avoid.
1. USING BOILING WATER:
5. NOT DOING A PATCH TEST WITH COMMERCIAL CLEANERS:
8. RUBBING JEWELRY THE WRONG WAY:
Many think aggressive polishing is the key to removing tarnish from silver jewelry. The truth is, if you don't know how to polish correctly, you can damage your jewelry's metal more than help it. When polishing silver jewelry, use a soft, lint-free cloth and gently rub in a circular motion. Don't rub the jewelry back and forth, as this can wear away the metal.
HOW TO PREVENT SILVER TARNISH:
WRAPPING UP
We hope you enjoyed our blog post, "How to Clean Silver Jewelry at Home." We went over the best methods for cleaning silver jewelry and how to prevent tarnish from happening in the future. With these tips, you can now keep your precious silver pieces looking sparkling clean for many years! Thanks for reading, and until next time!