Silver jewellery goes dull with wear. It's normal, it's not damage, and fixing it takes about two minutes with things you probably already own.

What you actually need

For most everyday tarnish, a silver polishing cloth is all that's required. It's a soft cloth impregnated with a very mild polishing agent, sold cheaply at any jewellers or online. Rub the piece gently until the dullness lifts and the shine returns. No water, no soaking, no rinsing.

Keep one in a drawer and give pieces a wipe every few weeks. It takes less time than cleaning your glasses.

For heavier tarnish

If a piece has been left unworn for months and looks properly dull or grey, a polishing cloth alone may take a while. A short soak first speeds things up:

1. Line a small bowl with foil, shiny side up
2. Add warm water and a spoonful of baking soda
3. Drop the piece in for two to three minutes
4. Rinse and dry thoroughly, then polish with the cloth

The foil and baking soda create a mild reaction that lifts tarnish without scrubbing. Don't use this method on pieces with pearls, softer gemstones, or glued elements — stick to plain silver.

What to avoid

Toothpaste. A common piece of advice online, and a bad one. It's abrasive and will scratch the surface over repeated use, leaving fine lines that catch light unevenly.

Silver dip solutions on gold plated pieces. These are chemically aggressive and will strip gold plating straight off. They're fine for solid silver only — check what you're cleaning before reaching for one.

Ultrasonic cleaners at home. Fine for solid silver without stones, risky for anything set with cubic zirconia or pavé detail, where vibration can loosen settings over time.

Rubbing hard with a rough cloth. Silver is a soft metal. Firm scrubbing with anything textured causes fine scratches rather than removing tarnish.

Cleaning gold plated pieces

Gold plated jewellery needs a gentler approach than solid silver, because the gold layer sits on top rather than running through the piece.

A soft, dry cloth is all that's needed for everyday cleaning. For light buildup, a very slightly damp cloth works, dried immediately afterwards. Skip polishing cloths and dips entirely — both are designed for solid silver and will wear away plating faster than normal use would.

How often to clean

There's no fixed schedule. The honest answer is: whenever a piece starts to look dull to you. Jewellery worn daily often needs less cleaning than jewellery worn occasionally, because the light friction of everyday wear keeps the surface from tarnishing as fast.

Preventing tarnish between cleans

Store pieces dry, away from bathroom humidity — a pouch or lined box rather than an open dish.

Keep pieces separate so they don't scratch each other.

Put jewellery on last, after perfume, moisturiser and hairspray, all of which speed up tarnishing.

Take it off for water — showers, pools, and washing up all accelerate the process, especially on plated pieces.

Questions about a specific piece?

Email info@anvira.uk and we'll tell you exactly how to look after it. Every ANVIRA piece also comes with a 12-month warranty, so if something looks wrong beyond normal wear, we want to know.