We recommend Dawn dish soap, but use whatever is handy. Brushing your jewelry, like you brush your teeth, helps remove any dirt or dust that has gotten on your piece. A soft bristle brush works best.

Many people are intimidated by the idea of water on their silver. It’s not the getting wet that darkens silver, it’s staying wet, so make sure you dry it! Shake it, towel dry it, or use a hairdryer for maximum dryness. Jewelry that is wet for a prolonged time, or stored in a humid room, tarnishes much more quickly.

Humidity and heat are the main things to avoid when storing your jewelry. You can also use tarnish tabs, they are small sheets of paper that absorb compounds that will oxidize your piece. If you keep it in a box with a tarnish tab it will stay brighter, longer. Or you can put a few at the bottom of your jewelry display.

It’s hard to buy tarnish tabs in quantities under 100, but they are cheap and you can always share them. Here is a link for tarnish tabs on Amazon.

Your jewelry is also affected by perspiration and the oils in your skin. For most people, their silver stays brighter simply from wearing it. However, body chemistry does change because of hormones, medications, cosmetics and lotions, and this can make your silver tarnish more quickly. If your jewelry gets darker when you wear it, try washing it with soap and water afterwards. This will remove any oils from your skin, just be sure you dry it after washing!

We are happy to clean any of your Shade Metals jewelry, for almost free!

The link below charges you $10 and emails you a shipping label to send us your jewelry. You can then drop the package at any USPS box without standing in line. Once we get it, we’ll freshen it up and return it to you looking like new. We want you to be able to wear your jewelry, not keep it sitting in a box until you can figure out how to clean it.

This DIY method removes tarnish by actually removing the thinnest layer of surface metal. It is a mildly corrosive chemical reaction that strips away the tarnish. This method works great on chains and textured pieces. Fair warning though, it doesn’t smell great.

The video below shows you the results. Line a bowl with the shiny side of tinfoil facing up. Pour in the baking soda and submerge your piece in it. Pour over the boiling water and watch it bubble. Be careful when removing your piece from the hot water.

A paste can also be made from hot water and baking soda, the paste can then be rubbed or tooth-brushed into hard to reach areas of your piece.

Finish the process by cleaning it with soap and water. As always, make sure to dry it afterwards.