Care Tips for Sterling Silver European Charm Beads, Bracelets, Necklaces:

All sterling silver will eventually oxidize and tarnish unless it has been finished with a protective layer. The good news is if it does tarnish, you can still restore its luster with proper polishing. The easiest way to clean silver is with a clean soft cloth. You can also prevent silver from tarnishing by just storing it away after each usage. Even a simple zip-lock bag will be adequate. The goal is to keep all the air and light from tarnishing the silver.

Just like gold, sterling silver is a very soft metal. You can scratch it just by rubbing it too vigorously. Also, never use a tissue. Paper or tissues have wood fibers which can cause tiny scratches on the surface of your sterling silver jewelry. If you don’t regularly clean your silver pieces, the dirt residue can also scratch the surface as well.

When cleaning sterling silver jewelry, we recommend you use soft 100% cotton clothing or even a flannel cloth. For hard to reach areas, you can use a soft bristle brush.

Chlorine and even vinegar can damage your silver jewelry, so don’t forget to take off your fine sterling silver jewlery when swimming, bathing, showering and even routine household chores involving water.

Care Tips for Silver Plated European Charm Beads, Bracelets, Necklaces:

Unlike sterling silver, silver plated jewelry will eventually wear in due time. Proper cleaning, maintenance, and storage are critical for extending its useful life. Some silver plated jewelry will last longer than others depending on the thickness of its layer.

We also do not recommend using ultrasonic cleaners. Although this will remove dirt from hard to reach areas, it may also cause the glue from the stones to come loose.

1. Store in a sealed plastic zip-lock bag to prevent air contact.

2. Daily cleaning : Select a plain white toothpaste without the special whitening options (DO NOT USE GEL).

Take a soft, dampened cloth (old t-shirt scraps work just fine) or a damp sponge and put some toothpaste on it. An old soft toothbrush can also be used to help you get into the intricate details of some of your charm beads. Gently rub over the silver in straight, back-and-forth motions. Alternatively, you can wet the silver piece and gently apply the toothpaste directly to the surface which you can then wet again and proceed to polish. In any case, be very gentle.

3. Do not wear silver jewelry while wearing other precious metals in order to avoid collision, deformation or abrasion.

4. Keep it dry and do not wear when swimming, bathing or showering. Keep away from chlorine and sea water. Our tap water is loaded with chlorine so even when doing the dishes or washing your hands, avoid as much contact with water as possible.

5. Daily wiping with a jewelry polishing cloth (available at Bed, Bath & Beyond or other similar stores) to maintain the luster is recommended.

If you want to take more vigorous action, try either of these:

Aluminum Foil Method
1. Take an aluminum plate or cover a deep dish or small pot with aluminum foil.
2. Place your silver-plated pieces on top of the aluminum foil as noted above in #1.
3. Boil enough water in a separate pot to eventually cover the jewelry on the aluminum foil/plate.
4. Liberally sprinkle baking soda over the charms, beads or chains in the aluminum pot being sure to cover the entire surface of the tarnished pieces.
5. Carefully pour the hot water into the first dish, making sure the silver is completely submerged. Even though this is a common household product, it is best to stand back from leaning directly over the pot as there is a slight chemical reaction. Even though there are no detectable fumes, it is best not to breathe it in.
6. The tarnish should immediately start to come off. If the silver is heavily tarnished, sprinkle more baking soda on the items, reheat the water and repeat the process as often as necessary until the tarnish has been removed.
7. Rinse with clear water and gently dry the items with a clean cotton cloth.

Baking Soda Method
1. Combine baking soda and a small amount of warm water into a paste. Do this in a cup.
2. Place the baking soda paste solution onto a damp hand towel.
3. Rub the silver-plated pieces until the tarnish is gone.
4. Rinse the excess baking soda off with warm water.

I have searched the internet and other sources available to me. I believe that the tips I have included have been reviewed as being safe as long as the directions are followed carefully. However, I do not guaranty any of these methods.