How to Clean Silver Jewelry
If you love boutique western or cowgirl style, you probably own some really great pieces of silver jewelry . The only disadvantage of silver jewelry is that it tarnishes if not cared for properly. Here are some great tips for cleaning and storing your sterling silver western jewelry .

You should clean your sterling silver jewelry with a soft 100% cotton (nub free) cloth or flannel cloth and gently rub off any excess makeup. Remember silver is a very soft metal and you can scratch it if you aren't careful so don't rub it too briskly. Never use anything but a clean 100% cotton or a special sterling silver cleaning cloth or very soft bristle brush, like a babies tooth brush or a horsehair silver brush. Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics, that can cause tiny scratches in the surface of your fine sterling silver jewelry. Dirt left over from previous cleanings can scratch the surface as well.

To remove light dirt, fingerprints or makeup just use a small amount of mild liquid detergent to a 1/2 cup of warm water and rinse thoroughly with clean fresh water. (Remember, be careful because too harsh of a cleanser could damage the polish on the stones.) Dry it completely before storing it in an air tight zip lock bag.

Should you have a great deal of tarnish and need more cleaning than a polishing cloth can do, you will probably have to do a deeper cleaning using a silver paste cleaner or a silver polish spray. Be careful as silver paste cleaners can cause damage to gemstones like turquoise, so be sure to try and keep it off of your gemstones when cleaning your sterling silver.

The proper cleaning method to use with polishes is to rub with a lengthwise motion. Never clean in a circular motion as this may cause scratches. If you like, you can leave the tarnish in deep crevices to enhance the look of the piece. However, if you want to get it out of hard to reach areas, use a very soft brush like a child's toothbrush or jewelry horse hair silver brush. A mushroom brush works well and can be found at most grocery stores. After cleaning with silver polish, make sure you remove any trace of the polish from the jewelry and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Remember, however, the best care you can take of your sterling silver western jewelry is to wear it regularly. Your body oils help keep the tarnishing down and cleaning to a minimum.