Sterling Silver

There many ways to care for your sterling silver jewelry. These are just some tips.

Usually, tarnish will not appear on jewelry that is worn on a regular basis. The gentle friction from wearing and the contact of oils on the skin will likely keep your jewelry bright and sparkling. Note though that taking certain medications can cause changes in skin acidity and may cause jewelry tarnishing.

Keep your jewelry free of tarnish by frequent cleaning. A simple diluted solution of mild dishwashing liquid and water can clean your silver jewelry. You can make your own cleaner by putting 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of salt in an aluminum pan - make sure it's aluminum, that's what makes this work - add hot water, mix it up and drop in your tarnished silver. Then, rinse and wipe dry. The presence of moisture will promote tarnish so, If possible, store your jewelry in a zip-loc plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper.

Light tarnish or oxidation film can be removed with silver polishing cloths. You may find them at supermarkets, hardware stores or jewelry shops. Heavy tarnishing will require commercially available polishing creams, or dip liquids. Use care with these, limiting the exposure of gemstones to silver cleaners as they may contain chemicals that can harm certain gemstones. Always rinse and dry jewelry thoroughly. I've found that using a hairdryer works very well to insure removal of moisture. Use a soft cloth to make sure no residual cleaner remains.

Note: Cream and dip liquid polishes will most likely remove tarnish and oxidation from your jewelry. They will also most certainly remove any decorative oxidation designs and patinas as well. Therefore, it's best to keep these items free of tarnish through proper storage and the use of cleaning cloths. BUT avoid cleaning your sterling silver with tissue. Believe it or not, tissue can scratch your silver.

Avoid jewelry contact with abrasive soaps, chemicals, perfumes, hair sprays, dyes, etc. Remove your jewelry while washing, bathing, doing dishes, household chores or cleaning with chemicals. Silver is a relatively soft metal and can scratch, so don?t scrub with abrasive cloths or cleansers. Remove your jewelry before doing strenuous activities, exercise, sports, swimming (both ocean saltwater or chlorinated pools), to prevent scratching, denting or loss of gemstones. Remove jewelry before going to bed to avoid kinking or breakage.

• Always put on your jewelry after putting on your makeup and perfume.
• Try to avoid exposing your jewlery to househols chemicals