Silence is golden, but speech is silver—and sometimes, one can’t help but make a statement. As early as 4400 BC in Ancient Egypt, silver jewelry was considered sacred, associated with the moon as well as the bones of the gods.
After millennia, it remains one of the most popular materials used in fine jewelry, known for its durability, versatility, and shine. Due to its timelessness, sterling silver remains a staple jewelry piece, regardless of style or jewelry length.
If you’ve recently added to your collection, you might be wondering how to clean sterling silver jewelry from home to maintain that shine. Sterling silver is actually remarkably easy to clean and maintain, and by following a few simple guidelines, you can keep your piece sparkling and tarnish-free for years to come.
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling silver refers to a standard of quality in silver jewelry. It’s a label that means a piece contains about 92.5% pure silver, bolstered by 7.5% copper (or another alloy).
"Pure" or "fine" (99.9%) silver is generally too soft and malleable to endure everyday wear and tear. Sterling silver, however, is considered ideal for jewelry as it offers the perfect balance—maintaining a high level of purity while being strong and durable enough for daily use.
Why Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?
“Tarnish” is a thin layer of corrosion that forms on certain precious metals, including sterling silver, over time. It’s a natural reaction to general wear and tear that can leave pieces dull or discolored.
Even if you take immaculate care of your silver, tarnish can form thanks to humidity, heat, or exposure to compounds naturally found in the air. Contact with sulfur, which is found in food, beverages, and even skincare products, can also cause a chemical reaction that may tarnish your piece.
Luckily, unlike rust, tarnish is quite easy to remove and can be kept at bay with regular cleaning and proper storage.
Essential Tools for Cleaning Silver Jewelry
Cleaning sterling silver is easier than you might think, and it only requires basic household tools. By taking a few minutes to clean your sterling silver pieces monthly or bimonthly, you’ll ensure clean silver jewelry that lasts for years to come.
Materials
For each regular sterling silver cleaning, you’ll need:
• Cotton, vinyl, or nitrile (synthetic rubber) gloves
• A small bowl or plastic dishpan
• Warm water
• Gentle (phosphate-free) dish soap and/or silver polish
• A lint-free towel
• A soft-bristled toothbrush
• Optional: Deep-cleaning tools, like tweezers or an ultrasonic cleaning machine
Try not to work over the sink in order to avoid losing jewelry pieces or their tiny parts down the drain. If necessary, line your sink with a towel.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry
You don't need an expensive silver cleaner to care for your favorite sterling silver piece. A basic silver cleaning session can be done in minutes with simple soap and water.
Step 1: Prepare Your Area
Start by putting on your gloves before handling the jewelry—excessive contact with the oils, moisture, and salts on our fingers can cause your piece to darken or corrode over time.
Next, fill your bowl or dishpan with warm water and just a few drops of mild dish soap. Set out your bowl and jewelry pieces in your kitchen or bathroom, but far from the sink (or in a towel-lined sink).
Step 2: Rinse and Scrub
Immerse your pieces in your bowl of soapy water, scrubbing gently with your toothbrush to remove grime from the tarnished silver as necessary. In certain cases, you might choose to leave a bit of tarnish, which can add a vintage dimension to more intricate designs.
Step 3: Dry
Dry your pieces with your lint-free cloth and set them aside to polish. Be sure to inspect your pieces to ensure no precious pieces (like gemstones or earring backs) have popped loose before dumping out your bowl of water.
Other Cleaning Solutions
In the case of a slightly more challenging cleaning job where dish soap isn’t cutting it, another homemade cleaning solution might do the trick. Options include:
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Lemon and olive oil – Mix ½ cup lemon juice with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and dip a clean cloth in the solution. Rub your piece until it shines, rinse, and dry.
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Vinegar and baking soda – Mix ½ cup white vinegar with 2 tablespoons baking soda. Soak your pieces in the solution for two to three hours, rinse, dry, and polish.
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Toothpaste – Dilute a small amount of (non-whitening) toothpaste with water, and use it to gently scrub with, you guessed it, a toothbrush. Only use this technique with genuine sterling silver pieces, as toothpaste can strip silver-plated jewelry of its finish.
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Baking soda and water – Mix two parts baking soda with one part water, coat your pieces in the solution with a toothbrush, and let it dry. Then rinse, dry, and polish your jewelry as usual.
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Anti-tarnish aluminum soak – Line a large bowl or pan with aluminum foil and fill it with boiling water. Add ¼ cup baking soda and two teaspoons of kosher salt and stir (bubbles will form and the solution might smell a bit unpleasant). Soak pieces for up to five minutes, gently mixing while taking care not to let them hit one another or the sides of the pan. Remove and dry with a soft cloth.
While soapy water is enough for most routine cleanings, these other home remedies can come in handy if you’ve noticed significant buildup.
Common Silver-Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid
While sterling silver is generally durable, it’s possible to cause scratching or abrasion by neglecting to be careful when cleaning. Avoid making these common mistakes:
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Mixing metals – Not only can silver become scratched if pieces are stored closely together, but it can also be damaged by coming into contact with other metals (even stainless steel appliances), which is all the more reason to line your sink with a towel when cleaning.
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Confusing silver with gold – Cleaning silver is a process that’s similar, but not identical, to cleaning gold. Be careful not to confuse how to clean gold jewelry with sterling silver. For instance, toothpaste can be used to clean silver, but will likely damage gold.
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Waiting too long – Clean your sterling silver pieces as soon as you notice any grime or buildup, such as after a party where your piece came into contact with cosmetics or sulfur-rich foods.
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Using abrasive cleaners – Harsh cleaners like Windex (or even silver polishes containing alcohol or ammonia) are always a no-go. Keep your routine as gentle as possible while still ensuring an effective shine.
Remember to take extra care with smaller, more delicate pieces, and don’t use harsher cleaning methods, like commercial polish or the aluminum soak, too often (once every month or two is plenty).
Polishing Sterling Silver
Taking an extra few minutes to polish your silver pieces after cleaning them can go a long way in maintaining a sparkling finish and fighting tarnish. Using a silver-polishing cloth or mitts, gently rub back and forth until the tarnish is gone and the shine returns to your piece.
Contrary to popular belief, a silver polish or cream is not necessary for sterling silver (and more abrasive formulas might actually do more harm than good). If you feel your silver needs a little extra boost, choose the gentlest polish possible (one free from acids, alcohol, and ammonia is ideal).
Sterling Silver Storage
Where you store your sterling silver is crucial to its longevity. Immediately after cleaning and polishing, store your pieces somewhere cool, dark, and most importantly, dry (a felt-lined jewelry box is ideal).
A buildup of moisture can quickly lead to tarnishing—you might even consider adding silica gel packs, anti-tarnish strips, or even a piece of chalk or charcoal to your jewelry box or drawer in order to keep the air inside dry.
Keep pieces separated when possible to avoid abrasion from pieces rubbing against one another and prevent longer chains from becoming tangled.
Preventing Tarnish: Tips for Silver Jewelry Care
To stave off tarnish between cleanings, there are a variety of steps you can take. Storing your silver as described above (especially with anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packs) can make a huge difference.
You should also avoid swimming while wearing your pieces, especially in a chlorinated pool. Further, store your silver jewelry outside of the bathroom while showering. Not only can soaps and hair products corrode silver, but the steam’s moisture can also accelerate tarnish.
Silver’s arch-nemesis is sulfur. When silver comes into contact with sulfur, it forms silver sulfide, a common type of tarnish. Sulfur compounds are more prevalent than you might think, so be mindful of your jewelry when cooking with or eating sulfur-rich ingredients like meat, eggs, onions, mayonnaise, and mustard—even beer and wine can contribute.
The “aluminum soak” described above is especially effective at eliminating tarnish caused by sulfur, as it helps separate sulfur and silver atoms.
When possible, remove your jewelry or cover it with gloves before cleaning, as many common household cleaning products can cause abrasion or tarnish.
Finally, keep your jewelry separate from oils, lotions, sunscreen, makeup, perfume, and other cosmetic products, as their buildup of moisture and oil can cause tarnish. Putting on your jewelry should be the last step in your getting-ready process, after your skin and hair products have had time to dry and absorb the products fully.
Professional Cleaning Methods
In general, it’s completely possible to take care of your sterling silver’s maintenance and care entirely at home. Barring any necessary repairs or severe corrosion, you likely won’t need the help of a professional jeweler.
However, if your schedule doesn’t allow for regular cleaning or you simply prefer the help of a specialist, cleaning and maintenance service is certainly an option. In fact, if your piece is an antique or otherwise requires a more in-depth cleaning job, consulting an expert is likely your best bet.
Jewelers also offer ultrasonic and steam cleaning as well as professional polishing services to leave your pieces with an extra-special shine.
In case your sterling silver piece requires a repair, it’s always best to visit a jeweler rather than attempt a DIY fix. When it comes to tiny parts, your pieces are safest in the hands (and with the tools) of a trained professional.
Discover Silver Jewelry By John Hardy
Maintaining your sterling silver pieces at home is easier than you might think. A simple clean and polish once every month or two will keep your jewelry shining, and with proper storage and a few minor precautions, you can keep your pieces out of tarnish’s way.
If you’re looking to build or grow your silver jewelry collection, John Hardy offers a contemporary selection of artisan-made pieces that are sustainably sourced and boldly designed.
Discover our one-of-a-kind collection of sterling silver jewelry, from women’s silver necklaces to men’s silver rings. Our collection is crafted by hand for everyday wear and a lifetime of shine.
Sources:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Silver in Ancient Egypt. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/silv/hd_silv.htm
United States Geological Survey. What is sterling silver? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-sterling-silver
Real Simple. How to Clean Silver Jewelry. https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-to-clean-silver-jewelry
Martha Stewart. How to Clean Silver. https://www.marthastewart.com/2124227/how-clean-silver#toc-how-to-care-for-sterling-silver-jewelry
Better Homes and Gardens. How to Clean Silver Jewelry in a Matter of Minutes. https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-silver-jewelry/#toc-how-to-clean-sterling-silver-with-baking-soda
The New York Times. How to Clean and Polish Silver. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/how-to-clean-and-polish-silver/
Healthline. All You Need to Know About Sulfur-Rich Foods. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-with-sulfur#food-beverage-sources