Sterling silver has an understated glow that pairs with pretty much everything but it's also the metal most likely to tarnish if it's left sitting in a drawer. The good news is a little regular care goes a long way and restoring its shine is easier than people think. Here's how to keep your sterling silver looking its best.
What Makes Sterling Silver Different
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver mixed with 7.5% other metals (usually copper) for strength. Pure silver on its own is too soft for everyday jewelry, so this alloy strikes the balance between durability and that signature silver shine. The tradeoff is that sterling silver reacts to sulfur in the air and other everyday exposures, which causes it to tarnish over time. It's a completely normal part of owning silver, not a sign of poor quality, and it's easy to reverse.
Everyday Wear: Do's and Don'ts
Do:
- Wear it often! Regular wear actually helps slow tarnish, since the natural oils on your skin create a light protective barrier
- Put it on last, after makeup, perfume, and lotion
- Wipe it down with a soft cloth after wearing to remove oils and residue from the day
Avoid:
- Chlorine and saltwater, which accelerate tarnish and can pit the surface
- Direct contact with perfume, lotion, and hairspray
- Items containing sulfur (rubber bands, certain foods like eggs and onions, some cleaning products), which speed up tarnishing
- Leaving pieces exposed to open air for long stretches, especially in humid environments
How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry
For light tarnish, a polishing cloth made specifically for silver is the easiest fix. For more noticeable tarnish, wash with warm water and a mild soap, gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely with a soft cloth (leftover moisture speeds up future tarnish). Avoid abrasive methods that can scratch the surface.
We love using the baking soda method to clean our sterling silver at home. Here's how to do it:
- Line a baking dish or bowl with aluminum foil (shiny side up)
- Place your dirty silver items into the foil-lined tray and cover with boiling hot water
- Sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda into the water until it bubbles
- Let sit for 30 mins, remove, rinse, buff with a cloth to make it extra shiny
How to Store Sterling Silver
This is where sterling silver needs a bit more attention than other metals. Store it in an airtight bag or a tarnish-resistant pouch whenever possible, since limiting air exposure is the single best way to slow tarnish. Keep pieces away from humidity (skip the bathroom counter) and separate from other jewelry to avoid scratching. If you wear a piece often, that's actually doing some of the work for you because it's the pieces sitting untouched for months that tarnish fastest.
A Fun Fact
That tarnish you're trying to avoid isn't a flaw! It's a chemical reaction called sulfidation, the same basic process that causes rust on iron. Silver is simply more reactive to sulfur compounds in the air than gold is, which is why silver needs more frequent attention to stay shiny while gold can go longer between cleanings.