Clean your silver jewelry using household products!

Silver is a beautiful precious metal that looks shiny and bright at first, but as time goes by, it may tarnish and lose its je ne sais quoi. The best way to keep your silver mostly untarnished is to wear it EVERY SINGLE DAY, but some jewelry, a chunky cocktail ring for example, can go weeks or months without being worn. When exposed to air, silver tarnishes and becomes black in some areas. Our skins oils naturally keep silver looking its best, but the jewelry you keep in a drawer likely isn't in primo condition.

I don't dare use the "C" word, but most of us have extra time on our hands these days...If there's ever been a time to get that jewelry looking as good as new, it's now!

Here's an easy, almost fun, way to clean your sterling silver jewelry using no harsh chemicals, just household products!

*CAREFUL : Do not try this with jewelry that contains pearls! Other gems and stones are fine!

MATERIALS NEEDED

Boiling water

A pinch of salt

2 tbsp Baking Soda

1 tbsp Vinegar Aluminum tray or foil-lined dish

STEP 1

• Fill a kettle or saucepan with water and make it hot! (boil it…)

• Place your silver pieces in an aluminum pan, or a glass dish lined with aluminum foil

STEP 2

• Sprinkle with 2 tbsp baking soda and a pinch of salt

• Cover with boiling water

• Slowly add 1 tbsp vinegar (at this point, the mixture will begin to bubble intensely, don't panic!)

STEP 3

• Let the pieces sit for about 5 minutes, then rotate them to ensure maximum contact with the aluminum bottom of the dish. Make sure to use wooden or plastic utensils (no ferrous metals like forks or spoons). Let them sit an additional few minutes (when the water reaches a lukewarm temperature nothing is happening anymore)

*If your silver is heavily tarnished, you may want to repeat steps 1 through 3 a second time.

STEP 4

• Remove the pieces and dry them

• If a polishing cloth is available you you, give your fresh jewelry an extra shine (alternately, rub with a microfiber cloth or a cotton t-shirt)

Tah dah!

This bracelet was blackened and grimy, and now its looking shiny and new! Let me know if you try this technique, or if you have another effective method you'd like to see me try!