Care & Maintenance
Earrings are a fashion item in their own right. Yet, many people often make the serious mistake of neglecting their sterling silver or stainless steel jewelry.
If not properly maintained, even high-end sterling silver jewelry can become a bit discolored or dirty over time.
This happens when oxygen in the air or sulfur comes into contact with silver, which can tarnish its shine. This is a completely natural phenomenon.
To ensure your jewelry looks "new" for as long as possible, learn more about the best ways to care for it.
How to care for Stag jewelry?
For 925 sterling silver or stainless steel jewelry, there's an expression that fits well: prevention is better than cure.
Here are our tips for keeping your silver earrings sparkling. These tips can also apply to stainless steel, although this metal does not tend to blacken.
Wear your earrings
One of the best ways to prevent jewelry from tarnishing is to wear it.
The sebum from your skin can actually help keep jewelry clean and maintain its shine.
Avoid corrosion
Certain substances and chemicals can cause your earrings to corrode.
You should keep jewelry away from:- Household chemicals
- Chlorinated water
- Rubber
- Sulfur-containing substances (latex, wool, eggs, mustard, etc.)
- Direct sunlight
- Hair spray
- Lotions
- Perfumes
Therefore, avoid wearing jewelry when doing household chores or going to the pool. It is also important to put on jewelry last, so that it does not come into contact with beauty products or perfumes.
Polishing
Polishing is a great way to beautify jewelry that hasn't tarnished too much. It is also a useful way to clean oxidized silver.
We recommend using a special silver cloth to polish accessories. If you don't have one, use a microfiber or non-abrasive cloth.
Never use paper tissues or paper towels to clean items, as they could scratch your jewelry.
The best polishing method is to use back-and-forth motions that highlight the grain of your jewelry.
You might think rubbing in circles is the best method, but it will only emphasize scratches.
Polishing didn't work? Don't worry, here's how to clean sterling silver at home...
How to clean my jewelry with "homemade" solutions
Sometimes, polishing is not enough to clean your silverware.
If you want to know how to clean 925 silver at home, you'll be happy to know there are many options to try.
Soap and water
Soap and warm water are a classic cleaning method that can bring your silver jewelry back to life.
Combine warm water with a mild soap, such as phosphate-free dish soap.
This method should be your first resort if polishing doesn't work. Try it before moving on to the following cleaning tips.
Baking soda and water
If soap doesn't work, combine water with baking soda to make a paste. You should apply a pea-sized amount of this paste to a clean cloth to polish the silver.
If your jewelry is stamped, engraved, or detailed, we suggest adding water to get a thinner paste. You should also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach all the crevices.
Once you're done, rinse your jewelry under warm water before drying it with a clean cloth.
Lemon juice and olive oil
Lemon juice is known for its cleaning properties.
If you want to know how to clean sterling silver, lemon juice and olive oil might be the best option for your item.
All you have to do is mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice with just one teaspoon of olive oil in a large bowl.
Dip a small microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution before wringing it out. You can then polish your silver jewelry, rinse it under warm water, and dry it with a clean cloth.
In conclusion…
By purchasing a piece of jewelry from Stag and taking care of it, you can enjoy your earrings for a long time. It's easy to care for our jewelry! If you want even easier-to-care-for jewelry, choose our stainless steel earrings! No oxidation = no blackening!