1. Cover the bottom of a 9X13″ glass pan with foil.
2. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp baking soda and 4 Tbsp sea salt over the bottom of the pan.
3. Lay the jewelry on the foil.
4. Boil about 2 cups water and gently pour over the jewelry.
5. Pour about 1/2 cup vinegar over the jewelry in water which causes some bubbling.
6. Allow the jewelry to sit for a minute, remove, and brush with a soft tooth brush.
7. Dry carefully with a soft cloth or paper towel.

You will be amazed at how shiny the plain silver becomes.  The antique finish will remain and your jewelry will be like new.

Disclaimer:
You must follow these instructions carefully.  If your jewelry is not 925 sterling silver, this treatment could negatively alter your jewelry.  Proceed at your own risk.

1. Polish your jewelry using a Sunshine Polishing Cloth. The cloth has an abrasive cleaning powder that will get on your hands, but just wash them and it will disappear.
2. Use a soft tooth brush, OxiClean dishwashing liquid and hot water to give your jewelry a good scrub.
3. Wrap your jewelry in a paper towel and snap your wrist to shake the water out from between the beads.
4. Unwrap your jewelry and dry it off the rest of the way. It should be shiny like new.

It is worth noting that harsh chemicals (especially cleaning agents and chlorine) can damage your sterling silver jewelry permanently. If your jewelry has anything more than a faint light brown film on it, it may not be restorable.

If you are unsure how to complete this cleaning and/or you just want it done by a professional, please feel free to send it to me at Beaded Royalty and I will take care of it for you. The cost starts at just $5. For an heirloom piece of jewelry with sentimental value, this type of service is priceless.

Silverado jewelry care:

• Use a soft cloth or a jeweler’s polishing cloth.
• Rub each piece gently.
• Store separately from your other jewelry.
• Do not use chemicals or toothpaste.
• Do not wear in chlorinated water as the chemicals will instantly tarnish the product’s appearance.

2. “Remove your jewelry while cleaning, swimming, or taking a shower.”  We have discussed that sterling silver will tarnish.  There is no faster way to speed the process than to wear it while swimming or cleaning with chemicals.  Strong chemicals (especially chlorine) reacts with the silver and causes immediate oxidation.  In fact, it oxidizes so fast that it pits the surface and can’t be cleaned or buffed back to its original luster.

3. “Remove jewelry while sleeping.” Most of my jewelry is strung on a wire. It is the highest quality wire available and has a 40 pound test strength.  But like anything else, it will wear out over time.  The more pulling and tugging it receives, the faster it will wear out. It is best to leave your jewelry in a cool, dry place while sleeping to avoid this unnecessary strain.

4. “Periodically clean jewelry with warm soapy water and a SOFT toothbrush.  Rinse thoroughly and dry completely.”  Warm soapy water will usually remove the light layer of tarnish that causes your jewelry to look less than new.  A soft toothbrush is more than sufficient to buff the surface.  Make sure you dry it completely after cleaning.  Water left inside the beads could begin to corrode the wire.  Simply shake your jewelry inside a towel to remove the droplets remain behind.

5. “Never use a silver polishing cloth on Swarovski crystals (our Sunshine Polishing Cloth is gentle enough to use on all our jewelry).”  A silver polishing cloth has tiny abrasives that buff the tarnish off silver making it look like new.  However, those same abrasives will scratch the surface of our Swarovski crystals causing them to look dull.  Our Sunshine Polishing Cloth is, however, gentle enough to use on the crystals and tough enough to remove tarnish with 1-2 swipes. 

6. “Never let your jewelry soak in water.”  See item 4 above.  Leaving water inside the beads for a long period of time will corrode the wire.

7. “Never use any kind of jewelry cleaners or dips.”  Never and any are the operative words here – not even “sterling silver cleaners” should be used.  Jewelry cleaners and dips contain chemicals that could remove the dark areas (oxidation) on letter beads and Bali beads.  They could also cause the same pitting mentioned above with chlorine and household cleaners.  PLEASE don’t take matters into your own hands.  If you feel you need to take drastic measures to clean your jewelry, contact me, and I will do my best to help.

The care card that comes with each bracelet includes the following instruction: “Never use any kind of jewelry cleaner or dip.” She said that sterling silver cleaner was not a “jewelry cleaner” and that I should have specified that “sterling silver cleaner” was not permitted. I thought I was being pretty clear when I said “never” and “any”, but I guess she misunderstood.

I offered to use my knowledge and experience to clean her bracelet, but told her I could not replace it. Please, please follow the care instructions for your jewelry – they are there for a reason. If you have questions, just ask!

What is patina?
Patina is a chemical compound that forms on the surface of any metal. It is the physical reaction of metal with the elements – or air. For sterling silver jewelry, it is a faint golden glow that you notice after wearing your piece for months or years. Patina can also be defined as the change an object goes through over the course of time. It is the “old look” that gives an object a rich and attractive appearance. If an object is described as having a “fine patina” it’s usually meant as a compliment.

How do I prevent patina?
Keeping your jewelry in a closed pouch or inside a jewelry box when it is not being worn will slow the process considerably. I provide a velveteen pouch with each piece of jewelry I sell at Beaded Royalty for this reason. Wearing your jewelry regularly will also slow the process. The oils that are on your skin coat the jewelry and protect it from reacting with the air.

How do I remove patina?
If you prefer the new look of sterling silver, periodic cleaning will restore its original luster. Follow these guidelines:

• Clean in a mild soapy water mixture and a SOFT toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry completely with a Jewelry Polishing Cloth.
• Do not allow your jewelry soak in water, as it could corrode the wire the jewelry is strung on.
• Do not use jewelry cleaners or dips if your jewelry was designed with oxidized beads. Alphabet beads and Bali beads have an “antiqued” appearance. They have been oxidized to enhance the details. Jewelry cleaners will remove this oxidation.
• Do not use a silver polishing cloth if your jewelry was designed with crystals. The chemicals in the cloth will dull the surface of your crystals.

Until next time,
AS