| Silver jewelry, like any good thing, needs care. Pure | | | | But, avoid keeping the silver in direct contact with |
| sterling, if it is not taken care of is vulnerable to | | | | wood. Wood usually contain acids that can darken the |
| scratches and tarnishes. It is obviously the best that | | | | finish. If you are storing the jewelry in air tight bags, |
| your jewelry remains scratch free always, but, | | | | never use poly vinyl plastic bags. The sulphur in the |
| accidentally if it is already scratched then there are | | | | plastic will ruin the silver. Also remember that a |
| always ways to repair it. Silver is sensitive. Just be | | | | cardboard box or ordinary paper also contain sulphur in |
| sure to take proper care of the jewelry after it has | | | | them. You can use a bag made of tarnish-proof cloth |
| been given attention to. | | | | instead. |
| There are house hold methods and professional | | | | Now to the cleaning part of silver maintenance. First |
| methods. The nice part is household methods are as | | | | step is to decide the cleaner and the cloth to clean. |
| effective as professional methods. A professional will | | | | House hold cleaning solutions like a lukewarm baking |
| of course take professional care of your pieces, but if | | | | soda-water solution, ammonia-water solution (1:1 ratio) |
| you are confident and have the time to do it in your | | | | or a toothpaste solution can be used, but, it is advisable |
| home, then you can find some really good help from | | | | to use specific cleaners prescribed by the silversmiths. |
| this article. There are two parts in the maintenance | | | | Otherwise, distilled or filtered water is the best choice. |
| schedule. First is cleaning and second is storing. | | | | Make sure that the toothpaste is not a gel and does |
| Both are equally important because cleaning repairs | | | | not contain any whitening substance. Also, make sure |
| the silver and storing helps it to stay clean. It is like this. | | | | to carefully use specific cleaning solution for the silver |
| Silver is sensitive. It stands in danger from harmless | | | | and for the gemstones encrusted in the jewelry. |
| sources like minerals in water, soap, sweat, dust and | | | | For cleaning it is best to use a very soft fully cotton |
| detergents. It can even get oxidized in sunlight leaving a | | | | cloth. Special silver cleaning clothes are available in a |
| deep purplish residue on the surface. So, here comes | | | | jeweler's store. Remember not to wash the clothes, |
| the importance of storing it; of letting it avoid the | | | | as this will wash off the jeweler's rouge from the cloth. |
| contact of corroding agents. So store them safely | | | | If you are using a toothbrush then make sure the |
| when you are not wearing them. Be careful when you | | | | bristles are softest. Don't be too rough and abrasive on |
| are wearing them. And to store it, you have to clean it. | | | | the metal. You have to be patient and gentle on the |
| Very importantly, always always remember to have | | | | piece. Remember to clean the jewelry lengthwise, a |
| the clean silver bone-dried before storing it. Wrapping | | | | circular motion while cleaning has the risk of scratching |
| the pieces with tissue paper or soft cloth is an | | | | the piece. |
| excellent idea. It is necessary not to keep silver with | | | | But, of course, all these does not mean you can not |
| other sharp jewelry like diamond. And, it is also | | | | wear your silver regularly. In fact, regularly wearing the |
| important to give the silver some breathing space, | | | | sterling, with proper care, increase the life of silver and |
| where it is kept. | | | | helps it to remain tarnish free for a long long time. |