Bring back that shine onto your pieces

I get asked this question all the time and here are our secret tips and tricks to truly cleaning your silver jewelry without having to own high-end jewelry tools.

When it comes to wearing jewelry, the most important thing to know is that your body puts out natural oils with daily wear. When you decide you no longer want to wear your silver piece(s) and you put them away in a bag or jewelry box, 99% of the time your silver will tarnish, changing to a darker black colour. This is what we call “oxidization”, a natural patina process, but don’t worry its reversible and here is how to do it!

The first option: Toothpaste with Baking soda.

The things you will need:

YES, TOOTHPASTE. The baking soda in the toothpaste is a natural cleaner and with an old toothbrush you can add a little toothpaste to the silver piece and start scrubbing. You will notice that your silver piece(s) will come back to life and your toothbrush a little darker in colour. All you need to do is rinse and thoroughly dry your piece(s). If your pieces stay a little damp and air dry, they will be at risk of oxidizing all over again.

The second option: Aluminum foil, Baking soda and Hot water.

The things you will need:

This technique is simple and easy and I tend to do this with larger batches of tarnished silver. Using a ramekin, put 1.5 tablespoons of baking soda in the bottom, and then cut a small piece of aluminum foil approximately 6 x 4 inches. Place the foil shinny side down in the ramekin making sure it creates a little basket to hold the jewelry once it’s placed into the ramekin. Boil some water and poor it into the ramekin over top of the aluminum foil making sure the aluminum foil is covered but not submerged into the water.  You will smell a sulfur type smell once the water, baking soda and foil react. Then place your tarnished jewelry into the water into the foil and watch the piece(s) change back to silver right before your eyes. After a few minutes take the piece(s) out and dry them with a towel.

See our tutorial video HERE for any assistance with this process.

The third option: Put on the tarnished jewelry

Watch how your natural oils polish the piece(s) right up. It works best with earrings and rings versus necklace chains. It’s that simple!

Lastly, never under estimate DISH SOAP! This is something that I tend to do on gemstone piece(s) after they have been polished back to silver. I take an old toothbrush add some dish soap and scrub the stones in the piece as well as the piece as a whole. Its just gives that final polished and shinny look.

If you have any stubborn tarnished jewelry and you need some help never hesitate to reach out.

Love and Light
AJ