At Pegasus Equestrian Jewellery we are constantly being asked how to best care and clean for your silver jewellery, so here is our comprehensive guide to care for your silver equestrian jewellery.
Why Silver Tarnishes?
The Science bit....All Silver will tarnish over time, it is a natural metal and when it comes into contact with some other chemicals, oxidation occurs causing the tarnished look.
What causes it to tarnish?
Perfume, creams, hairspray, chlorine, fake tan, shower gels, bath oil and even sweat can cause your silver to tarnish.
How to store your Pegasus Equestrian Jewellery?
There is nothing more frustrating that going to put on a special piece of jewellery you don't wear that often to find it has turned yellow or even green.
To try and prevent this you can buy tarnish- resistant pooches. We find these bags available on eBay great value for under £2.
Failing that store your jewellery somewhere clean and dry, preferably in a jewellery box.
How to care for your Pegasus Equestrian Jewellery?
The best way to keep your jewellery looking shiny and new is to remove before cleaning, swimming, sunbathing and showering. The bleaches in cleaning products, chlorine from the pool, oil in suntan lotion and shower gels are the most common factors we have found in tarnishing jewellery. The more you try and protect your jewellery from these chemicals the longer your jewellery will look shiny and new.
How do I clean my Pegasus Equestrian Jewellery?
Simply with a soft polishing cloth or with some hot soapy water (using washing up liquid) and a soft toothbrush. Gently scrubbing and drying (not submerging)
There are lots of silver dips and cleaning products available which we don;t advise. Simply because we use a rhodium finish on our silver to try and keep the silver as shiny for as long as possible ( to a certain extent it protects the natural silver from chemicals) however the silver cleaning products will strip this and result in your Pegasus Equestrian Jewellery tarnishing more quickly.
And to finish.. the absolute don'ts...
We often have customers asking us about pieces of advice they have had handed down to them about cleaning silver. Remember silver is a natural product and should not be exposed to any harsh chemicals or abrasive products. Toothpaste should never be used as it is too abrasive. A customer also used the dishwasher to clean her jewellery, but the detergent and heat turned her jewellery white!
At Pegasus Jewellery, our best advice is to look after your jewellery, keep it away from strong products and polish with a soft polishing cloth.