The best way to stop jewellery tarnishing is to keep it dry, store it in an airtight space, keep it away from chemicals, and clean it gently with a soft cloth after wearing. For sterling silver specifically, wearing it regularly also helps — the natural oils in your skin form a protective layer on the metal's surface.
Tarnish is a natural chemical reaction, not a sign of poor quality. With the right habits, you can slow it down significantly and keep your jewellery looking its best for years.
What Causes Jewellery to Tarnish?
Tarnish happens when metals react with sulphur compounds and oxygen in the air. Sterling silver, which contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper alloy, is particularly reactive with sulphur — producing silver sulfide, the dark discolouration you see on tarnished pieces.
Everyday substances accelerate the process. Perfumes, lotions, sweat, cleaning products, and chlorinated water all contain compounds that react with metal surfaces. Humidity speeds things up further — which is why jewellery left in bathrooms tarnishes faster than pieces stored in a dry bedroom.
Gold-plated jewellery tarnishes differently. The gold layer itself does not oxidise, but as it wears thin, the base metal underneath — usually brass or copper — begins to react with the air. This type of tarnishing is harder to reverse than sterling silver tarnish, because you cannot simply polish the surface back to its original state.
For a full breakdown of the difference between sterling silver, silver plating, and 925 hallmarking, our guide to sterling silver, silver plating and 925 explains everything you need to know about your metal's composition.
How to Prevent Jewellery from Tarnishing
Prevention is far easier than restoration. These four habits make the biggest difference to how long your jewellery holds its shine.
Store It in a Dry, Airtight Space
Airtight storage is the single most effective way to slow tarnishing. Air and moisture are the primary culprits — limiting exposure to both keeps your metal cleaner for longer.
Use individual soft pouches or small zip-lock bags for each piece. Anti-tarnish strips placed inside the storage container absorb sulphur compounds from the surrounding air, providing an extra layer of protection. Avoid storing jewellery in bathrooms, on open jewellery stands, or in bowls on windowsills — all of these expose pieces to humidity and light, both of which accelerate oxidation.
Keep It Away from Chemicals and Products
Perfume, hairspray, hand lotion, sunscreen, and cleaning products all contain compounds that react with metal. The rule is simple: jewellery goes on last and comes off first.
Put your jewellery on after applying any products, and remove it before cooking, cleaning, or applying anything to your skin. Even hand sanitiser — now a daily habit for many people — contains alcohol and other compounds that accelerate tarnishing on rings in particular.
Remove Before Water, Exercise, and Swimming
Chlorinated water reacts quickly with silver, and saltwater is equally damaging. Remove rings, bracelets, and necklaces before swimming, whether in a pool or the sea. Hot water and steam — from showers and baths — are softer on jewellery but still expose metal to moisture repeatedly, which adds up over time.
Sweat during exercise is also acidic, and can accelerate surface oxidation on rings and bracelets that sit close to the skin. If you wear jewellery during workouts, make sure to wipe pieces down with a soft dry cloth immediately afterwards before storing.
Wear Your Sterling Silver Regularly
This surprises many people, but sterling silver actually benefits from being worn. The natural oils in your skin form a gentle protective layer on the surface of the metal, helping to slow tarnishing between wears.
Pieces left untouched in a drawer for months will often tarnish faster than pieces worn consistently. Dan, the silversmith behind Silver Hollow, has noticed this repeatedly with customers who return pieces for polishing — the ones that tarnish most are almost always pieces that were stored unworn for long periods. The pieces worn most days tend to look the best.
How to Clean Tarnished Jewellery Safely
Even with careful habits, some tarnish will develop over time. Here is how to remove it safely without damaging your pieces.
For light tarnish, a soft silver polishing cloth is the fastest and safest method. These cloths are treated with a mild polishing compound and work well on plain sterling silver pieces — rings, bangles, and chains. Use gentle pressure and circular motions. Do not use a polishing cloth on stones or heavily textured pieces where the cloth can catch.
For moderate tarnish, mix a small amount of mild washing-up liquid with warm water and soak the piece briefly — no more than a few minutes. Gently clean with a very soft brush (a clean, soft toothbrush works well) and rinse thoroughly in clean water. Dry completely with a soft cloth before storing. Moisture left on the surface after cleaning will accelerate tarnishing again.
For pieces set with gemstones, stick to a barely damp cloth and mild soap, and avoid submerging them. Some stones — including opals, pearls, turquoise, and emeralds — are porous and sensitive to water and chemicals. If in doubt, take the piece to a professional jeweller for cleaning.
For hallmarked pieces, the UK Assay Office provides guidance on caring for hallmarked silver and identifying genuine sterling silver content.
What Not to Use — The Baking Soda Myth
Baking soda is widely suggested online as a DIY silver cleaner. It is best avoided.
Baking soda is mildly abrasive. On polished silver, it can leave fine scratches that dull the surface over time. On detailed or textured pieces, it can get into crevices and be difficult to rinse out completely. Most importantly, it is not safe for jewellery set with gemstones — baking soda can damage softer stones and dull the surface of others.
Toothpaste carries the same problem. Despite being another popular online suggestion, toothpaste is abrasive enough to scratch silver and should not be used on jewellery.
Mild washing-up liquid and warm water, used with a soft cloth or brush and rinsed thoroughly, is safer and more effective for the vast majority of tarnished pieces.
Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?
Yes — sterling silver does tarnish, and more readily than solid gold. This is because sterling silver (925) contains copper as part of its alloy. Copper reacts with sulphur and oxygen in the air, producing the dark discolouration associated with silver tarnish.
This does not make sterling silver a poor choice for everyday jewellery. Tarnish on sterling silver is surface-level and reversible — it can be cleaned back to its original finish with a polishing cloth. The metal beneath is entirely unchanged.
If you are weighing up sterling silver against silver-plated alternatives, our guide to silver plated vs sterling silver covers the key differences in durability, longevity, and care requirements.
All Silver Hollow pieces are made from hallmarked sterling silver — designed for everyday wear and built to last. Browse our handmade sterling silver collection to find pieces that hold their quality over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does tarnish mean my jewellery is low quality?
No. Tarnish is a natural chemical reaction that happens to all reactive metals, including high-quality sterling silver. It is a sign that the metal is genuine and reacting with its environment — not that it is poorly made. Good care slows the process significantly.
Can I use baking soda to clean silver jewellery?
It is best avoided. Baking soda is mildly abrasive and can scratch silver, particularly polished or detailed pieces. It is also unsafe for jewellery with gemstones. A soft polishing cloth and mild soap are safer and effective for most tarnish.
How often should I clean my jewellery?
A quick wipe with a soft dry cloth after each wear removes oils and residue before they build up. A deeper clean with mild soap and warm water every four to six weeks is sufficient for regularly worn pieces. Heavily tarnished pieces can be taken to a professional jeweller.
Does sterling silver tarnish faster than other metals?
Sterling silver tarnishes more readily than solid gold because of the copper in its alloy. However, tarnish on sterling silver is easily removed and does not affect the metal's durability. Gold-plated pieces can look dull over time as the plating wears — which is harder to reverse than silver tarnish.
Is it safe to wear sterling silver jewellery every day?
Yes. Sterling silver is well-suited to daily wear, and the natural oils in your skin can actually slow tarnishing. Remove pieces before swimming, showering, or applying products, and wipe them down before storing. With this routine, sterling silver can look excellent for many years.
Tarnish is part of the natural life of genuine metal jewellery — it does not mean your pieces are failing. The right storage, a few simple habits, and occasional gentle cleaning are all that is needed to keep sterling silver looking its best. Keep it dry, keep it airtight, wear it often, and clean it gently when needed.