How to Polish your Sterling Silver (and Brass) Jewelry for continual SHINE!
If you've worn a lot of sterling silver jewelry, you know that it will tarnish over time. You may be wondering, “How do I keep my jewelry from tarnishing?” or even “Oops! My jewelry is super tarnished, how do I make it look new again?” The truth is that all silver and brass jewelry will tarnish over time. While it's not possible to maintain that new shine forever, daily polishing will help keep it shiny as long as possible.
Want to learn the best tips for maintaining and polishing your sterling silver and brass jewelry?
I promise it’s not as hard as it seems! Here are a few helpful tips for continual SHINE:
Use a polishing cloth: The easiest way to find the right kind is to look for a large polishing cloth made for jewelry or sterling silverware. The larger surface area allows for more polishing before you need to replace with a new cloth. A smaller jewelry polishing cloth is great for storing with your collection and bringing with you when you travel. Rub off and remove as much of the tarnish as possible, getting into all the crevices you can access. Your jewelry will start to become noticeably shinier as you continue to polish.
Store your jewelry in an airtight container: You can use special storage bags made for preserving silver and brass jewelry. This will slow the tarnishing process, extending the sparkle of your jewelry.
Utilize a wire brush: Wire brushes are commonly used in repairing jewelry, such as watches, bracelets, and antique pieces. A brass wire brush acts as a polisher to help scrub the tarnish off. Make sure to be gentle with gemstones and more delicate wirework.
Dry your jewelry after rinsing them: One of the worst things for metal jewelry is just to sit there and stay wet after rinsing and scrubbing them off. You want to make sure you dry them off right away. Place your wet jewelry on paper towels immediately, then dab them off with a paper towel. Take your polishing cloth and rub off anything that's left on the jewelry.
What’s my top piece of advice?
The best way to keep your jewelry looking shiny is to just take good care of it from the moment you open the package!
And for this it all starts with using common sense. Don’t shower, bathe, or sleep with your jewelry on. Also remove bracelets and rings before washing dishes, gardening, etc. Avoid dropping, crushing, scratching or otherwise damaging the surface of both the stone and the metal. Some gemstones are more fragile than others, so treat all of them with love and respect.
Polishing your silver jewelry frequently isn’t completely foolproof. There’s no way to return its original condition back to 100%, but your jewelry will continue to retain that sparkle over time, if you take care of them well.
Keep in mind the type of metal that you’re caring for. It is easier to maintain the sparkle on your silver jewelry than brass jewelry, as brass is not as shiny a metal to begin with. Gold filled wire jewelry is much shinier than brass to begin with, and it maintains its shine much better. So if you like that brilliant yellow look, definitely go with a gold filled wire over the brass.
