How to care for S925 sterling silver jewelry？

Mardaza's professional jewelry designers have compiled a list of answers to all your questions about caring for your silver jewelry. From daily wearing tips to cleaning instructions, you'll find it all here! 

UNDERSTANDING WHY YOUR STERLING SILVER TARNISHES

Sterling silver is an alloy metal that is usually composed of 92.5% pure silver and other metals. Sterling silver is a popular metal, but because of its composition, it can also tarnish quickly.

If you’re looking at a piece of jewelry that is darkened or appears dirty, then your silver has tarnished; but, there’s no need to neglect this piece or get rid of it!

Tarnish is simply the result of a chemical reaction with oxygen or sulfur particles in the air. With a few easy-to-follow tips, you can take care of your sterling silver jewelry and make it last for years to come!

PREVENTING TARNISH WITH THESE DAILY WEARING TIPS

Knowing what’s harmful to your sterling silver jewelry is the best way to combat tarnish. For your daily wearing, we’ve put together this list of tips:

• Wear Frequently: Regularly wearing your silver jewelry can help create a protective lubricating layer from the natural oils and contact with your skin, reducing the chances of oxidation.

• Store Separately: Store your silver jewelry separately in a jewelry box or pouch to prevent contact with other jewelry or hard objects, minimizing scratches and friction.

• Avoid Moisture: Keep your silver jewelry away from environments with high humidity, such as bathrooms. Moisture can accelerate the oxidation process of silver.

• Avoid Chemicals: Avoid direct contact with chemicals containing sulfur, ammonia, or chlorine, such as perfumes, chlorine water, and cleaning agents. These chemicals can expedite the tarnishing of silver jewelry.

• Clean Body: Maintain good personal hygiene and avoid using skincare products with excessive chemical content to reduce contact with your silver jewelry.

• Dressing Order: Apply makeup and perfume before wearing your silver jewelry, allowing them to dry completely before putting on your jewelry to minimize direct contact with chemicals.

These daily wearing tips can help prevent oxidation and discoloration of your silver jewelry. However, please note that even with preventive measures, silver jewelry may still undergo some degree of tarnishing over time. Regular cleaning and maintenance are still important steps to maintain the appearance of your silver jewelry.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR STERLING SILVER JEWELRY

There are countless at-home methods for cleaning your silver jewelry. You’ve probably found yourself faced with endless options, wondering which are the best. Well, here’s the silver cleaning methods that Mardaza suggest for your at-home cleanings:

• Soap and water: This is our most recommended method because of the gentleness of soap and water. This should really be your first line of defense before trying anything else.                                                          
• Baking soda and water: If you come across suggestions to use toothpaste, we highly recommend you ignore that tip and use baking soda and water instead. When toothpastes were simple non-whitening, non-gel based pastes, they could be used on your jewelry. However, they include many more ingredients now that may damage your silver. Instead make a paste from baking soda and water, apply a small amount onto a cloth or tooth brush and scrub gently.
• White vinegar and baking soda: This gentle cleaning method is great for removing heavy tarnish. Soak your sterling silver in ½ cup of white vinegar and 2 tbsp of baking soda (combine these in the sink and prepare yourself for the fizzing and foam) for two to three hours. Rinse jewelry and pat dry.
• Finish with a polish: After you’ve given your jewelry a good cleaning, you can finish the process by using a polishing cloth that’s specifically for sterling silver.

You can repeat this process as often as needed. Remember, the key to keeping your sterling silver clean is to keep up with regular cleanings to remove tarnish as it builds. Your job becomes much more difficult if you let a piece accumulate a lot of tarnish and then try to remove it all at once.

HOW TO PROPERLY STORE YOUR SILVER JEWELRY

Use an air-tight container: any container can be used to store your silver, as long as its air-tight. Zip-lock bag are great, but you can also find specialty jewelry bags for a more attractive option.

Keep in a cool, dark place: as mentioned earlier, sunlight, heat and moisture accelerate tarnishing. Be sure to keep your silver in a cool, dark place.

Store pieces individually: storing your pieces separately prevents any chance of jewelry scratching or tangling with each other.
Consider anti-tarnish strips: you can throw in some anti-tarnish strips with your jewelry to help prevent tarnishing.

Do not store in paper, cardboard, or cotton-filled boxes: these boxes may contain traces of sulfur which will contribute to tarnishing.

PRODUCTS THAT HELP PREVENT TARNISH

There are a few other things you may try when looking for ways to prevent your sterling silver jewelry from tarnishing.

Store jewelry with chalk: If you throw a few pieces of chalk in with your sterling silver, the chalk will absorb the moisture and help prevent tarnishing.

Use silica packs: When you buy new clothing or shoes, sometimes you’ll find silica packs in with them. Hold onto these and toss them in your jewelry box. They’re great for absorbing moisture!

Anti-tarnish cloths: Lining your jewelry box with anti-tarnish cloths is a great idea. These cloths absorb sulfur and moisture from the air and are usually chemically treated to prevent tarnish.

Remember that it’s easier to prevent tarnish than it is to remove it after it occurs. If you see tarnish beginning to form, be sure to clean it immediately. Following these steps will help keep your sterling silver looking like new for years to come!