Tarnish On Your Silver Jewelry
So how do you remove ugly black tarnish from jewelry and make it look beautiful again? Very carefully!
If a polishing cloth won’t work, you’ll have to use something stronger. A mild liquid detergent, diluted with warm water may do the trick. Be sure to rinse the piece completely in clean water then dry and polish until it shines.
If that doesn’t do it, you will need a commercial silver paste or spray polish. There are many on the market; the best thing to do is to read the labels closely.
Does your piece have stones or gems of some kind? If so, be very careful when choosing the type of paste or spray polish you’re going to use. Not all cleaners are recommended for use around soft, porous gemstones or pearls. Gems can be permanently damaged in some cases. So read those labels.
Be careful not to use too much paste at a time, particularly around gems. Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth to rub in a lengthwise motion. A circular motion may cause scratches. For hard to reach areas, a child’s toothbrush or mushroom brush comes in handy. Then, go back to your polishing cloth to remove any excess cleaner and rub until it shines.
If all else fails, a “dip” such as Tarnex may be used to remove tough spots. However, be very careful to use this sparingly, rinse the piece thoroughly in clean water and dry completely.
The general rule of thumb for cleaning silver is simple. The faster the cleaning method, the harsher it is on your jewelry. Polishing with a cloth a bit more often will prevent you from having to use tougher methods that may, in the end, damage your jewelry.
Next up, how to store your silver to help prevent tarnish in the first place.