| Cleaning silver jewelry is not difficult. Making it a regular | | | | gemstones, make sure you chose a paste that is safe |
| habit is the single most important thing you can do to | | | | for use with gemstones. You will also want to avoid |
| keep your favorite necklaces, bracelets and earrings | | | | dips, as these can be absorbed by porous gemstones |
| looking their best. | | | | and will deteriorate them. |
| This metal, as you already know, tarnishes over time. | | | | When used carefully, dips and pastes are effective |
| The technical name for tarnish is silver sulfide. It is | | | | methods for cleaning silver jewelry. However, there |
| formed when hydrogen sulfide in the air reacts with | | | | are also all natural methods using products found in |
| the metal. Hydrogen sulfide is quite common, found in | | | | your kitchen. One method is to make a paste of |
| everything from onions and eggs to rubber and fossil | | | | baking soda and water. Rub the paste on your pieces, |
| fuels. | | | | rinse, then dry with a soft cloth. |
| Although tarnish is inevitable, there are a few things | | | | Another method, which is good for cleaning the |
| you can do to slow the process. First, after use, it's a | | | | intricate detailed areas of your jewelry, is to place |
| good idea to wipe off your jewelry with a soft cloth | | | | aluminum foil at the bottom of a glass jar or bowl. Fill |
| before putting it away. | | | | the container half full with hot water, and dissolve a |
| You can also take precautions to protect your pieces | | | | tablespoon or two of salt in the water. Place your |
| when they are stored. For example, you can store the | | | | jewelry in the solution, and shake or swirl it. Let it sit for |
| jewelry with anti-tarnish strips. These strips contain | | | | a couple of minutes. During this time, the salt and |
| activated charcoal, which absorbs pollutants in the air. | | | | aluminum work together as a magnet to pull the tarnish |
| You can also place packets of silica gel granules in | | | | off your jewelry. When finished, remove your jewelry |
| your jewelry box to absorb any humidity in the air. | | | | from the solution, rinse under clean water, and then dry |
| There are many products, including pastes and dips, | | | | with a soft towel. |
| that you can buy to remove silver tarnish. However, | | | | Finally, it's important to get in the habit of cleaning silver |
| you have to be careful. Silver is a soft metal, and it is | | | | jewelry on a regular basis. The more tarnish that builds |
| easily scratched. On top of that, many jewelry pieces | | | | up on your pieces, the more difficult it will be to |
| are silver-plated, and the plating can be scratched off | | | | remove. |
| with abrasive pastes and cloths. If you jewelry has | | | | |