How To Prevent & Clean Tarnish On Jewellery

How to prevent & clean tarnished jewellery.

Metals such as brass, sterling silver & gold are among the metals that tarnish when coming into contact with oils, make-up, sulphur, perfumes/deodorants, lotions & other external substances. Tarnish is a dull, grey to black colour (depending on the metal & how it’s worn).

Brass tarnishes naturally over time, giving it an organic & unique look. The copper within the brass makes brass tarnish. Copper can cause allergic reaction to skin & when wearing copper or if you have a sensitive skin, the oxidation can turn your skin green.

Sterling silver tarnish is caused by common & natural chemicals, such as sulphur, chlorine, moisture, & skin’s acidity levels.

Gold is one of the least reactive chemical elements, however, it can still tarnish. The higher the karat gold is in a piece, the less likely it is to tarnish. Pieces with a lower gold karat will tarnish a lot quicker.  Oxygen, sulphur & moisture can make pieces containing gold tarnish.

Brass can be cleaned by using a polishing cloth or by using soap & water. When using soap, test it on a small piece before cleaning the whole piece with soap & water. Make sure you dry your piece well.

Sterling silver can be cleaned by using a polish cloth, wearing it regularly & cleaning chemicals.

Gold pieces can also be cleaned with a polish cloth.

Storing your jewellery pieces correctly will help prevent tarnish. Always store jewellery in a dry place. Separate your jewellery in compartments by metal type. If you store your jewellery in an open container, make sure that the temperature in the room in which its stored is consistent. Delicate jewellery should be stored in a dry & dark location. Always keep your jewellery dry & clean.