| Proper care and storage of your sterling | | | | immerse the stone. Gently wipe with a |
| silver jewelry means you will have many | | | | soft cloth and rinse with cool water. |
| years of pleasure and your jewelry will | | | | Always make sure your jewelry is |
| continue to look like new. Sterling | | | | completely dry before storing. |
| silver will tarnish over time and with a | | | | There are a number of excellent quality |
| little care will continue to look | | | | silver polishes and pastes that you may |
| beautiful. With some pieces, you may | | | | wish to use for pieces that are more |
| even wish to leave some "color" to | | | | heavily soiled. Again, do not rub the |
| enhance the contrasts or aged appearance | | | | polish on the gem stone as it may dull |
| of your jewelry | | | | the surface over time. Be sure to rinse |
| Types of Cloths/Brushes | | | | your piece thoroughly and remove all |
| Because sterling silver is a relatively | | | | polish or paste. If your jewelry is a |
| soft metal, it will scratch easily. For | | | | plain silver piece, with no gem stone, |
| best results use only use only soft, | | | | you may want to use a silver polish |
| lint-free 100% cotton cloth. Terry | | | | spray. |
| cloth, synthetic fabrics or any coarse | | | | Ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended |
| cloth may cause fine surface scratches | | | | for any silver jewelry with gem stones |
| which will trap tarnish, dirt and | | | | and particularly any that are porous, |
| polish. This will cause your jewelry to | | | | like turquoise. The cleaner may harm |
| lose its luster and appear duller over | | | | the stone. If your silver jewelry has |
| time. | | | | no setting, then you may use an |
| You may clean your silver jewelry with a | | | | ultrasonic cleaner. |
| very soft brush, like a baby's | | | | How to Clean |
| toothbrush, a horsehair brush or brushes | | | | If you've ever noticed a black car that |
| sold for this purpose. Some have | | | | has been repeatedly hand washed, you'll |
| successfully used mushroom brushes. The | | | | notice the circular scratches that |
| bristles of the brush must be very soft | | | | inevitably show. Keep that in mind when |
| and used gently. There's no place for | | | | you're cleaning your jewelry. Use a |
| rough treatment or harsh scrubbing if | | | | lengthwise gentle motion to wipe your |
| you wish to preserve the luster of your | | | | jewelry clean rather than a circular |
| jewelry. | | | | one. Any surface scratches that occur |
| Anti-tarnish polishing cloths are | | | | will be less noticeable. Make sure that |
| available and are very inexpensive. | | | | you rinse your jewelry completely and |
| These are both handy and easy to use. | | | | gently dry with a clean, soft cloth. |
| However, if your jewelry includes gem | | | | How to store |
| stones, you'll need to be careful not to | | | | Storing each piece of silver jewelry |
| rub the stone(s) with the cloth. It | | | | separately will reduce the amount of |
| could, over time, damage the stone. | | | | scratching that occurs in a jewelry box. |
| Types of Cleaners | | | | Using an airtight zipped bag - plastic |
| For the same reasons, a soft cloth is | | | | or specially purchased anti-tarnish bags |
| necessary - so is a soft, gentle | | | | - will help reduce tarnishing over time. |
| cleanser. There are several options | | | | Silver jewelry is meant to be worn. |
| available. | | | | Actually our body oils act as a barrier |
| For light cleaning, a mild detergent and | | | | to tarnish - most of the problem will |
| warm water will often do the trick. | | | | come in storing the jewelry. A little |
| Just make sure that you are using a | | | | consistent care will go a long way to |
| lint-free soft cotton cloth to gently | | | | keeping your sterling silver jewelry |
| clean your jewelry. Once cleaned and | | | | beautiful for a lifetime. But if you're |
| rinsed thoroughly, gently dry completely | | | | like most of us and get busy with other |
| before storing. | | | | things, it's nice to know that silver |
| You can also purchase a silver cleaning | | | | jewelry is quite forgiving. |
| dip - just make sure that you do not | | | | |