How to Clean 925 Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is commonly designated as .925 silver, usually with a small stamp in an inconspicuous place on the silver item. This marking indicates the silver is an alloy of 92.5 percent pure silver, with the remaining 7.5 percent comprising other metals. Sterling silver is generally more tarnish-resistant than pure silver, but will still need cleaning from time to time. Discover two methods of cleaning .925 sterling silver at home to give your jewelry and other items a "like-new" polish and shine. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Silver polish
- Soft cloth
- Aluminum foil
- Hot water
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Pan or bowl
Instructions
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Commercial Polish
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1
Pour some silver polish onto the soft cloth and work it into the fabric so that it is somewhat damp.
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2
Rub the polish-infused cloth over the silver pieces to be cleaned, using gentle pressure to remove tarnish. If you are cleaning a chain, wrap the cloth around the chain and use vigorous strokes to clean all sides of the chain at the same time.
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3
Finish by polishing with a clean soft cloth and store.
Baking Soda Method
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4
Line a pan or bowl with aluminum foil.
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5
Pour hot, almost boiling water, into the aluminum foil. Use enough water to cover the items you will be cleaning.
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6
Add plain table salt and baking soda to the water. For 2 cups of water, try using 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir.
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7
Add your silver to the water mixture, making sure that the silver pieces are fully covered. Allow to sit for a few minutes while the tarnish dissolves.
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8
Remove your .925 sterling silver items from the water, rinse and polish dry with a clean soft cloth.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Overuse of the baking soda cleaning method can result in pitting of some silver items. While this method is appropriate for occasional cleaning, if you plan on cleaning your items frequently, use a purchased silver cleaner.
References
- Photo Credit silver and chains image by Barbara Carlile from Fotolia.com
