Storing & Cleaning your Silver

This guide will outline the simple ways in which you can store and care for your sterling silver, reducing the tarnished appearance that can set in over a period of time which can make your jewelry unwearable.

Once you have purchased your gorgeous item of sterling silver jewelry you will no doubt want to maintain it to its original appearance as much as possible. I am sure that many of you have other pieces of silver jewelry that have lost their original look and discolored over time.

 Ever wondered what causes this or how it can be avoided or dealt with?

 Well, this discoloration, or tarnish is caused by storing your sterling silver in the open air and humidity for extended periods of time. This tarnishing is a natural process that is a chemical reaction in the air called oxidization. It first appears as a golden hue on the sterling silver and progressively turns to black.

To reduce tarnish and keep your sterling silver jewelry looking like new for longer periods it is recommended that you store them away when not wearing them. The good news is that there is an easy way to store your sterling silver jewelry away. It is advised that you keep your pieces wrapped up in tarnish prevention cloths or an air-tight protective bag. A plastic zip-lock bag is ideal for this. It is important to note that some plastic contains sulfur compounds which can cause the silver to tarnish faster. Never use polyvinyl plastic bags. You will find that most jewelers store their jewelry in zip-lock plastic bags and find this the best and most practical method.

 Prior to storing it, it is recommended that you clean and/or wipe the silver with a soft cloth. Here, it is important that you use a soft 100% cotton cloth or a special sterling silver cleaning cloth. Silver is a comparatively soft metal that is subject to being scratched so you must be careful that you use the correct type of cloth and do not rub too briskly either. Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics, that can leave tiny scratches on the surface of the silver. So, just to re-iterate this point be sure to clean your sterling silver with a soft 100% cotton cloth or a special sterling silver cleaning cloth. But do not use this cloth to polish the gemstones, only the silver.

 The best way to keep the tarnish on your sterling silver down to a minimum is to actually wear it! If you wear your sterling silver regularly, your natural body oils help to keep the tarnishing down and cleaning to a minimum.

Nature by Dezign  is an online fashion boutique that among other unique products offers a wonderful collection of sterling silver shell jewelry. They will provide you with a FREE STERLING SILVER POLISHING CLOTH with every online purchase of sterling silver jewelry. Which will give you the opportunity to maintain the look of your purchase with them but also means you can polish up your existing collection of sterling silver jewelry at home and bring it back to its original lustre!

Simply go to naturebydezign.com or put in a search in Yahoo/Google for Nature by Dezign to find their web site and check out this offer!