How to Clean and Care for Sterling Silver Jewellery

Sterling silver has a beautiful, soft shine, and with a little care it will keep that shine for years. Every piece of silver will change over time, but most of what happens to it can be prevented, and almost all of it can be reversed. This guide covers everything you need to know: why silver tarnishes, how to look after it day to day, how to clean and polish it, what to avoid, and how to store it.

Why Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver mixed with other metals, usually copper, which makes it strong enough to wear every day. That is why you will see it stamped 925. If you would like to know more about the difference, our guide to what sterling silver is and how it differs from pure silver explains it in more detail.

Tarnish is the dull, yellowish or dark film that builds up on silver over time. It happens when the metal reacts with sulphur compounds in the air. Humidity, warmth and contact with certain chemicals speed the process up, which is why a bracelet left on a bathroom shelf can darken much faster than one kept in a drawer.

Tarnish is not a sign of poor quality. It is simply what silver does, and it sits on the surface, so it can be cleaned away.

Everyday Care

A few small habits make the biggest difference:

• Put it on last. Apply perfume, body lotion, hairspray and make-up first, let them dry, and then put on your jewellery.
• Take it off first. Remove your jewellery before you get changed for bed, exercise or any messy job.
• Wipe after wearing. A quick wipe with a soft, dry cloth removes skin oils and moisture before they have a chance to cause tarnish.
• Be gentle with stretch pieces. Roll elastic bracelets and rings on and off rather than pulling them wide, so the elastic keeps its shape.

How to Clean Sterling Silver, Step by Step

For light tarnish or pieces that just look a little tired, a gentle wash is usually all you need.

• Step 1: Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and add a drop of mild washing-up liquid.
• Step 2: Dip your jewellery briefly and use your fingertips to clean it. For beaded or detailed pieces, use a very soft toothbrush with light strokes to reach the gaps between beads and around charms.
• Step 3: Rinse in clean, lukewarm water.
• Step 4: Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth, then leave the piece to air dry completely before you put it away. Trapped moisture is one of the main causes of tarnish.

For beaded bracelets on elastic, keep the wash short and avoid soaking. Water will not hurt the silver, but long soaks are not kind to elastic or knots. If a bracelet includes crystals or pearls, a gentle wipe with a barely damp cloth is safer than a full wash.

Polishing Your Silver

For a brighter finish, or to lift tarnish that washing has not shifted, use a silver polishing cloth. These are inexpensive, widely available and treated with a mild polishing agent.

• Rub gently using long, straight strokes rather than circles, which can leave fine swirl marks.
• Turn the cloth to a clean section as it darkens, so you are not rubbing the tarnish back on.
• Take extra care around crystals, pearls and elastic, polishing only the metal parts.
• Do not wash the polishing cloth, as that removes the polishing agent.

Avoid household hacks such as toothpaste or bicarbonate of soda pastes. They are abrasive and can leave tiny scratches that dull the surface over time. Silver dips can also be too harsh for delicate or mixed-material pieces.

What to Avoid

Most damage to silver jewellery comes from everyday situations that are easy to avoid:

• Perfume, lotions and hairspray: these contain chemicals and oils that speed up tarnish and leave a film on the surface.
• Chlorine: swimming pools and hot tubs are particularly harsh on silver and can discolour it quickly. Always take your jewellery off before you swim.
• Household cleaning products: bleach and other cleaning sprays can damage silver, so remove your jewellery before doing the cleaning or washing up.
• Showering and bathing: soap and shampoo build up on the surface, and steamy bathrooms add moisture. Take your pieces off first.
• Sleeping in your jewellery: it is tempting to leave bracelets on, but sleeping in them puts strain on elastic and chains, and can cause pieces to catch or tangle.
• The gym and the beach: sweat, sun cream and sea water all speed up tarnish, and knocks during exercise can damage charms.

Caring for Gold Filled and Gold Plated Pieces

Many of our designs combine sterling silver with gold filled or gold plated beads and charms. These need a gentler touch than solid silver.

• Gold plated pieces have a thin layer of gold over another metal. Rubbing, polishing compounds and harsh chemicals can wear this layer away, so never use a silver polishing cloth on the gold parts.
• Gold filled beads have a much thicker layer of gold and are more hard-wearing, but the same gentle approach will help them last.
• Clean them by wiping with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, and avoid soaking.
• Keep them well away from perfume, chlorine and cleaning products, as these can dull the finish.

If a bracelet mixes silver and gold, treat the whole piece as the more delicate of the two.

Storing Your Jewellery

Good storage prevents most tarnish before it starts. In short:

• Make sure every piece is completely dry before you put it away.
• Store silver in a soft pouch, a small sealed bag or a lined box to limit its contact with air.
• Keep pieces apart so they do not scratch or tangle, and lay stretch bracelets flat rather than hanging them.
• Choose a cool, dry place away from bathrooms and sunny windowsills. An anti-tarnish strip in the box can help too.

Your Natalie Rochelle gift box is a handy place to keep a piece between wears. For more ideas, read our full guide on the correct way to store your jewellery.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Looking after sterling silver does not take much time. Put it on last, take it off first, wipe it after wearing, store it dry, and give it a gentle clean and polish when it needs it. When you are ready to add something new, explore our best-selling jewellery.