Caring for your silver

Silverware

  • To keep your object looking its best clean with warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. Silver with a polished surface can be cleaned by buffing gently with a silver cloth.

  • Over time silver can tarnish, to remove any tarnish use a small amount of silver foam on a soft cloth and gently wash the surface. Rinse thoroughly in water and dry with a soft cloth.

Jewellery

  • To keep your jewellery looking its best clean it often to stop the build up of tarnish and store individual items in a plastic zip lock bag or in acid free tissue paper.

  • Apply perfume and other cosmetic products before putting on your jewellery as perfume and other products can react with jewellery and cause it to tarnish or discolour.

  • Avoid wearing your jewellery while doing any physical activities such as swimming, gym or DIY to ensure it doesn’t accidental damage or discolour the pieces.

Cleaning your jewellery

To clean your silver jewellery (without gemstones), especially items that have a matt or textured finish the following method is recommended;

You will need a glass or ceramic container and some aluminium foil, hot water, and bicarbonate of soda.

Line the container with a piece of aluminium foil and place your jewellery on top, making sure it touches the aluminium foil. Sprinkle over about 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda. Then pour over the hot water until the entire piece is submerged. More than one piece can be done at a time but take care they don't rub and scratch one another.

The results should be noticeable within minutes.

After a few minutes, remove the silver (carefully as it may be hot) and rinse thoroughly in warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. If your piece is badly tarnished, you may need to repeat the process.

This method is not recommended for any jewellery that has been intentionally oxidised as part of the design as this will remove the black surface.

For jewellery with gemstones clean with warm water, a couple of drops of washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Rinse and dry with a lint free cloth.