Easy Ways to Clean Sterling Silver and Copper Jewelry

Tried and tested ways to clean and maintain sterling silver and copper jewelry from the expert metalsmith.

These methods are easy and quick. I've worked with pure copper (99.9%) and 925 sterling silver for years, and as a metalsmith, occasionally I have to clean metal before working with or coating it. I also use these methods to clean my own metal jewelry!

Vinegar and salt - The eco friendly and cost effective method

This method is great for giving dull metal a nice bright color and shine. It's also great for getting into those little nooks and crannies or your jewelry. Please note that this is for metal only jewelry.

Most people have both vinegar and salt in their pantry at home. White vinegar and apple cider vinegar both work well from my own personal experience. I can't speak for other vinegars, but I don't believe it would hurt to try others if you have something else. The main thing is you want the acid. Any type of salt should do as well. Follow these steps for cleaning!

1. Mix some salt into the vinegar and stir until mostly dissolved. Place your sterling silver or copper jewelry into the solution and let sit for about 1 - 3 minutes. You will start to see it lighten up quite quickly. You can pull it out to check occasionally until you are happy with how bright it is. Take it out.
2. Mix a bit of baking soda into some fresh water, swish your jewelry around in the solution and then rinse under running water for a few seconds. The baking soda solution will neutralize the acid from the previous vinegar solution and prevent further oxidation.
3. Pat dry! You're done!

Using the vinegar and salt method for jewelry with stones

Follow the mixing steps, but instead of dipping your jewelry in the vinegar solution, try using a soft tooth brush or q-tip to apply the solution to the metal parts of your jewelry. You can still dip your stone jewelry in the baking soda solution after and rinse thoroughly.

Troubleshooting with the vinegar and salt method.

You've followed the steps, but your sterling silver jewelry is turning almost red. 
Answer - your sterling silver jewelry is most likely plated in sterling silver and the base metal is copper or brass or another alloy metal.

You've followed the steps, but your jewelry isn't getting clean.
Answer - Try letting it sit longer in the vinegar solution. You can pull it out to check every couple of minutes. If your jewelry has been sitting for a long time and has a decent amount of oxidation, it may take longer for the solution to break the bond between the oxidation and the metal. 

Polishing cloth - The sprucing up method

If you are looking to clean your jewelry lightly or give it a bit more shine, a polishing cloth will do the job. This is a great method if you jewelry was oxidized on purpose to add definition to the piece and you want to leave the blackened look in certain areas.

I use Sunshine polishing cloths. You can buy them on Amazon in singles or in packs. 

How to prevent oxidation in sterling silver and copper jewelry

Storing your jewelry in a dry place and avoiding wearing it while showering, swimming and sweating will help keep it from oxidizing. However, some people have more acidic sweat and sometimes this keeps the oxidation coming back. This is why copper jewelry tends to turn your skin green. The chemical reaction between the copper and your oils and sweat create that stain. It's not harmful and it's not an allergic reaction. 

Coating your jewelry to maintain luster and prevent oxidation

You can coat your jewelry in something called Protectaclear, a product I have used for many years. You can buy a small jar of it that will last a long time. You will need a sponge brush to apply the coating and you will need to let it hang dry for at least 24 hours. There are clear instructions provided with the product. 

About plated jewelry

A lot of jewelry is plated these days. It's an inexpensive material and is usually cheaper than solid metal jewelry. Plated metal is made by electroplating a thin layer metal onto another metal. A lot of people tend to have skin reactions to plated jewelry because the base metals underneath can be an alloy metal made up of nickel and other metals that cause allergies.

How do I know if my metal jewelry is actually plated?

1. You can test your jewelry against a magnet. Place a good magnet close to your jewelry, almost touching it, and see if your jewelry pulls to the magnet. Pure copper , fine silver and 925 sterling silver are not magnetic, so this is a solid way to tell if they are genuine.

2. Plated sterling silver jewelry is usually more of a white-ish silver and can turn different colors if it's in contact with other plated metals, like yellow or copper color.

Conclusion

A vinegar and salt solution is by far one of the most effective and eco friendly methods to clean your copper and sterling silver jewelry. You can also use a polishing cloth occasionally to spruce up your jewelry! Coating your jewelry in a jewelry lacquer can prevent further tarnishing. Always store your jewelry in a dry place and avoid wearing it in moist conditions to maintain shine.

Woodland Metalsmith Jewelry

All sterling silver and copper jewelry is non-plated and coated to maintain the luster of the metals and prevent tarnishing. Woodland Metalsmith takes pride in using good quality and hypoallergenic metals.

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