How to Clean Stirling Silver Jewellery at Home
What is Stirling Silver?
Sterling silver is not pure silver. Pure silver contains 99.9% silver while sterling silver contains additional metals for strength - typically copper, though sometimes other metals such as nickel. The '925' label often found on sterling silver jewellery represents the purity level of the silver, which is 92.5%.
Silver is naturally a very soft material; the higher the purity level, the more malleable it is. In addition, the higher the silver content, the more likely the piece of jewellery is to tarnish. Therefore, a '950' sterling silver piece will not only bend more easily but it will also tarnish more quickly than a '925' sterling silver.
How Can I Clean My Stirling Silver Jewellery at Home?
You can take your sterling silver jewellery to be cleaned at a jeweller. However, there are some simple and cost-effective methods for cleaning your sterling silver jewellery at home.
Please be aware that silver cleaners are not suitable for all types of silver jewellery. It is not recommended that you completely submerge sterling silver jewellery that contains pearls or gemstones as the cleaning solution can damage the stones. If in doubt, contact a jeweller who can provide some guidance about the best cleaning method for your particular piece of jewellery.
We recommend that following the use of the solutions outlined below, you wash your silver jewellery with warm running water, then dry the pieces with a silver cleaning cloth. It is very important that the jewellery is thoroughly dry after cleaning as air drying can lead to water spots or tarnish.
Polishing Cloth
When your jewellery is only slightly tarnished, polishing is an effective and quick cleaning method. As noted above, silver in a malleable metal and therefore it has the potential to scratch. For this reason, it is important that you polish your jewellery with a cloth that is especially designed for cleaning silver. You can also try using a microfibre cloth, a lint-free flannel, or a soft, non-abrasive cloth, but a silver cleaning cloth is the best option. We recommend avoiding tissues and paper towels because they contain fibres that are abrasive and may scratch your silver pieces.
When cleaning, use back-and-forth motions that follow the lines or pattern of the silver jewellery. You can use a cotton bud for those tricky-to-reach spots. To avoid re-tarnishing the silver, use different sections of the cleaning cloth.
Soap & Water
There may be times when polishing fails to remove some, or all, of the tarnish. In this case, warm water and a mild (i.e. ammonia and phosphate-free) dish soap may just do the trick! This method is highly recommended as the first port of call before the cleaning methods that follow.
White Vinegar & Baking Soda
This solution is simple to make and it creates a wonderfully gentle cleanser that is perfect for removing heavy or severe tarnish. Soak your jewellery in a solution of ½ a cup of white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Expect a bit of fizzing - this combination of ingredients is used for the lava in volcano school projects! Keep your sterling silver in the solution for two to three hours, then rinse your jewellery under warm water and dry thoroughly with a cleaning cloth.
Baking Soda & Water
Start by making a paste using baking soda and water. Using a cotton bud, apply a very small, pea-sized, amount of the paste on to your silver and polish with a cleaning cloth. For sterling silver pieces that have intricate designs or details, you can thin your paste out with more water and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean. A toothbrush for babies or kids is recommended and remember to use very light pressure.
To complete the cleaning process, run the jewellery under warm water and dry with a clean silver polishing cloth.
Olive Oil & Lemon Juice
Make a solution of ½ a cup lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Using a small microfibre cloth that has been dipped in the solution, polish your sterling silver jewellery. Rinse under warm water and dry thoroughly with a cleaning cloth.
We hope this list helps you to keep your sterling silver jewellery pieces looking new for years to come! Remember that taking good care of your jewellery can help to avoid tarnish. You can read all about how to care for your sterling silver jewellery on our blog!
