Looking after your jewellery
Sterling Silver Jewellery Care Guide
Sterling silver jewellery is designed to be worn and enjoyed, but like all precious metals it benefits from a little care.
Over time, sterling silver can naturally become dull or develop a darker surface known as tarnish. This is a normal reaction between silver and its environment and does not mean there is anything wrong with your jewellery.
With simple cleaning, careful storage and occasional polishing, your Laalie jewellery can stay looking beautiful for years to come.
Why does sterling silver tarnish?
Sterling silver is made from 92.5% pure silver combined with other metals to give it the strength needed for jewellery.
Silver naturally reacts with substances in the air and its surroundings. Humidity, perspiration, cosmetics, perfume, chlorine and some household chemicals can all contribute to tarnishing.
How quickly this happens varies considerably. Some pieces may stay bright for long periods while others may need more regular cleaning.
Tarnish is normal and can usually be removed easily.
Everyday care
Keep it dry
Remove your jewellery before swimming, bathing or showering.
Avoid chemicals
Keep silver away from bleach, chlorine, household cleaners, perfume and lotions.
Polish gently
Use a suitable silver polishing cloth and avoid harsh abrasive cleaners.
Store carefully
Keep jewellery clean and dry and ideally store pieces separately to help prevent scratches and tarnish.
Cleaning sterling silver jewellery
For everyday cleaning, gently wipe the silver with a soft jewellery cloth.
If your jewellery begins to look dull or develops light tarnish, use a polishing cloth specifically designed for sterling silver.
Rub the surface gently rather than applying heavy pressure. It is usually better to polish lightly for a little longer than to polish aggressively.
For jewellery requiring additional cleaning, use warm water with a small amount of mild soap. Clean gently, rinse thoroughly and dry completely with a soft cloth.
Never put jewellery away while it is still damp.
Caring for engraved jewellery
Personalised jewellery needs slightly more careful cleaning because the engraved detail is an important part of the piece.
When polishing fingerprint jewellery, handprint jewellery, paw prints, handwriting, photographs and other engraved designs, use gentle pressure around the engraving.
Avoid abrasive polishing compounds, harsh cleaning products and silver dipping solutions over engraved areas.
Heavy polishing can gradually soften very fine surface detail or alter the contrast within an engraving.
A soft silver polishing cloth is normally all that is required for routine care.
Using a silver polishing cloth
A good quality silver polishing cloth is one of the simplest ways to care for sterling silver jewellery at home.
The cloth helps remove light tarnish and restore the natural shine of the silver without needing liquid cleaning products.
Gently rub the silver surface until the brightness begins to return.
The cloth may become dark as it is used. This is normal and does not mean that the cloth has stopped working.
Do not wash a treated polishing cloth unless its manufacturer specifically advises that it can be washed, as washing may remove the cleaning compounds within the cloth.
What to avoid
- Chlorine and swimming pools
- Household bleach
- Strong cleaning chemicals
- Silver dipping solutions
- Abrasive cleaning pastes
- Toothpaste
- Hard brushes or abrasive cloths
- Prolonged contact with perfume, hairspray and cosmetics
- Wearing jewellery during activities where it may be knocked or scratched
Swimming and showering
We recommend removing sterling silver jewellery before swimming or showering.
Swimming pool chlorine can accelerate tarnishing and may damage some jewellery finishes.
Sea water contains salt and other minerals, so jewellery should also be removed before swimming in the sea.
Removing jewellery before bathing also reduces its exposure to soaps, shampoos and other products that can build up on the surface.
Storing your silver jewellery
Make sure your jewellery is completely clean and dry before storing it.
Where possible, keep individual pieces separately so that chains, pendants and rings do not rub against each other.
A soft jewellery pouch or lined jewellery box is ideal.
Keeping silver away from excessive humidity and prolonged exposure to open air can also help slow the tarnishing process.
Fasten necklace and bracelet chains before storing them to help prevent tangling.
Is tarnish permanent?
No. In most cases tarnish is simply a surface reaction and can be removed.
Light tarnish can normally be cleaned with a silver polishing cloth.
Older or heavier tarnish may require more thorough cleaning, but we recommend avoiding aggressive treatments on personalised or engraved pieces.
If you are unsure how to clean a Laalie item, please contact us before using strong cleaning products.
Looking after your Laalie jewellery
Every piece of Laalie jewellery is individually prepared and engraved in our Yorkshire workshop.
Taking a few moments to clean and store your jewellery carefully will help protect both the silver and the personalised detail that makes your piece unique.
If you ever need advice about caring for a particular Laalie item, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
