| Sterling silver is a precious metal that needs to be | | | | over time. Read paste directions carefully prior to |
| cared for just like your gold and platinum pieces. If | | | | using.) |
| cared for and stored appropriately, sterling silver can | | | | You should clean your sterling silver pieces with a |
| remain beautiful and lustrous for a lifetime and beyond. | | | | lengthwise motion as opposed to circular as this will |
| Many people, unfortunately misguided, don't buy or | | | | reduce scratching (light scratching is inevitable but can |
| wear much silver because silver tarnishes. What | | | | be minimized). For those hard to reach places, |
| everyone should realize though is that silver is actually | | | | inaccessible to your cloth, you may use a small, |
| quite easy to care for and clean, and that tarnish | | | | soft-bristled brush (similar to a toothbrush). Try to |
| should be no major deterrent. | | | | purchase one made commercially for this purpose. Be |
| Take good care of your sterling silver rings, charms, | | | | gentle nonetheless. |
| necklaces, bracelets, and earrings and they will provide | | | | Some recommend toothpaste and baking soda as |
| you with years of aesthetic and ornamental pleasure. | | | | good choices for cleaning sterling silver, but these are |
| Many sterling silver treasures are passed down from | | | | often too abrasive and should not be used if can be |
| generation to generation. | | | | avoided. |
| Cleaning | | | | Storage |
| It is important to use a cotton cloth or similarly soft and | | | | The first rule of storing your sterling silver jewelry |
| non-abrasive material to clean your silver. Sterling silver, | | | | (after cleaning or otherwise) is to never store it moist |
| though durable, is a fairly soft metal that can be easily | | | | or wet (whether from perspiration or cleaning). |
| scratched if mistreated. Cloths for this purpose | | | | Humidity and open air contribute to the corrosion of |
| specifically are available commercially. | | | | sterling silver jewelry, so you want to avoid exposure |
| For light soiling, as with fingerprints and daily grime, it is | | | | as much as possible when your jewelry isn't being |
| recommended that you use a gentle, non-abrasive | | | | worn. |
| soap or detergent. A drop or two mixed in with a | | | | If you are not planning on wearing your sterling silver |
| ½ cup of warm water works just fine. Dab your | | | | jewelry for an extended period of time, it is highly |
| non-abrasive cloth into the mixture and clean as if you | | | | recommended that you store your pieces in a special |
| were polishing, taking care to be gentle around any | | | | jewelry bag designed to prevent turning (commercially |
| stone encasements. Use a dry, non-abrasive cloth to | | | | available as well). (Ziplock bags work well also if the air |
| continue the cleaning and polishing after washing. Make | | | | is removed sufficiently.) |
| sure that the piece is thoroughly dry prior to storage. | | | | Conclusion |
| For a more thorough cleaning, it is recommended that | | | | If you follow the above tips regarding the care and |
| you choose one of the commercially available silver | | | | storage of your sterling silver jewelry, your pieces will |
| cleaning pastes. (Note: when you using such pastes on | | | | look as good as new for many years to come. Take |
| silver jewelry with gemstones take great care not to | | | | care of your sterling silver, and your sterling silver will |
| damage the gemstones--polishes dull stone finishes | | | | make you look all the better. |