Cleaning Silver Jewelry: A Quick Guide

Sterling silver tarnishes because of a slow reaction with sulfur in the air. The good news: it's reversible.

What You Need

• A bowl lined with aluminum foil
• One tablespoon of baking soda
• Hot (not boiling) water
• A soft microfiber cloth

The Steps

1. Place your silver pieces on the foil so they touch it directly.
2. Sprinkle baking soda over the items.
3. Slowly pour hot water in — you'll see a gentle reaction.
4. Leave for 2–3 minutes, then rinse and dry with the cloth.

Avoid this method on pieces with glued-in stones or porous gems like pearls and turquoise.