Jewelry Care Tips: How to Care for your Stainless Steel and 925 Silver Pieces
Jewelry Care Tips: How to Care for your Stainless Steel and 925 Silver Pieces
Stainless Steel Care Tips
Stainless steel is the easiest jewelry material to care for, and requires very little maintenance! Because of its unique anti-tarnish and anti-rusting qualities, stainless steel pieces can be worn in the sun, at the beach, while showering, at the gym, and more! Even sunscreen and perfumes can come in contact with stainless steel, without needing to worry about it turning green. This material is perfect for those who don’t want to worry about their jewelry, or who never take their pieces off!
Both our silver and 18k gold-plated pieces made from stainless steel are considered hypoallergenic, water-safe, anti-tarnish, and anti-rust. However, they are not scratch-proof, so take care to avoid rubbing rings and bracelets against hard surfaces to preserve the smooth finishes!
How to Care for Stainless Steel
1. After wearing your stainless steel pieces, wash in warm soapy water to get rid of any stuck debris, perfume/sunscreen residue, and sweat. You can even do this in the shower!
2. Dry thoroughly with a soft, clean cloth.
3. Once completely dry, store out of direct sunlight until you’re ready to wear them again!
4. Optional: for getting rid of stubborn dirt, you can mix a bit of baking soda and water to make a paste. Use a toothbrush to gently clean, wipe clean, and let air dry!
925 Sterling Silver Care Tips
Say goodbye to skin allergies with our 925 sterling silver pieces! Silver is both hypoallergenic and naturally anti-microbial, which means less skin irritation. Our 925 silver pieces are either rhodium-plated sterling silver or 18k gold-plated sterling silver. Although it is a softer metal, silver is very durable and can last a lifetime.
If you’re worried about silver tarnishing, don’t be! True, high-quality silver (like the 925 sterling silver we use—‘925’ means 92.5% pure silver) naturally develops a ‘tarnish’ over time when it comes in contact with sulfur-containing air particles. This is completely normal, and all it does is leaves a thin layer of darker color on the pieces that can simply be wiped off. Tarnish does not mean the metal is ‘bad quality’—it’s actually the opposite!
Fun fact about 925 silver: the more you wear it, the less likely it is to tarnish over time! The oils from your skin actually ‘protect’ the silver with wear.
Silver is also a flexible metal. If you have earring posts that are loose or not clicking firmly, you can gently bend it back into shape so it fits like new again. We wouldn’t want those earrings falling out at the wrong time!
How to Care for 925 Sterling Silver
1. The best way to care for silver is to not expose it to harsh chemicals, like household cleaners, pool chlorine, and salt water at the beach. This will help prevent the silver from dulling or getting damaged.
2. Clean your silver in hot, sudsy water (you can use dish soap) to clean off everyday grime.
3. Wipe down before and after each wear with the included jewelry polishing cloth in each Flaire & Co. package to get rid of tarnish and residue.
4. Store all 925 sterling silver pieces in an airtight container when not in use, to prevent tarnishing!