Caring for your silver jewelry

If you're here, you probably agree with me that silver jewelry is absolutely lovely. Its color is beautiful, it's a high quality metal, doesn't upset sensitive skin, it's (on my end) easy to work with, there's a long tradition of using it in the western world, it certainly costs far less than gold... I could sing the praises of it for ages. Yes, I'm a bit biased - hello, I AM a silversmith. But I also have to admit that it does require a bit of attention to keep it looking its best. 

There is a lot of misinformation on how to care for silver: baking soda, vinegar, aluminum foil wrap, oh my! My goodness, please don't make things too difficult on yourself. Let's keep it simple and care for it well. 

So here are the REAL recommendations on how to take care of your silver pieces:

1) Polish with a polishing cloth. Polishing cloths are gentle enough not to scuff or damage your jewelry in any way, but will rub the tarnish off effectively.

2) Store it properly when you're not wearing it. Humidity and sunlight can speed up the tarnishing process, so store it in a sealed bag out of sunlight if you're not wearing it.

3) Take if off if you're working and/or avoid chemical exposure. Cleaning the bathtub or scrubbing the kitchen? Probably not the best time to wear your nice ring - the chemicals and grime can really do a number on your jewelry. This also includes getting in the hot tub or pool. Just take it off beforehand to keep your jewelry nicer for longer.

4) A Pink pencil eraser. Yes, you heard me. The worst tarnish sometimes requires a stronger solution. A pink pencil eraser is tough enough to scrub the worst of the tarnish off, but not so aggressive as to damage it. You can also use a silver polishing cream, but chances are you don't have any - but I'm willing to bet you do have an eraser lying around.