Sterling Silver Care: A Thomas Sabo Cleaning and Storage Guide
Sterling silver is one of the most generous metals to wear. It softens with age, polishes back to a high shine, and outlasts almost anything in your wardrobe if you treat it well. That last part is the catch — sterling silver does ask for a small amount of care. Tarnish, scratches and dulled stones aren't signs that a piece has failed; they're signs that the jewellery has been worn, often, in real life. This guide is about how to keep your Thomas Sabo sterling silver looking the way it did the day you bought it — and what to do when it doesn't.
Why sterling silver tarnishes (and why that's okay)
Pure silver is too soft for everyday jewellery, so it's alloyed — 92.5% silver to 7.5% other metals, usually copper. That's where the 925 stamp comes from. The copper is what makes the metal strong enough to wear, but it's also what makes the surface tarnish. When silver is exposed to air, humidity, chlorine, sulphur compounds in perfume or sweat, or salt water at the beach, the surface develops a darker patina. It's a chemical reaction, not damage. The silver underneath is still perfect, and the tarnish lifts off in minutes with the right cloth.
Australian conditions make tarnish a little faster than most — humidity along the east coast, salt air anywhere near the beach, sunscreen, chlorine pools. The trick isn't avoiding tarnish entirely. It's knowing how to lift it when it happens.
Day-to-day: when to take it off
The biggest single thing you can do for sterling silver is take it off before contact with chemicals, water and friction. In practice, that means:
Before the shower, the pool and the ocean. Shampoo, chlorine and salt water all accelerate tarnish, and pulling a wet chain off later is the easiest way to snap a clasp.
Before applying perfume, sunscreen, hairspray and moisturiser. The rule is ‘last on, first off' — jewellery goes on after your skincare is done and comes off before the next layer.
Before sleep and exercise. Sweat is mildly acidic and dulls silver over time. Friction against pillows snags fine chains. A delicate piece like the Charm Bracelet “Classic Fine Link” looks beautiful for years longer when it's slept and trained without rather than with.
The rule of thumb: jewellery is the last thing to go on in the morning and the first thing to come off at night.
How to clean it at home
For most everyday tarnish, a sterling silver polishing cloth is all you need. They're impregnated with a mild cleaning agent that lifts oxidation off the surface as you rub, without scratching the metal. Use the cloth in straight lines rather than circles, and don't wash it — the cleaning compound is part of the cloth.
For deeper cleaning, warm water with a drop of mild dish soap works for plain silver chains like the Silver Venezia Rebel Bracelet. Soak briefly — under a minute — rinse with clean warm water, and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Never use hot water (it can loosen settings) and never leave a piece submerged for long.
A few things to avoid: toothpaste (too abrasive — it scratches plated finishes), baking soda and aluminium foil (the ‘hack' floating around the internet, which is fine for solid silver but can damage anything plated or rhodium-finished), and ultrasonic cleaners at home. If a piece needs more than a polishing cloth and a gentle soap wash, it needs a jeweller.
Stones and plating need extra care
Pieces set with stones, like the Bracelet with small, white zirconia stones, need a lighter hand. Zirconia is durable, but the prongs holding the stones are not the place to be aggressive with a cloth. Clean around stones gently, with a soft brush if needed, and avoid soaking pieces with multiple stone settings for long — water can weaken setting adhesives over time.
Pearls and porous stones like turquoise, onyx and tiger's eye are more delicate again. Wipe them with a dry soft cloth only — no water, no soap, no cleaning solutions. They're sensitive to chemicals and dryness alike.
Gold-plated and rhodium-plated silver pieces shouldn't be polished aggressively at all. A standard polishing cloth removes tarnish on the metal underneath, which means it can also remove the plating if you scrub. For plated pieces, a quick wipe with a soft dry cloth is enough — let the surface keep its finish.
How to store sterling silver
Storage matters more than people realise. The same air that tarnishes silver on your wrist will tarnish it twice as fast in a humid drawer with no protection. Three habits that make the biggest difference:
Store pieces individually. Silver chains scratch each other when they're piled together, and tangled chains break clasps. A soft pouch or a small zip-lock per piece is enough.
Use anti-tarnish bags or strips. They're inexpensive, last months at a time, and slow the tarnishing reaction dramatically. Drop one into the drawer or pouch and forget about it.
Keep silver away from light and damp. A drawer is better than a windowsill, a cool cupboard is better than a steamy bathroom. If you live by the coast, double down on the anti-tarnish bag.
When to bring it back to us
Some things are worth handing to a jeweller. Deep tarnish that won't lift with a cloth. A bent or stretched chain. A loose stone. A clasp that's lost its spring. If you'd like to know what's covered, our Product Information page is the right place to start — and if you've had your piece for years and just want it refreshed, a professional clean is often quicker (and cheaper) than people expect.
Care well for sterling silver and it gives back. The shine, the soft glow that develops over years, the way it sits comfortably against skin — all of that is what you bought it for. The small effort of cleaning and storing properly is what keeps it looking like new for a decade rather than a season.