Silver necklaces have been a permanent feature in my jewelry collection for years. Like all other jewelry pieces, I clean my silver necklaces regularly to maintain their beautiful sparkle.
5 Ways to Clean a Silver Necklace
You can clean your silver necklace in several ways; thankfully, you can use all the following methods at home.
1. Polishing Cloth
Polishing cloth helps to keep your silver necklace tarnish-free and sparkling for longer. You can choose to use a generic polishing cloth or silver polishing cloth. Some jewelers include polishing cloth in the packaging of new silver necklaces.
It will help to clean your silver necklace with a polishing cloth after every use. Doing this will remove all sweat, liquid, and tarnish-inducing chemicals on the necklace. Wipe every part of the necklace thoroughly, mainly targeting the tight areas and parts of the necklace that touch your skin.
2. Soap and Water
Washing your silver necklace with soap and water will remove harmful or tarnish-inducing chemicals. Your jewelry will also recover or maintain its sparkle when you regularly wash it. Dishwashing liquid is perfect for this process because of its mildness; do not use harsh or harmful chemicals or soaps.
When you have the dishwashing liquid and soap, follow the steps below:
Step 1— Create some lather with the dishwashing liquid and water.
Step 2— Scrub the necklace with a soft-bristled toothbrush, reaching into every corner.
Step 3— Rinse the necklace with running water immediately after washing, so the soap doesn’t dry.
Step 4— Dry the necklace with a microfiber cloth, and use a polishing cloth to shine it further.
3. Toothpaste
Toothpaste is another excellent silver necklace cleaner because of the hydrated silica present in it. Toothpaste for controlling tartar, like Sensodyne and Colgate, have higher hydrated silica content.
Press the toothpaste onto various points of the necklace and spread it with your finger. Soak a soft-bristled toothbrush in water and scrub the necklace thoroughly with the toothbrush. After washing, rinse the toothbrush in running water; clean with a microfiber cloth and polish with a polishing cloth.
4. Salt, Baking Soda, and Aluminum foil
This cleaning method is meant for tarnished silver necklaces; it removes the tarnish easily. You need a few items for this method:
- Aluminum foil
- Baking powder
- Bowl of warm water
- Salt
The steps to clean your silver necklace are as follows:
Step 1— Completely lace the bottom of the empty bowl with aluminum foil, preferably with the sunny side up.
Step 2— Pour warm water into the bowl, and mix it with baking soda and salt. Stir the solution well to ensure the powders are completely diluted.
Step 3— Place your tarnished silver necklace into the bowl, ensuring that it touches the foil and is completely immersed.
Step 4— You will observe the tarnish coming off after a few seconds in the solution. If the tarnish doesn’t come off completely, you can use some baking powder on your finger as a mild abrasive. Rub the stubborn spots until the tarnish is completely removed.
Step 5— Rinse the necklace in running water once it is clean; clean it with a microfiber cloth and polish it.
5. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar is an excellent cleaner, deodorizer, and disinfectant. You can use this method for cleaning heavily tarnished silver necklaces. The items you need to use this method are as follows:
- Aluminum foil
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Table salt
- Warm water
With the items ready, you need to take the following steps:
Step 1— Completely lace the bottom of the empty bowl with aluminum foil, preferably with the sunny side up.
Step 2— Put a tablespoon of baking powder and salt into the bowl and stir well to mix it properly.
Step 3— Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar and a cup of boiling water into the solution; the solution should fizz heavily when you add vinegar.
Step 4— Completely immerse the silver necklace into the solution, ensuring that the necklace touches the foil.
Step 5— This method is very effective, and you only need to leave your necklace in the solution for half a minute if it’s lightly tarnished. Heavily-tarnished silver necklaces require that you wait up to three minutes for them to be clean.
Step 6— Rinse your jewelry in running water, wipe it with a microfiber cloth, and polish it.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Silver Necklaces
Here are the do’s and don’ts of cleaning silver necklaces to help you keep your jewelry looking its best.
Do’s:
- Use a gentle cleaning solution. Soap and water, or a specialized silver cleaning solution, work best. Avoid harsh chemicals, as they can damage the silver.
- Clean your silver necklace regularly. Dirt and grime can build up on your necklace over time, so it’s important to clean it regularly to keep it looking its best.
- Use a soft cloth. When cleaning your silver necklace, use a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, to avoid scratching the metal.
- Store your silver necklace properly to prevent tarnish. When not in use, store your silver necklace in a dry place and away from sunlight.
Don’ts:
- Don’t use abrasive materials. Steel wool, sandpaper, and other abrasive materials can scratch and damage the silver, so avoid using them.
- Don’t clean your silver necklace too often. Over-cleaning can strip away the natural oils and patina from the silver, which can cause it to lose its shine.
- Don’t use chlorine or bleach. These chemicals can cause severe damage to silver, so avoid using them on your necklace.
- Don’t let your silver necklace come into contact with harsh chemicals. Perfumes, lotions, and other harsh chemicals can cause damage to the silver, so avoid letting them come into contact with your necklace.
By following these do’s and don’ts of cleaning silver necklaces, you can help ensure your silver necklace stays looking beautiful for years to come.