How to Clean Silver Jewellery At Home: Restore Shine With Simple Household Items

Is your jewellery looking a little lacklustre? Has that once-sparkling silver turned to grey, or even black? When jewellery becomes dull and tarnished, it often ends up forgotten in a jewellery box. But it doesn’t have to be that way! After all, what’s the point of investing in beautiful jewellery if it's not worn?

The good news is that it’s super easy to clean and restore the shine to your silver jewellery in just minutes with some common household items. So, what are you waiting for? Take those pieces out of the jewellery box and get ready to see them looking like new in no time.

You will need:

• A small bowl
• Warm water
• Mild dishwashing liquid (not anti-bacterial)
• A soft-bristled toothbrush (I use an old baby’s toothbrush)
• A soft, lint-free cloth (microfibre is ideal)
• Polishing cloth (optional)

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning silver jewellery:

Step 1 - Prepare the solution: Fill the small bowl with warm water, add a couple of drops of mild dishwashing liquid and swirl to create a soapy solution.

Step 2 - Soak: Place your silver jewellery in the soapy solution for around 5 minutes to loosen dirt and grime.

Step 3 - Gentle scrub: Remove the jewellery from the water and gently scrub with a toothbrush. Use the bristles to get into all the tight spots, taking care to apply light pressure to prevent scratching the surface.

Step 4 - Rinse thoroughly: Remove all soapy residue by rinsing the jewellery under cool running water.

Step 5 - Dry: Pat the jewellery dry with a soft lint-free cloth. Always make sure your jewellery is completely dry before putting it away.

Bonus step for extra shine:

For sterling silver jewellery, use a silver polishing cloth to gently buff your jewellery and restore shine. (Every piece of Aurelium jewellery comes with a complimentary polishing cloth so you can always keep your jewellery shiny and beautiful!)

Important considerations:

Gold jewellery: This method can also be used for gold and gold-plated jewellery.

Gemstone jewellery: Some gemstones are not well-suited to exposure to water. If you are unsure, please feel free to ask me!

Professional cleaning: If you are working with a valuable, antique or delicate piece, it is always recommended to take it to a jeweller for professional cleaning.

Tarnish: It is inevitable that sterling silver jewellery will tarnish over time as this is a natural process, caused by exposure to sulphur and acids in our environment. However, regular cleaning alongside proper care and storage can help to maintain your silver jewellery's beautiful shine for many years to come. (Read about more easy ways to care for your jewellery here.)

I hope you have enjoyed reading about how to clean your silver jewellery in minutes with a few household products. I’d love to hear how this method worked for you so please share your comments below!

Aurelium jewellery is designed and handmade by Laura Naik in her Christchurch studio. Read more about her work and the ethos behind her minimalist everyday jewellery here.