TIPS FOR MAINTAINING AND CLEANING YOUR JEWELLERY

I create spoons and forks from different materials and alloys, depending on the antique cutlery that is reused {nickel silver, brass and silver}, and the method for cleaning them varies. It all starts with good maintenance, because metals tend to tarnish due to humidity, so I am going to give you some tips on how to keep your pieces organised and clean.

A good tip is to wear it. In the case of rings, it's amazing to see how they clean themselves. When you shower and wash your hands, you are also cleaning the piece.
In the case of necklaces, you should bear in mind that there are factors that can cause your piece to darken, such as: cologne, creams, make-up or, depending on your pH, even your own sweat can affect the corrosion of the silver or other metal your piece is made of.
If you are someone who prefers to remove your jewellery when showering or going to bed to feel more comfortable, the most practical solution is to have a jewellery box with an airtight seal to store your pieces and keep them in better condition.
Inside your jewellery box, I recommend separating them according to their materials, as some metals tend to oxidise more easily than others, such as bronze or brass... A very effective tip is to put a small bag of silica in your jewellery box to absorb moisture and prevent your jewellery from oxidising.

If the metal is affected by moisture, it may change colour. If this happens, don't worry; you can choose one of the options I'll tell you about to restore your piece to its original condition. I've separated them by metal type so it will be easier for you to know which remedy is best for cleaning your piece.

ALPACA {ZINC, COPPER AND NICKEL}

It has a colour very similar to silver and has been used for many years to make cutlery. It is a fairly corrosion-resistant material but is not as resistant to dirt.

Warm water and Marseille soap – Immerse the items and, once finished, dry them with a clean, soft cloth.
Bicarbonate (as it is an alkaline product, it cleans dirt and prevents rusting). Make a paste consisting of 1/3 water and 3/3 bicarbonate of soda, apply the paste to a cloth and rub the item until the dirt is removed. Once finished, dry with a clean cloth.

BRASS {ZINC AND COPPER}, MATT GOLD TONE.

Lemon juice, Pour a little lemon juice onto the item and clean it with a damp cloth. Finally, dry the item with a clean cloth. Both this option and the next one are good methods for restoring the shine to your item.
Flour, vinegar and lemon juice, Mix these three components in equal parts and clean the piece in it. After finishing, rinse with water and dry with a cloth to polish it.

SILVER

Silver, like other metals, can also darken. This does not mean that it is oxidising, as it does not react to oxygen, but rather to sulphur. It is this sulphide that causes silver to darken. For this material, I have created three sub-sections depending on whether the piece has a stone or not, and depending on the finish of the piece (matte or shiny).

Silver pieces with stones:

Clean with dishwasher detergent, lather your item and scrub it with a cotton cloth to remove dirt, rinse and dry it with a soft, dry cloth.

Silver pieces with a matt finish:

You can use a non-abrasive chemical product called Hagerty Silver Clean, which allows you to clean your silver items easily and conveniently. Simply immerse the item in the liquid for a few moments, then rinse it with water and soap to remove the product. Finally, dry your item with a soft, dry cloth.
Another more economical process for cleaning your matte-finished silver items is tobicarbonate, In this case, we can make the paste as we would for cleaning alpaca, or add hot water to a container (add enough water to submerge the piece to be cleaned) and dissolve the bicarbonate. Place aluminium foil at the bottom of the container in contact with the piece. You can speed up the process by cleaning your submerged piece with an old toothbrush. Finally, rinse the item with water and dry it with a soft, dry cloth.

Silver pieces with a shiny finish:

To clean your pieces with a glossy finish, it is best to use a silver cleaning cloth. They are cotton cloths with a special impregnation for cleaning silver, and you can find them in jewellery shops or buy them online from different brands.

If you have any questions about the best method for cleaning your piece Please do not hesitate to write to me. or send me a photo of your piece and I will advise you.