Silver earrings always look great and elegant, and have been fashionable since the metal’s discovery. They add the ‘oomph’ in any outfit. Although less valuable than gold earrings, silver jewelries serve as an exquisite gift, a good piece of investment, and as a family heirloom. Although silver is slightly less valuable than gold, proper care is needed to have them last for many years.

Before buying the silver jewelry piece, ask the sales representative if they may have a special cleaning solution for your silvers. If there are none, you can purchase one, or a simple soap and water will just do. Due to its exquisite design and intricate structure, silver earrings are one of the hardest jewelry to clean. These jewelry pieces often have small details and inlays of semiprecious stones that make cleaning a very daunting chore.

Silver earrings get tarnished when it comes in contact with sulfur and other elements that cause a chemical response. Silver sulfide is a dark pigmentation that materializes in the surface of the silver earrings. If your silver earrings and other silver jewelry pieces get stained or tarnished, you can get professional cleaning services, although it can get quite costly.

There are more inexpensive methods you can do in your own home. In case of dark pigmentation forming on your jewelry pieces, it can be removed through the use of polishing compounds. However, the polishing and rubbing processes cause some parts of the silver jewelry piece to deteriorate.

There is another way to clean your silver earrings, without having to lose silver’s luster. Here is a step by step method in creating this silver cleaning solution that will work best. The good news is, most of the materials you will need can usually be found in your kitchen.

1. Get a piece of hard plastic or a glass container. Wrap the bottom with some aluminum foil.
2. Pour boiling, but not hot, water on the receptacle, on the enough level that it will submerge the silver jewelry.
3. Mix the water with several tablespoons of sodium carbonate (or washing soda). Once nicely settled, place your silver earrings and other jewelry pieces inside. Ensure that the jewelry pieces are not on top of one another, and that all of them should be nicely laid out flat on the bottom, touching the aluminum foil.
4. You will notice then that the solution will get bubbly and steamy right away, with a foul smell a la rotten eggs emitting from the solution.
5. Let the silver earrings and jewelries stay for a minute. Bring them out, and rinse your jewelry pieces in cold water.

Dry the jewelry pieces using a soft cloth. Paper towels will scratch them. After having them dried, place them somewhere cool, dry and sealed. Avoid air and sunlight exposure, since it will tarnish the silver. Do note use chlorine and other chemicals because it will destroy the silver. After doing these five easy steps, your silver earrings will be glittering like brand new.