How To Clean Silver Jewelry

Do you have old silver jewelry that looks faded, old and tarnished? Here are 9 cleaning recipes to try at home so you can rejuvenate your old favorites.

Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda

Discovered by a University of Wisconsin study, this first tip is a good one. You can watch a video for detailed instructions. Here is the recipe:

1. Line the bowl with aluminum foil.
2. Fill the aluminum-lined bowl with boiling water and baking soda.
3. One tablespoon of baking soda per one cup of water.
4. Add the piece of silver to the water-baking soda solution, making sure it’s touching the aluminum foil to ensure the chemical reaction occurs.
5. Let it sit for 2 to 10 minutes.
6. Adjust the length depending on how tarnished the piece is.
7. Remove the piece(s) of silver from the solution and buff it with a soft, dry microfiber cloth.

Dish Soap and Water

Recipe:

1. Mix up a bit of dish soap with warm water and dip in a microfiber cloth.
2. Rub the piece of silver – whether it’s jewelry or silverware – with the soapy cloth.
3. Rinse it with cold water.
4. Dry with a soft, clean towel.
5. Buffing with a soft cloth specially made for silver.
6. Never put your silver in the dishwasher.

Laundry Detergent

Recipe:

1. Line the bowl with aluminum foil.
2. Fill the aluminum-lined bowl with boiling water and laundry detergent; you should use one tablespoon of powdered laundry detergent. Make sure the detergent has dissolved.
3. Add the piece of silver to the water-baking soda solution, making sure it’s touching the aluminum foil (this ensures the chemical reaction happens).
4. Let it sit from one to two minutes.
5. Remove the piece(s) of silver from the solution and let it air dry.

Silver Polish

There are lots of products in the market. Try to find a high-quality product that cleans, polishes, and protects your special jewelry and antique pieces straight out of the bottle. This method requires some effort. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and don’t assume anything.

Corn Starch

Yes, corn starch! Here’s the recipe:

1. Combine 3-parts water and 1-part cornstarch to create a paste.
2. Using a damp cloth, apply the paste to the tarnished parts of the silver.
3. Let the paste dry, in its applied areas, on the silver.
4. Use a more abrasive cloth and rub off the dry area.

Hand Sanitizer

Since there’s so much of the stuff around, why not? Simply squeeze a few drops on a dry cloth and begin to polish the silver. Buff the silver after a gentle polish to help rub the tarnish away quicker.

Lemon-Lime Soda

Another strange one. But soda is known to remove tarnish and rusting pretty quickly. Just soak your piece in a bowl of lemon-lime soda for at least one hour.

Ammonia

Use ammonia to clean your flatware or other silver pieces to brighten its luster.

Recipe:

1. Combine 1 cup of warm water and 1/2 cup of clear ammonia in a bowl.
2. Soak your silver for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the silver from the homemade solution and gently dry it clean.

If you don’t have ammonia, window cleaner typically has ammonia in it. Spray the cleaning agent on a non-abrasive, dry cloth then use it to buff your sterling silver.

Vinegar

This is a nice quick fix:

Recipe:

1. Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl of lukewarm water.
2. Let the silver soak for two to three hours.
3. Rinse with cold water and let it air dry.

It’s time to bring those old pieces out of the closet and flaunt the shine!

March Birthstone: Aquamarine

March has two birthstones, Aquamarine and Bloodstone. Both are beautiful and mysterious. Many consider both to protect the wearer’s well-being.

Aquamarine is a type of Beryl, a rare silicate mineral found in igneous and metamorphic rocks worldwide. You can find Beryl in a variety of colors, each with a different name.

Beryl colors by name:

💚Emerald (green)

❤️Red Beryl (red)

💛Heliodor (yellow)

🧡Morganite (pink to orange)

💙Maxixe (dark blue)

💚Green Beryl (light green)

🤍Goshenite (colorless)

The aquamarine birthstone evokes the colors of the sea. From deep green-blue to light, slightly greenish blue hues, faceted aquamarines are often free from inclusions and as clear as water, symbolizing the purity of spirit and soul.

Aquamarine Meaning & History 

Aquamarine’s name derives from the Latin word for ‘seawater.’ Ancient mariners claimed the gem would calm waves and keep them safe. It also commemorates the 19th wedding anniversary and was also thought to bring happiness in marriage. Beryl gave the wearer protection against enemies in battle and court, according to legend! Beryl also was believed to make the wearer unconquerable and amiable.

The long history of aquamarine begins with ancient Greeks and Romans. They spoke of its beauty and attributed its existence to their gods.

Currently, aquamarine and diamond rings are trendy stones for symbolizing engagement.

The government of Brazil gave First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a dark blue rectangular step cut aquamarine that weighed 1,298 carats (ct) in 1936. You can see the ring on display at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York.

The Smithsonian displays the 10,363 ct (about 4.6 pounds) Dom Pedro Aquamarine, which may be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world. The high obelisk was the work of German lapidary Berndt Munsteiner utilizing the fantasy cut technique.

More recently, Prince Harry gave his mother’s aquamarine to Meghan Markle, continuing a tradition.

The most famous contemporary example is the parure worn by Queen Elizabeth II, which the Brazilian government gave for her coronation. Later she had other pieces designed to accompany it, including her famous tiara.

Care & Cleaning

Aquamarine is rated 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale of hardness (diamond = 10) and is durable and appropriate for everyday wear. Care is simple — use warm water, mild dish soap, and a toothbrush to scrub behind the birthstone where dirt collects. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning are usually safe options if there are no fractures or liquid inclusions in the gem.