Spring Clean Your Sterling Jewelry with this quick, easy, natural method

Here’s my favorite way to give sterling silver jewelry a refresh!

Really quickly though, before we start, let’s talk about the why!

Glass Sky’s silver jewelry is made from solid sterling silver. Over time, and depending on environmental factors like oxygen, moisture, maybe saltwater, and even our own personal pH levels, the surface can oxidize.

Oxidation is a natural reaction that happens on the surface of your jewelry. And the great thing is it can be cleaned off!

So ... here’s my favorite way!

You’ll need:

-Aluminum foil

-Baking Soda

-Hot/boiling water

-A bowl or a cup

And, that’s it!

The method is simple. First, line your bowl or your cup with aluminum foil, shiny side up!

Then add your jewelry and a sprinkle of baking soda. I’ve found overloading the baking soda doesn’t really do more, so keep it fairly light here!

And then pour in your hot, boiling water. Almost like you’re making a cup of tea!

The hot water and baking soda will react and bubble and fizz. After a minute or so, the oxidation from your jewelry will “jump” to the foil!

Fish your jewelry out with a utensil (remember the water was just boiling!) and give it a good rinse. Dry it off with a soft towel (microfiber works great!) and you’re ready to go!

I cleaned just one so you can see the difference! The freshly cleaned silver is on the left and the "before" is on the right!

Impressive isn't it?!

A few pro tips I’ve learned over the years & when not to use this method:

-The water really does have to be hot, I usually just go for a boil!

-This method is best for solid metal pieces, I would not recommend for plated jewelry! (Mixed metal pieces with solid sterling and gold-fill do well though!)

-The process will remove all oxidation, so if your piece has purposeful oxidation, spot polishing instead with a cloth or pad is recommended!

-Heavily oxidized jewelry benefits from a second round and a quick touch up from a polishing pad or cloth!

And the most asked question I get is … Can I do this with stones?

Since stones can be so varied, the answer is … sometimes yes, sometimes no. In general the hardness of your stone can be a good indicator. A “soft” or porous stone like Lava will get baking soda in the nooks and crannies. But a very “hard” stone like a CZ can be totally unfazed. Some color treated stones though may have a high hardness rating, but won’t appreciate the heat. Google the Mohs Hardness of your stone as a starting point. But please understand you’re using this method on your stone at your own risk! If you’re unsure, best to play it safe and use a polishing cloth!

Let me know if you give it a try! And grab a new polishing cloth here!