While silver jewelry can be attractive and stylish, many women struggle with cleaning and caring for them. Let’s discuss how to make the process easier and more manageable.
Why does Silver Jewelry Tarnish?
When purchasing a silver bracelet for women, you can choose between pure or sterling silver, with the latter being more popular.
Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver. While it’s more malleable and affordable, it tarnishes quickly as a result of its composition.
If your silver jewelry appears dirty or has darkened, this is an indication that it has tarnished.
Don’t throw away Tarnished Silver Jewelry
While you may be tempted to dispose of your tarnished silver bracelet for women, there is no need to do so. Tarnishing happens due to a chemical reaction with sulfur particles or oxygen in the air. You can clean tarnished jewelry and make it as good as new.
How to Prevent Tarnishing
Understanding what can harm your silver jewelry is the first step towards preventing it. Here are tips to help you prolong the lifespan of your silver jewelry.
Wear your jewelry often. Natural oils in our skin will help you maintain the shine in your silver jewelry. Don’t just store it in the jewelry box. Try to wear it as often as possible.
Remove your jewelry during household tasks. Elements with added sulfur such as chlorinated water, household cleaners, rubber, and perspiration can speed up tarnish and corrosion.
Keep your jewelry away from direct sunlight as prolonged exposure causes your silver jewelry to tarnish. Whether you’re going to the beach, picnicking, or hiking, safeguard your jewelry accordingly.
How to Clean Your Silver Jewelry
There is various jewelry cleaning methods you can try at home. You only need to assess and identify the best that meets your needs. These include:
Water and Baking Soda
Some people recommend the use of toothpaste but you should avoid it at all costs. Instead, opt for a combination of water and baking soda.
You can still use toothpaste to clean your silver bracelet for women. However, it contains various ingredients that can damage jewelry.
Prepare a small paste of water and baking soda, apply on an old toothbrush or cloth and scrub your jewelry gently.
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
A combination of baking soda and white vinegar is a gentle and ideal jewelry cleaning method. It comes in handy to eliminate heavy tarnish.
Soak your silver jewelry in a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ½ a cup of white vinegar. Rinse your jewelry after three hours and pat it dry before wearing.
Water and Soap
Water and soap is a gentle jewelry cleaning method that many people prefer.
Polish Your Jewelry
After thoroughly cleaning your jewelry, complete the process with a good polishing cloth that’s specially designed for silver jewelry.
Repeat this process regularly to keep your silver bracelet for women looking shiny.
How to Store Your Silver Jewelry
- Keep your jewelry in an airtight container. You can either purchase specially designed bags for jewelry storage or use a zip-lock bag.
- Store jewelry pieces individually to prevent them from tangling or scratching with each other
- Keep it in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight and moisture.
- Avoid storing your silver jewelry in the cardboard, water, or cotton-padded boxes. These may contain traces of sulfur which accelerates tarnishing.
Other methods you can try to prevent tarnishing include:
- Store your jewelry with chalk. Put some pieces of chalk inside your jewelry box. The chalk will absorb moisture and prevent tarnishing.
- Use silica packs inside your jewelry box. These are included in new shoes, clothing, or handbags and are ideal for absorbing moisture.
- Use anti-tarnish cloths to line your jewelry box. These will absorb moisture and sulfur from the air. They come with chemical treatment to keep tarnish at bay.
Finally
Preventing tarnish on your silver bracelet for women is easier than removing it. Leverage these tips to protect your silver jewelry and prolong its lifespan.