Sterling Silver Jewelry Care:
The popularity of silver jewelry is soaring. We wear twice as much silver as gold these days. And yet, tarnished silver is very unappealing, especially if it happens overnight. So storing your silver jewelry and knowing how to care for it might not seem very comforting, but it’s pretty simple if you know what you’re doing.
A Variety Of Factors Cause Corrosion And Tarnish:
- Humidity.
- Silver’s naturally released sulfur.
- Chemicals in clothes.
- Food items like onion, egg, oil-based products, salt, milk, vinegar, acidic foods, etc., can also cause tarnishing.
- Wool, felt, rubber or rubber-based items (rubber bands), latex, skin oils, cosmetics, perfume, and hair products (gel, hair color, hair spray) are other examples.
Some items tarnish silver in a matter of seconds. In a split second, the color of your jewel changes from silver to black. Don’t learn it the hard way.
Sterling Silver Jewelry Care – How to Protect Your Sterling Silver Jewelry from Damage:
It’s critical to store and safeguard your silver jewelry adequately.
Most people don’t realize that following a few standards isn’t complicated or time-consuming.
Keep sterling silver jewelry away from direct sunlight and heat in a dark, dry location. Silver jewelry, like any jewelry, requires air circulation. Therefore, keep silver to allow each item to stand alone, with no other jewelry under or on top of it. Such an arrangement allows air to circulate while protecting it from scratches and other harm.
Never wrap or store your silver jewelry in the following materials:
- Paper
- Wrapping in plastic (baggies OK)
- Cotton
- Cardboard
- Wooden jewelry boxes with no lining
Regardless of the type of silver, it will tarnish with time. The natural antiquing process is a part of the allure of silver. Remember that goods made of antique silver are typically worth more if they have a natural patina that develops over time. Cleaning them might depreciate their worth. There’s a distinction between naturally aged patina and that weird metallic-smelling inky black colored stuff that’s tarnish or corrosion (silver rust). You can sense the change as well.
So you don’t want your silver jewelry to tarnish or, to put it another way, get that unsightly unnatural black inky tone.
Sterling Silver Jewelry Care – How to Remove Rust From Your Sterling Silver Jewelry
Before cleaning your silver jewelry, think about if you want it to develop a natural patina.
Wearing jewelry with care and safely storing it are the most significant ways to avoid corrosion.
To clean lightly tarnished items or pieces you wish to keep aging, follow these steps:
On a soft sponge, wash with warm water with mild dish soap (phosphate-free), rinse, and dry well with a soft towel. This method also works well on a variety of badly tarnished items.
To clean aged silver, use a small amount of soap and carefully rub the sponge over the portions you wish to keep aging.
Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a soft cloth.
Move With Caution:
If your jewelry contains gemstones, use extreme caution when cleaning it. Cleaning with a cello sponge is good, but experts don’t recommend anything more abrasive.
You require aluminum foil, baking soda, and heated water to clean the silver. This method eliminates tarnish from tarnished silver without damaging any underlying metal by using electrolytic action instead of chemical polish abrasion.
To clean badly tarnished items, use these steps:
Fill a large non-metallic bowl halfway with water (larger than the silver you want to clean).
In the bottom of the bowl, place a sheet of aluminum foil with the shiny side up.
Place the silver on top of the aluminum foil. The aluminum foil must come in touch with the silver.
Fill the basin halfway with boiling water, just enough to cover the silver.
Sprinkle three teaspoons of baking soda over the silver
Soak for up to ten minutes, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
Not everyone likes to take off their jewelry when taking a shower, swimming or getting ready for bed. And you are not required to do so. However, you must ensure that you wash it in clean water after swimming and that no soap residue remains after a shower.
You should be alright if you conduct a quick washing with soap and water now and again. If you have a set of earrings on, take them off when you get my hair done. When using hair spray, wrap a towel over your neck and cover your ears to protect your earrings and chains. The extra effort will save you saved cleaning time in the long run.
For storing purposes:
An anti-tarnish jewelry box isn’t necessary. Anti-tarnish boxes have advantages and disadvantages, and the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. There are a few simple, low-cost methods for keeping your jewelry tarnish-free in any jewelry box.
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