Picture of How to Clean a Silver Necklace or Chain

How to Clean a Silver Necklace or Chain

2021-06-30

Keeping your silver chain stunningly shiny and clean has never been easier. Sterling silver jewelry requires a little special attention to keep it looking good, but if you follow our simple instructions on how to clean silver jewelry, you can have a piece of jewelry that lasts forever. If you find yourself asking, “what is sterling silver,” make sure to read up to spot the key differences between sterling silver and other variations of silver jewelry.

The standard in the jewelry industry is to use 925 sterling silver, which is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper, to enhance shine and durability. At JAXXON, we take things a step further and coat our sterling silver jewelry in rhodium for an even brighter shine. But of course, many things can tarnish sterling silver jewelry, and we recommend following some of these tips!

Day-to-Day Care

To keep your silver jewelry looking good, you can maintain them by following some simple routine care tips every day or after each wear and in between deep cleanings. And since we all love time-saving tips, we promise these are easy to follow and take very little time. 

Polish your chain with a soft, polishing cloth or microfiber cloth (like the one you use on your sunglasses) often or after each wear. This will keep your chain looking shiny and remove any daily buildup. When that cloth starts to look grimy, make sure to get a new one. 

Keep your clean silver jewelry in a drawer or jewelry case to avoid dust and oxidation. Steamy bathrooms are not the place to store jewelry as the steam will tarnish the silver over time.

DIY Step by Step

Do you want to clean your silver item at home with something you might already have? A common household item you can use to clean your silver chain is dish soap. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Put a little dish soap on a soft wet silver polishing cloth and wipe down your chain. Make sure you get between the links.
  2. Rinse the chain with lukewarm water or use a wet, soap-free cloth to remove any soap from the chain.
  3. Dry off your chain completely with a soft cloth, and you’re done!

Using a Jewelry Cleaning Kit

There are a lot of jewelry cleaning products on the market, and while they make it easy to clean your silver chain, silver ring, or other silver item, you want to ensure you’re getting the right one for the chain you have. Our cleaning kit comes with all the right tools and a spray safe for your sterling silver chain. While the steps are similar to the DIY method, this might save you some time and is quick and easy when on the go.

  1. Spray your silver piece generously with the cleaning solution.
  2. If needed, use the jewelry brush first to get in between the links and around the clasp.
  3. Wipe the chain down with the silver polishing cloth.
  4. Make sure the chain is dry before putting away or wearing it!

Things to Keep Away From Your Chain

We take pride in the premium materials we use for our men’s chains, rope chains, Cuban link chains, and all of our other silver chains, but there are things that can harm the jewelry. Here are some things to avoid.

  • Harsh chemicals: do not spray colognes or perfumes directly on your chain. Lotions and body washes can also damage the silver, so we recommend keeping those away from your jewelry.
  • While you can wear our chains in the pool and ocean, you’ll want to clean them off after. We all know every pool has different amounts of chlorine, and the more chlorine, the harsher it is on your necklace. The same goes for salt water!

If you follow these tips, you can keep your silver chain looking amazing for years to come. Remember, frequent polishing will prevent how often you need to deep clean your chain. And when that time comes, follow our easy steps!

At JAXXON, we are here to help you answer any questions relating to your jewelry care, from explaining the different types of necklaces to answering if silver can rust. Make sure to check out our resource center for these solutions and more.