Sterling silver is a wonderful choice when it comes to choosing and wearing jewelry. It’s affordable, hypoallergenic and has a brilliant monochromic sheen that goes well with almost anything you wear. But like all jewelry and accessories, sterling silver is prone to tarnish when you expose them to harsh elements like chemical products or the weather.
This is why you need to polish your sterling silver regularly and store them properly to prevent tarnishing. For new ways for your sterling silver jewelry care, here are a few simple ways on how to clean sterling silver jewelry: -
1. Toothbrush & Toothpaste
What You Need: Plain White Toothpaste, a Brand New Baby Toothbrush, and a Microfiber Cloth
One of the simplest ways to clean sterling silver is by using plain white toothpaste and a baby toothbrush. Start by wetting the toothbrush, add a bit of toothpaste, and gently clean your jewelry. Once finished, rinse your tarnished jewelry with water and dry them with a cloth.
NOTE: Avoid using gel-based toothpaste or other types of toothpaste that may contain grit in them. These types of toothpastes contain abrasive contents that may scratch your silver jewelry.
2. Lemon Juice & Salt
What You Need: Salt, Warm Water, Lemon, a Microfiber Jewelry Polishing Cloth, and a Bowl
Start by squeezing one entire lemon into a bowl of warm water. Next, add three tablespoons of salt into the mix and stir well. Soak your tarnished sterling silver jewelry in the bowl for five minutes. Rinse the jewelry with water and then rub it with a microfiber jewelry polishing cloth thoroughly.
NOTE: Avoid using a regular cotton cloth as your silver polishing cloth, as it may lead to unsatisfactory results.
3. Tomato Ketchup
What You Need: Tomato Ketchup, a Baby Toothbrush, Warm Water, a Small Bowl, Warm Water, and Microfiber Cloth
Believe it or not, using tomato ketchup is actually a remarkable way to restore and clean your sterling silver jewelry. Fill up a small bowl with ketchup, and then dip in your sterling silver. Next, use a toothbrush to scrub your jewelry and clean hard to reach places. Leave the ketchup on your sterling silver for a few minutes, before rinsing it with water. Once done, use a microfiber cloth to polish and dry your jewelry.
4. Cola Bath
What You Need: Coca Cola, a Bowl, a Toothbrush, Warm Water, and a Silver Jewelry Polishing Cloth
Little known fact: you can actually use coca cola to remove tarnish. This is because coca cola contains enough acidity levels that can destroy and remove tarnish and rust.
Start by pouring some Coca Cola into a bowl. Then, soak your sterling silver into the bowl for half an hour to remove the tarnish. Take out the silver jewelry from the mix and scrub it with a toothbrush to remove any residue from the surface area. Rinse your jewelry with warm water and dry it with a polishing cloth thoroughly.
NOTE: If you don’t have Coca Cola around, you can also substitute lemon-lime soda as an alternative ingredient.
5. Beer
What You Need: Light Beer, a Bowl, and a Soft Microfiber Cloth
Another surprising method you can use to clean tarnished jewelry is with beer, cleaning your sterling silver with beer has a similar effect as coca cola. Start by filling up a bowl with light beer and soak the tarnished jewelry for about 10 minutes. Then, rinse your sterling silver with water and dry it with a microfiber jewelry polishing cloth.
6. Laundry Detergent Powder
What You Need: Powdered Laundry Detergent, Warm Water, a Bowl, Soft Silver Polishing Cloth
Cleaning your sterling silver jewelry with laundry detergent is an old and popular method to remove tarnish. Not only will laundry detergent help to remove the dirt and tarnished stains from your sterling silver, they will also smell amazing.
Add a small cup of powdered laundry detergent into a bowl of warm water. Then, place your sterling silver into the mix and let it soak for 5 to 7 minutes. Once you’re done, rinse the jewelry with water and dry it with a soft cloth.
7. Cornstarch
What You Need: A Bowl, Cornstarch, Water, Toothbrush, a Microfiber Polishing Cloth
Start by mixing cornstarch and warm water into a paste. Apply the cornstarch paste onto your sterling silver jewelry with a damp toothbrush and let it dry. Once the jewelry has dried, rinse it thoroughly and dry it with a microfiber cloth until it starts to shine.
NOTE: If you don’t have cornstarch at home, you can use cream of tartar as an alternate substitute.
8. Hand Sanitizer or Rubbing Alcohol
What You Need: Hand Sanitizer & Silver Jewelry Polishing Cloth
While hand sanitizers are great for removing germs from your hands, you’d be amazed that they can also be a wonderful silver polish as well! When cleaning sterling silver, it is ideal to use 70% rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based, fragrance-free hand sanitizer.
All you need to do is squeeze a few drops of hand sanitizer onto a silver polishing cloth and polish your sterling silver. Now your tarnished jewelry will retain its brilliant shine.
NOTE: Avoid polishing your silver jewelry with gemstones (such as cubic zirconia) with hand sanitizer, this may damage the condition of your gemstone jewelry.
With great care and regular maintenance, sterling silver jewelry can last for a long time. Don’t wait until your fashion jewelry tarnishes to give them a thorough cleaning session. Keep these care tips in mind and give your sterling silver jewelry a fresh start today.
If you’re looking more tips for cleaning sterling silver jewelry, you can also read this guide.
