Tarnish can develop on jewelry, particularly on items made of sterling silver or other metals like brass or copper. Tarnish occurs when these metals react with sulfur in the air, moisture, or other environmental factors. Cleaning tarnished jewelry can restore its shine and luster. Here are steps to clean tarnished jewelry:
Materials You’ll Need:
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- Soft toothbrush or jewelry brush
- Baking soda (for silver jewelry)
- Aluminum foil (for silver jewelry)
- Polishing cloth (optional)
Steps to Clean Tarnished Jewelry:
- Prepare a Soapy Solution:
- In a small bowl, mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water. Avoid using harsh detergents, as they can damage your jewelry.
- Soak the Jewelry:
- Submerge the tarnished jewelry in the soapy water for a few minutes. This will help loosen the tarnish.
- Scrub Gently:
- Use a soft toothbrush or a jewelry brush to gently scrub the jewelry, paying special attention to the areas with tarnish. Be gentle to avoid scratching the jewelry.
- Rinse Thoroughly:
- Rinse the jewelry under running warm water to remove any soap residue. Make sure to use a fine-mesh strainer or plug the drain to prevent accidental loss.
- Dry the Jewelry:
- Pat the jewelry dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not use paper towels, as they can scratch the jewelry.
For Cleaning Silver Jewelry Specifically:
If you’re dealing with tarnished silver jewelry, you can use the following additional steps to remove tarnish:
- Create a Baking Soda Bath:
- Line a small bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up. Place your tarnished silver jewelry in the bowl.
- Add Baking Soda and Hot Water:
- Sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda over the jewelry, ensuring that it makes contact with the tarnished areas. Then, pour hot (not boiling) water over the jewelry to create a fizzing reaction. This reaction helps remove tarnish.
- Soak and Rinse:
- Let the jewelry sit in the baking soda bath for a few minutes, or until the tarnish is visibly reduced. Remove the jewelry and rinse it under warm water.
- Dry and Polish:
- Pat the silver jewelry dry and use a jewelry polishing cloth to buff it to a shine. A specialized silver polishing cloth can help remove any remaining tarnish.
Additional Tips:
- Avoid using abrasive materials like toothpaste, baking soda, or salt on soft or delicate gemstones, as they may scratch the stones.
- For delicate or porous stones like pearls, opals, or turquoise, consult a professional jeweler for cleaning to avoid damaging the stones.
- Consider storing your jewelry in a cool, dry place and using anti-tarnish bags or strips to help prevent future tarnishing.
Regular cleaning and proper storage can help keep your jewelry looking its best. If you have valuable or antique jewelry, it’s advisable to consult a professional jeweler for cleaning and maintenance to ensure it is treated with care.
The reality is, ALL fashion jewelry necklaces bracelets, earrings or even rings are prone to tarnishing – and some, more rapid than others. The reason? It’s simple – eventually, your jewelry comes in contact with acids, oils, moisture, and air. The jewelry reacts with the metal in it, causing it to, over time, break down and tarnish.
Have you ever left your sterling silver out and realized it’s turned into a darker tone? That’s because of the metal reacting to the moisture and sulfur in the air. Even 10-18karat gold plated and gold-filled jewelry, and vermeil, are not invulnerable to tarnishing. They are going to, over time, indicate signs of wear, but are probably holds up better than jewelry not plated in this way.
And why does some jewelry turn my skin green?
Most of us most likely have worn a ring, only to take it off and see green ring around your finger? This green ring is due to the acids on your finger oxidizing the metal. If this happens to you and to what degree is going to differ based on your body chemistry. However, if you notice green, don’t worry – it’s not going to harm you and does not mean your jewels are not safe. This happens sometimes with pieces made out of copper, but even silver and gold metals can lead to discoloration too.
Ways to Keep Your Jewelry from Tarnishing
You probably unable to control the air around you or the “skin you’re in”, but you can control the way you maintain your jewelry! Below are ways on how to keep your fashion jewelry from tarnishing.
Keep Them Dry
The quickest way to tarnish your jewelry is to allow it to be in contact with moisture and/ or liquids. This includes putting on moisturizers, washing your hands, sprit’s of perfume, and sweating with your jewels on. The oils on your skin can even break down the plating and metals eventually – and this is going to again, differ by person. Did you accidentally get your jewelry wet? Make sure to dry them off straight away!
Store Them Properly
Due to contact with the simplest things such as the moisture in the air can break down your jewelry, it’s important to store them correctly. Take it up a notch by storing your jewelry in a Ziploc baggy – but you are going to want to be sure you take out as much air as possible prior to sealing it. With the air removed, the metal will be unable to oxidize from it.
Super strict on keeping your favorite pieces in excellent shape? Purchase some anti-tarnish strips. These crazy absorbent pieces of paper are going to basically suck all of the culprits in the surrounding air that is going to cause your jewelry to tarnish eventually. Put one in your jewelry drawer/ box, or storage pouch.
Try A Jewelry Spray
Give your jewelry protective shielding to fend off the elements that lead to tarnishing. Not only can it safeguard your favorite pieces longer, but many sprays can also protect you from allergies such as irritation, hives, and rashes. One such spray Tarnish Me Not is great for this. It’s also one-hundred percent hypoallergenic and cruelty-free.
Give Them a Break
Treat your jewelry with love and care, and they will keep sparkling for you for a considerable time!
You’re probably thinking – “this is a TON of work for my jewelry”. But if there’s a specific piece that you’re crazy in love with and wish to have for the foreseeable future, you know the steps you can take to keep them in the best condition!
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