How To Clean Your 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry at Home?

As a jewelry lover, you must be having different kinds of jewelry, like, some gold jewelry, some plated jewelry (jewelry having rose gold vermeil, yellow gold vermeil, etc.), 925 sterling silver jewelry, and some artificial jewelry pieces. Let us ask you a simple question: did it ever come to your mind to clean your jewelry at home? We are asking this because there are set ways to clean a certain type of jewelry. And, as a jewelry enthusiast, it's important for you to know how to clean your jewelry – be it gold jewelry or silver jewelry.

If you have ever googled how to clean your jewelry, you must have noted that the method of cleaning gold jewelry is very different from cleaning sterling silver jewelry. Likewise, different gemstones need to be attended to differently. For instance, the ways in which you will clean and care for opal jewelry will be way different from cleaning, say amethyst jewelry.

In this particular blog, we will talk about ways in which you can clean your jewelry made of 925 sterling silver. Let’s start from the very basics – what 925 sterling silver is, from where we will move forward and cover several topics surrounding the ways you can clean your favorite sterling silver jewelry.

What is Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver used in making various types of jewelry (like pendants, rings, etc.) that is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals by weight. This other metal is generally copper. 925 sterling silver is called such because it has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. An interesting fact: 925 sterling silver is preferred over 99.9% pure silver when purchasing jewelry. Why is this so? Well, because pure silver is relatively soft for practical everyday use, and it is necessary to alloy this silver with copper so as to increase its strength and hardness.

Since sterling silver tarnishes with time, some jewelers and e-commerce merchants add other metals to pure silver. For instance, in order to reduce tarnishing, firescale, and casting porosity, jewelers add zinc, germanium, silicon, platinum, and boron. Some E-commerce stores, like Sagacia Jewelry, prefer adding just copper to make 925 sterling silver because this silver (which has 7.5% copper) is hypoallergenic in nature (meaning, this sterling silver does not cause any skin allergies). And what was the origin of the name “sterling silver”? Well, King Henry II named coins that were made of a durable silver alloy “Easterling coins”, and this name evolved into “sterling silver.”

You must be thinking, why does sterling silver tarnish? Well, it tarnishes because of various gases present in our air that contain sulfur. The gases with sulfur in them come in contact with sterling silver and create a tarnish (a dark coating) of silver sulfate. There are other factors that can cause this tarnishing, such as humidity, make-up, chlorine, and cleaning products (like detergents, cleaners, bleach, etc.). However, tarnishing should never concern you – there are various ways in which you can clean your sterling silver jewelry and give it a clean look, which would make it look as good as new.

How Can You Prevent Sterling Silver Jewelry from Tarnishing?

It has been believed that prevention is always better than cure, so first of all, let's discuss the various ways in which you can prevent your 925 sterling silver jewelry from tarnishing. First of all, it is recommended that you wear your jewelry often. Wearing sterling silver jewelry often prevents it from getting tarnished as long as you are not wearing it when you are sweaty.

Secondly, you should avoid exposure of your silver jewelry to certain substances and environments. For instance, since sulfur is the bane for the existence of silver, you must protect your jewelry from mayonnaise, eggs, mustard, onions, and latex so that your silver jewelry does not get tarnished or corroded. Similarly, you must protect its direct contact with household chemicals (like detergents, bleaches, etc.) and cosmetics (like lotions, hair sprays, perfumes, etc.). In case you are using cosmetics, you should use them before putting on your jewelry.

Last but not least, you must protect your 925 sterling silver jewelry from certain outdoor activities, like using it in swimming pools (because swimming pools have chlorine in their water), contact sports, gardening, and the gym. In case you are indulging in these activities, it's important to remove your jewelry and keep it in a dry airtight storage.

You must also remember that storage is the key. Exposure to air tarnishes the silver because of air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels. When you are not using your jewelry, it is wise to store it in airtight plastic bags and keep it in a jewelry box. Also, if you have silver chain bracelets or links, then must ensure that you unclasp it or unhook it so there is no scratching.

5 Ways To Clean 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry at Home

Although sterling silver jewelry is versatile, it usually gets tarnished when it is not stored properly and remains unused for a long time. Also, it’s important that you clean your silver jewelry thoroughly every once in a while, so as to keep it shining and beautiful. Let us discuss some of the ways in which you can clean your sterling silver ornaments at home easily.

Method #1: Using Soap and Water

First of all, prepare a cleaning solution by combining warm water and mild dishwashing soap (that is phosphate and ammonia-free) and immerse the jewelry in it. Then, take the jewelry out and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub the surface of the silver jewelry, so as to remove tarnish. Once done, rinse the jewelry with tap water and pat dry it with a soft towel.

Method #2: Using Baking Soda

First of all, understand that using baking soda is a safe and effective way if you wish to make your sterling silver jewelry as good as new. Baking soda acts as a great cleaner if you want to restore the shine of your sterling silver jewelry and remove tarnish. First, gather baking soda, warm water, a soft towel, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Prepare a thick paste of baking soda and water.

Once prepared, apply this paste to tarnished spots using fingertips or cloth. While being aware that you don’t put excessive pressure, gently rub the surface of your 925 sterling silver jewelry so as to remove the tarnish from the silver. Once done, eliminate the residue of baking soda by thoroughly rinsing the jewelry with warm water. To remove any water spots, dry the silver jewelry with a hairdryer on a low, cool setting. This will dry even the difficult-to-reach places in your silver jewelry.

Method #3: Using White Vinegar and Baking Soda

If your 925 sterling silver jewelry is heavily tarnished, try this method because it works really well. First, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to half a cup of white vinegar. Then, soak your tarnished jewelry for at least two to three hours. Don’t worry if the mixture fizzes – it's completely natural. Once done, rinse your jewelry in tap water and gently pat dry it with a soft towel.

Method #4: Using Silver Polishing Cloth

Silver polishing clothes are a great option when you wish to clean and polish your sterling silver jewelry without scratching the surface of the jewelry. Generally, these clothes are infused with a chemical cleaner, so the cloth can be used even when it is dry, without the need for using some other product, like polishing creams. Through a silver polishing cloth, you can easily clean your silver jewelry without making a mess.

When you are using a silver polishing cloth, smoothen and buff up your sterling silver jewelry with the cloth while following the instructions on the packaging. Most of these polishing cloths will instruct you to scrub your jewelry back and forth, and they will also mention to never scrub the jewelry in a circular motion. You will observe that as you scrub, the black tarnish will come off onto the cloth. Ensure that you always work in small sections, and move to a clean area of cloth whenever the existing area in use gets dirty.

Method #5: Using Silver Polishing Cream

Using a jar of silver polishing cream is a great option – generally, this option is used to clean silver serve-ware and silver dishes, however, it can be used to clean 925 sterling silver jewelry as well. Why are we mentioning this method? Well, if you have silver jewelry with a larger surface area, such as a locket or pendant, then this method is way easier. If you want to clean your silver chain or a delicate dainty jewelry piece made in sterling silver, then we recommend that you do not use this method.

Also, as a word of caution, it's important for you to understand that silver polishing cleaners (and any silver cleaner in general) are not good for all sterling silver gemstone jewelry. Many gemstones, be it opaque gemstones (like turquoise, biwa pearl, moonstone, opal, etc.) or transparent/translucent gemstones (like moldavite, carnelian, Citrine, Swiss Blue Topaz, etc.) - can get damaged because of the chemicals present in these silver cleaners. Some gemstones do not get affected at all by these silver cleaners, while others do get damaged by these cleaners.

So, let's jump straight into how you can use a silver polishing cream to clean your sterling silver jewelry. First, rinse the jewelry under warm water, and then, apply a thin layer of polishing cream on the surface of the jewelry using a sponge or soft cloth. Dampen the sponge/cloth before you apply the cream, and ensure that you follow the instructions written on the packaging of the silver polishing cream.

Once done, work in small sections, and gently rub the polishing cream onto the surface of the jewelry till the tarnish is fully removed. Repeat this till the tarnish gets removed from the other surfaces of the jewelry as well. Finally, rinse the jewelry with warm water, and then, dry your jewelry with a soft clean cloth. Make sure that you also wash your hands with water and soap so that the polishing cream does not sit in your hands – the chemicals in this cream may cause irritation in the skin if left uncleaned.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have discussed many things. First, we began from the very basics, where we described what 925 sterling silver is. Then we covered some simple ways through which you can prevent your sterling silver jewelry from tarnishing. Lastly, we covered five different methods through which you can clean your beautiful 925 sterling silver jewelry.

It's important for you to note that different methods suit different kinds of jewelry pieces. If you have statement jewelry that is bold and oversized, then it’s better to use silver polishing cream. Likewise, if you have delicate and small dainty jewelry, or say a delicate silver chain, then it is better to use baking soda. And, if your silver jewelry is heavily tarnished, you should use white vinegar and baking soda. Also, certain gemstones are affected by chemicals present in silver polishing cloth and silver polishing cream, so the safest method to clean your sterling silver gemstone jewelry is to use mild soap and water.

We hope that the above ways of cleaning silver jewelry will enable you to easily remove the tarnish of your jewelry and turn it as good as new at your home. If you take proper care of your 925 sterling silver jewelry, it can last for many generations. Obsessed with sterling silver gemstone jewelry? Want to buy the perfect statement or dainty jewelry pieces for yourself? Then visit Sagacia Jewelry and discover our endless collection of exquisite gemstone jewelry made in pure 925 sterling silver.