Simple procedures and common household ingredients are used in these simple silver cleaning methods to remove tarnish and restore rings, necklaces, and other precious pieces. 

Cleaning your jewelry, especially those silver items that tarnish so easily, is probably not at the top of your to-do list, unlike wiping down countertops or vacuuming the floors. This often-ignored cleaning project can be easy to put off because the silver jewelry we wear every day, such as the silver earrings we never take off or a favourite necklace, doesn't always tarnish quickly. These commonly worn pieces usually only require a light polish every now and again. Finer silver jewelry that has been sitting in boxes or on trays for a long time, oxidizing due to exposure and lack of usage, may require a more intense polishing. We'll show you how to clean silver jewelry with easy-to-follow DIY methods for removing tarnish and restoring luster.

How to Clean Silver Jewellery

Because silver is a soft, lustrous metal, it must be cleaned with care. For cleaning everyday jewelry, a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing soap, or even baby shampoo, will typically work. This procedure is very effective for cleaning gold jewelry.

Warm water with a few drops of liquid dish soap In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients until bubbles form.
Soak jewelry for 5 to 10 minutes in the solution.
Clean any crevices with a soft-bristle brush, such as a toothbrush.
Warm water should be used to clean jewelry.
To dry, use a silver cloth or a microfiber towel to gently wipe the jewellery. Paper towels should not be used since they can scratch the silver.

Fine silver jewelry with diamonds or other precious gems can often be cleaned with soap and water as well. However, consider speaking to a jeweler before cleaning valuables or have the piece professionally cleaned to be safe.

Sterling silver, rather than pure silver, is most often used in the silver pieces in your jewelry box. Sterling silver normally contains about 7.5 percent copper, making it both stronger and more tarnish-prone than pure 99.9% silver (which is unusual). (The most common cause of corrosion on sterling silver jewelry is copper.)

Check the clasp for a marking that says 9.25, 925/1000, Sterling, S/S, or Sterling 9.25 to see if your jewelry is sterling silver or silver-plated. If you don't see these indications on your necklace or bracelet, it's undoubtedly silver-plated.

If soap and water aren't cutting it, try baking soda, lemon juice, olive oil, white vinegar, salt, and toothpaste, which are all pantry and household basics.

Baking Soda to Clean Sterling Silver

To produce a paste, combine two parts baking soda and one part water, then carefully rub the mixture over the jewelry. To eliminate the tarnish, allow the paste to dry fully. Using a soft cloth or a microfiber towel, rinse and dry. Cornstarch can also be used in a similar manner.

Mix Lemon and Olive Oil

Combine Vinegar and Baking Soda

Clean Silver Jewelry with Toothpaste

How to Keep Silver Jewelry from Tarnishing

Prevention is the key to tarnish-free silver jewelry. Although you won't be able to totally shield silver from air, heat, or moisture, you may try to restrict its exposure.

To begin, put all silver jewelry in soft, anti-tarnish bags ($14, The Container Store) in a cold, dark location. It's best if the humidity is low. To assist remove moisture, some individuals put a piece of chalk, a package of charcoal, or even silica gel to the bags. Leaving jewelry in the bathroom is also a bad idea due to the extra moisture. Before showering, swimming, or doing chores, take off your rings, earrings, and other silver jewelry, and put it on last.