Many people face a dilemma when it comes to cleaning their precious sterling silver jewelry. You have to take care especially if your jewelry is antique. Harsh chemicals and vigorous cleaning might snap off pieces of the jewelry so it is essential to do the cleaning gently. There are a number of steps one must follow while cleaning such jewelry. Here they are:

First you should choose a mild cleansing agent for your jewelry. A soap or shampoo based cleaning agents always enough to get your silver shining. You should not use strong cleaning solutions as this can damage your silver beyond repair.

It might even react with the silver and decrease its weight. You can choose from common household items like baking soda or tooth paste. Most stores stock cleaning liquid especially formulated for silver jewelry. You can take one of those too.

You should first polish off the surface dirt and concretions using a soft cloth. You should use straight and direct stokes to take off the dirt. Circular motion might harm your jewelry and scratch it as well. You can also use a soft bristled brush to clean out difficult to reach areas.

The last step is to dry your jewelry thoroughly. This will prevent any ugly stains from remaining on your sterling silver jewelry. You can use any absorbent material to wipe off the liquid. It is necessary to use soft cloth to do this in order to avoid any scratches.

After this do not forget to store the jewelry in an air tight container. If you don't have one, a velvet or satin lined jewelry box will do just fine. You must keep the jewelry separately though.

A little care and gentle cleaning can go a long way in helping you maintain your sterling silver jewelry in pristine condition for years to come.