How to Clean your Sterling Silver Jewellery at home

How to Remove Tarnish from Sterling Silver at Home

If you wear your sterling silver jewellery often (which I hope you do), you’ll eventually notice it darkening or losing its shine. This is completely normal, and easy to fix.

As someone who handmakes jewellery in sterling silver, I’m often asked how to safely clean it at home without damaging the piece. This is one of the simplest methods, and it works beautifully when done gently.

Why Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?

Sterling silver tarnishes when it reacts with sulphur in the air. This creates a dark layer called silver sulphide on the surface.

It doesn’t mean your jewellery is poor quality, in fact, all genuine sterling silver will tarnish over time. Regular wear actually helps slow this down, which is why everyday pieces often stay brighter longer.

A Simple At-Home Way to Clean Sterling Silver

This method uses a natural chemical reaction to lift tarnish from the silver rather than scrubbing it away. It’s effective, but gentle enough for most handmade sterling silver jewellery.

What You’ll Need

• Aluminium foil
• A heatproof bowl
• Hot water
• teaspoon baking soda
• 10 mil Cloudy Ammonia – just a dash
• A squirt of dishwashing liquid
• A soft, clean cloth

Method One:

If it only needs cleaning and isn't heavily tarnished, you can prepare a small cleaning bath.  

·       Warm water in a bowl with a dash of dishwashing liquid

·       Rub gently using a soft toothbrush to remove dirt and tarnish

·       Rinse thoroughly

·       Dry with a soft cloth

 

Method Two:

For more tarnished pieces

Step 1: Prepare the Cleaning Bath

Line the entire inside of your bowl or pan with aluminium foil, shiny side facing up.

Carefully pour in enough very hot water to fully cover your jewellery.

Add:

• 1-2 teaspoons baking soda
• 10-20 mil of Cloudy Ammonia
• Squirt of dishwashing liquid

Stir gently as the mixture begins to bubble

Step 2: Soak Your Jewellery

Place your sterling silver jewellery into the solution.

• Make sure each piece is touching the foil
• Stir gently so pieces don’t knock into each other
• Leave for up to five minutes only
• You can use a soft toothbrush to remove any stubborn dirt and tarnish

You’ll often see the tarnish lifting almost immediately.

Step 3: Rinse and Dry

·       Remove the jewellery carefully as it might be hot and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

·       Dry using a soft cloth. This step is important: moisture left on silver can encourage future tarnish.

·       Your jewellery should now look brighter and refreshed, without losing its handmade character.

A Few Maker’s Tips

• This method is best for plain sterling silver pieces Like my hoopla studs
• Avoid using it on jewellery with delicate stones, pearls, or intentional oxidised finishes like my Hoopla adjustable necklace and Barrel drop earrings
• For everyday care, simply wiping your jewellery after wearing with a soft polishing cloth helps reduce tarnish
• Store silver in a dry place, ideally in a soft pouch or airtight container

Satin finish jewellery pieces: such as my curve earrings

• Gently rub the piece with a new piece of green scotch brite Pad

Handmade jewellery is meant to be worn, lived in, and enjoyed, not hidden away. A little care goes a long way in keeping your pieces beautiful for years to come.

If you ever have questions about caring for one of my pieces specifically, I’m always happy to help.

Pip