Can Sterling Silver Get Wet? How to take care of sterling silver jewelry?

Sterling silver is a favored precious metal for jewelry manufacturers for many years. They have numerous qualities, especially as it is durable. However, it can lose its shiny aesthetics – a sign that it may have been exposed to too much water.

Is it OK to get sterling silver wet?

Generally, you should keep the silver dry if you want it to last long.

Does sterling silver tarnish in the water?

Depending on what the water contains, it may begin to tarnish or not. If the water was pure, then it won’t tarnish, especially if you dry it nicely. However, most of the water we use contains salt or chlorine, which is more damaging to your silver.

So it may not tarnish immediately, but it does over time. If you put it in water for a long time, it will soon start to the tarn and maybe even corrode. Dryness is the silver friend, so make sure you maintain the dryness at all times.

Can you shower with Sterling Silver Jewellery?

Shower water is the least harmful water type to your sterling silver jewelry. Most showering water supplies do not contain salt or harsh chemicals that would react with sterling silver jewelry.

However, certain mains water may be treated with chlorine or high minerals such as limescale and chalk, likely harsher on the metal. We recommend avoiding showering with your jewelry on in these areas. If you happen to forget, it’s okay; and gently wash it with some delicate soap after taking a shower to reduce wear.

Also, don’t forget that it’s humid in the bathroom. Moisture is not suitable for sterling silver jewelry. Again, we recommend removing the pieces before entering the bathroom and storing them instead in a dry and cool place.

What to be wary of when showering with silver jewelry?

Chlorine, salts, and harsh chemicals

Some water may contain chlorine or other chemicals which can damage the silver if you shower with it.

‘Hard water’, which is common in the South and East of England, has a high mineral content, making it more likely to affect the look of silver. If you know that your water is hard, you should definitely remove your jewelry before showering.

Soaps, shower gels, and shampoo

Another thing to consider is the chemicals in your soaps, shower gels, shampoos, and other cleaning products. Sterling silver is a delicate metal and any strongly perfumed or fragranced shower products may be too harsh for your jewelry.

Dropping jewelry in the shower

You should also be wary of wearing delicate jewelry in the shower in case you drop it. A simple pair of studs or a dainty ring could easily wash down the drain and disappear forever!

Therefore, we recommend removing your sterling silver jewelry and putting it in a safe place before showering.

Can I swim in a pool with Sterling Silver Jewellery?

Pool water is treated with high chlorine levels and will cause sterling silver jewelry and rhodium-plated jewelry to react. Silver will react with chlorine, as mentioned above, and damage and discolor your jewelry. Avoid pool water to keep your sterling silver jewelry for a long time.

Can I swim in Salty water with Sterling Silver Jewellery?

Salty water includes ocean water and even some pools. Salt is very corrosive, especially to your plated jewelry. After swimming, you will often find residue on the surface of the jewelry, which should be cleaned immediately – rinse with soft/mild soap and dry it out.

A fun fact: Wearing jewels in the ocean water increases your chances of being attacked by sharks, as the glitter of the jewelry resembles shiny fish scales. As a general rule, avoid swimming in the ocean while wearing jewelry, gold or silver.

Can I swim in a hot tub or spa with Sterling Silver Jewellery?

The water in hot tubs or spas is especially bad for sterling silver as it combines high temperatures and humidity with highly chlorinated water. You should permanently remove any kind of jewelry metals before entering a spa.

Can I swim in hot springs with Sterling Silver Jewellery?

Though natural spring water has healing properties, the high concentration of minerals and gases wreak havoc on your sterling silver jewelry. A key element in hot spring water is sulfur, and this, combined with the warmth and humidity of the water, will cause the damage quicker. Never enter a hot spring while wearing jewelry, gold or silver.

How to take care of sterling silver jewelry?

The price of that sterling silver necklace is worth every possible care from you. Even if there is a remedy for tarnishing, that doesn’t mean that you should be careless. Below are ways to take care of your jewelry and get to rock in them for a long.

Proper storage- Proper storage will ensure longer service. The best way to store sterling silver is by keeping it dry in an airtight container. A zip lock bag serves the best in storage.
Use of anti-tarnish strip-The strips are placed inside the zip lock bags, and they come in handy, preventing tarnishing.
Don’t leave sterling silver in the bathroom. The humidity in the bathroom will expose it to corrosion, thus producing blackening.
Don’t expose to chemicals. Sterling silver doesn’t work well with chemicals found in lotions, perfumes, and hairsprays. Also, please don’t wear it in the shower or when swimming.
Always clean your jewelry and ensure it is dry before putting in the storage bag.
Always remove your jewelry first before removing your clothes. Also, it should be the last thing that you wear. This rule also applies to all jewelry. That’s because it reduces contact with lotion and reduces scratching, maybe from the hair.
Do not expose your jewelry to adverse heat. Direct sunlight is another cause of tarnishing.

Store Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Properly

The first thing you want to do in order to prevent sterling silver jewelry from tarnishing is to store it properly whenever you aren’t wearing it.

Far too often, people will take their jewelry and throw it on their nightstand or dresser when they don’t have it on. This is not the right way to go about storing it safely.

You should place sterling silver jewelry into a cool and dark part of your home when you aren’t wearing it. It should be far away from sunlight, moisture, and heat.

You should also consider placing each piece of sterling silver jewelry into its own plastic bag and removing air from the bag. This will prevent it from coming into contact with contaminants that could cause it to tarnish.

You might even want to invest in anti-tarnish paper strips that can be placed alongside your stored sterling silver jewelry. That should guarantee that you won’t have to worry about your jewelry tarnishing at all.

Keep It Away From Moisture

If you accidentally wear your sterling silver jewelry into the shower one day or forget you have your sterling silver jewelry on and jump into a pool, it’s not the end of the world.

But moisture is one of the things that will almost guarantee your sterling silver jewelry will tarnish. So you should keep it away from moisture at all costs.

You should never leave any sterling silver jewelry sitting in the bathroom where it can be exposed to humidity and moisture from a shower. You should also limit the number of times you wear sterling silver jewelry into a pool, hot tub, or other bodies of water.

You want to make sure you aren’t exposing your sterling silver jewelry unnecessarily to water at any time. Moisture is one of sterling silver’s biggest enemies and you won’t be asking “Does sterling silver tarnish?” for long when you have it around water. You’ll be able to see the tarnish form for yourself in no time.

Wipe It Off After Wearing It

Each and every time you take off your sterling silver jewelry, you should return it to its proper storage. But before you do, you should take a dry soft cloth and wipe it down.

You don’t have to go too crazy getting up in every single nook and cranny of your sterling silver jewelry, especially if you don’t see any visible signs of tarnish. But by wiping down your jewelry, you will remove anything that could potentially cause problems later.

Clean It At The First When it Tarnish

At some point in time, you’re probably going to see a small amount of tarnish form on your sterling silver jewelry. Don’t be alarmed!

If wiping your jewelry down with a cloth doesn’t remove it, there are a few steps you can take to get sterling silver clean again. Follow these steps to make your sterling silver jewelry sparkle:

Fill up a cup with warm water and a couple drops of a mild dishwashing soap
Place your sterling silver jewelry into the cup and gently handwash your jewelry to remove tarnish
Utilize a cotton swab to get deep into tight corners and clean them out
Use a baby toothbrush to clean away any tarnish that you can’t remove by hand
Remove your sterling silver jewelry from the cup, wipe it down, and then allow it to air dry before you place it back into storage for safekeeping
As long as you follow these steps and don’t allow any moisture to build upon your sterling silver jewelry before you store it, you should be able to safely remove all of the tarnish from it.