Dazzling Trendz  by Lori Ann
 A Look for All Occasions ~ You'll Love our One Of A Kind Handcrafted Jewelry~  A Look for All Occasions~ You'll Love Our One Of A Kind, Hancrafted Jewelry~ A Look For All Occasions~               

Maintenance of your Sterling Silver Jewelry
Please, remember sterling silver is not maintenance free and needs cleaning care.

Maintenance of your Sterling Silver Jewelry
Please, remember sterling silver is not maintenance free and needs cleaning care.

Sterling Silver tarnishes from the interaction of silver and sulfides in the air.   First the tarnish will take on a golden hue, and eventually, it will turn the piece black.  This is a natural process.

Higher sulfide levels are associated with humidity and/or air pollution. Remember, the more humid the climate, the faster sterling will tarnish. On a summer day all you have to do is walk out the door and the sterling can start turning black very quickly.  Also the oils in our skin can tarnish sterling silver.  Sterling silver will polish up by rubbing or buffing it with a soft cotton cloth. A chemically treated cloth for sterling silver makes the job a lot easier and faster.
 

 Please keep in mind that sterling silver is not maintenance free.  To keep your jewelry sparkling you can use a polishing cloth, made specifically for sterling silver, on a regular basis.  For more intense cleaning, a sterling silver liquid cleaner can be used – PLEASE USE A LOT OF CAUTION when using a liquid cleaner.  In most cases the jewelry will only need to be dipped for a second or two, and then rinsed thoroughly.  Liquid cleaners for sterling silver are VERY POWERFUL.  If jewelry is left in the liquid for too long it will remove the beautiful shine and may damage the crystals.

HOMEMADE CLEANING RECIPE

In an eight ounce container (pickle jars work well), combine one inch of cleaning detergent (Top Job or Mr. Clean), one inch of dish washing liquid, and one inch of ammonia. Fill the rest of the container with water. Shake well. Use your microwave to heat up solution slightly or put in an old pot (you don’t use for food) and simmer on stove top. Place jewelry (silver or gold) into solution and let sit for about ten minutes. Remove from solution and rinse with water.