If you have just purchased a sterling silver earring, or have organized your collection, you might be wondering how you can care for them and clean it inexpensively. One reason for this is that depending on the size of your collection, it can be an expensive proposition to have them professionally cleaned not to mention the time it takes to gather everything up, find a reputable cleaner and then wait for the job to be done. And of course, there is always the option to do it yourself. In fact, by doing it yourself you will get the benefits of not only knowing exactly how to keep your earring its brightest but you will also get less tangible benefits, as many times the simplest of tasks, those that we can do without thinking, are the ones that relax us the most, precisely because our body just knows what to do.
That being said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind before you start to clean your sterling silver earring. The first has to do with how you view your jewelry and your attitude towards it.
Realize that caring for a sterling silver earring is not like caring for your TV or floor. You can’t use harsh chemicals as this will damage the earring. Another thing to think about is that unlike other types of silver, sterling needs to be taken care of more often than other types of jewelry as because of the chemical composition, it tends to tarnish faster than straight silver.
So, how can you protect your sterling silver earring? The first thing you can do is remember that even though you can get special cleansers for your earrings, it is not absolutely necessary. You can clean them using common household items. The best way to start is with hot water. If nothing else, you can use this with some gentle soap as this won’t damage things and is what we use to wash with anyway.
Another option that you can use to clean your sterling silver earring is hot water with a bit of salt and lemon. The naturally occurring citric acid will help clean them without being to harsh. This is a simple mixture that you can create any time, just be sure not to overdo it on the salt and you’ll be fine.
One final option you have to clean your jewelry is, again using hot water, team it up with baking soda if you’re not sure about the mixture ratio of the first suggestion. Baking soda is never harsh and coupled with the hot water, will very quickly clean your sterling silver earring.
Remember, you don’t need expensive pastes or cleaners to do the job that you can do with a little forethought and ingenuity. Not only will you save on the costs associated with cleaners, you’ll save gas and time by not having to take it in to get cleaned at the jewelers.
5×7mm Oval Genuine Topaz w/ Cubic Zirconia Cocktail Ring
5×7mm Oval Genuine Garnet w/ Brilliant & Baguettes Cubic Zirconia Cocktail Ring
