Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” While it’s a rather sardonic truism, anyone who has worked with silver items knows Ben should have added one more thing: tarnish.
The dark, grimy coating turns jewelry that once shined into dull junk. Tarnish is formed when the silver undergoes oxidation, which is caused, for the most part, by exposure to sulfur in the air. Oils from the human body are a close second. Other big contributors are wool, felt, rubber, and latex. Storage environments, such as wood or painted containers can accelerate tarnish. Even food like eggs, onions, and mayonnaise can tarnish your silver (sorry deviled egg lovers). Though it seems like everything under the sun damages silver, the cleaning process is simple.
Early detection is the key to keeping your silver in tip-top condition. The lighter the tarnish, the easier it will be to maintain. Below are three easy-to-follow steps that will keep your silver looking great.
Gently wash your silver with a non-lemon scented, phosphate free soap (the citric acid and phosphate used in some soap is far too abrasive for silver)
· Use a very soft cloth, something like 100% cotton, to thoroughly dry
· Once the piece is totally dry, use a
polishing cloth to return full luster. This is the least abrasive cleaning method; it’s even gentle enough to be used on silver plated items. If you’re really gung-ho about fighting tarnish, these steps can be taken each time you wear silver. It might seem like a lot of work, but will keep your jewelry looking better, longer.
However, not all tarnish is equal. If you find yourself with a tough job, there’s no need for worry! Simply follow the former procedure, and then apply a minimally abrasive cleaner like
Precious Liquid Jewelry Cleaner. 
This is specially formulated to remove built-up tarnish without damaging metal, and can be a lifesaver when cleaning pieces with intricate designs. The liquid literally melts away the tarnish. Because the thought of anything but tarnish melting is unsettling, gloves are recommended for this procedure. It’s tempting to use commonly available home remedies to clean your silver, but that’s bad medicine. Things like toothpaste, a commonly found suggestion for silver cleaning, contain caustic chemicals that can actually damage silver. Another big no-no (this might be controversial) is the popular baking soda bath method. It’s a combination of baking soda, boiling water, and an aluminum foil tub that spells certain doom if used on a regular basis. The extreme abrasiveness of baking soda and boiling water will eventually turn silver an ugly non-reflective, dull grey.
Once you’ve gone through the cleaning process, storing your jewelry properly will save headaches down the road. Most important is keeping the silver away from dust, grime, and grossness in general. Try not to store your silver in newspaper or other reactive papers. If you must, look for an acid-free paper.
Keeping pieces in plastic bags seems like a safe route, but regular zipper bags contain tarnishing elements. Look for specially designed
anti-tarnish bags. 
If you’d like an extra layer of protection, a wax polish, such as Renaissance Wax, can actually prevent tarnish. When applied, it creates a micro-thin, lustrous layer that enhances shine while preventing damage.
While tarnish is relentless, use these tips to keep your silver looking like new, and hold off the inevitable for one more day.
Products mentioned in this article:
This is specially formulated to remove built-up tarnish without damaging metal, and can be a lifesaver when cleaning pieces with intricate designs. The liquid literally melts away the tarnish. Because the thought of anything but tarnish melting is unsettling, gloves are recommended for this procedure. 
If you’d like an extra layer of protection, a wax polish, such as Renaissance Wax, can actually prevent tarnish. When applied, it creates a micro-thin, lustrous layer that enhances shine while preventing damage.
