How to Store Silver Jewellery to Prevent it from Tarnishing

Whenever you get home from a big night on the town or a busy day at the office, the first thing you will probably do is remove your uncomfortable clothing and heavy jewellery so you can slip on your comfy pyjamas and get in under the covers. Unfortunately, much like washing your face and conducting your nightly skincare routine, this can become somewhat of a chore-meaning that the temptation to just leave your precious jewellery wherever is all too real.

However, while having a blasé attitude toward how you store your jewellery may seem harmless, over time it can leave your jewellery looking a little worse for wear, mainly if it’s silver jewellery. Due to its composition, silver jewellery is especially vulnerable to tarnishing and corrosion, so not storing it correctly can have an effect on not only its appearance but also its lifespan. Fortunately, with these handy hacks on how to store silver jewellery, you can keep your accessories in tip-top shape for many years to come. 

Read to learn how to store silver jewellery to prevent it from tarnishing. 

Store Your Jewellery Separately

Sterling silver becomes tarnished due to being exposed to moisture and sulphur in the air, however, it can also happen as the result of the metals present in other types of jewellery. Storing your jewellery too close to each other is a bit of a risky business as it can lead to necklaces and chains becoming tangled with other items and also because the vastly different compounds in other types of jewellery can react with one another, thus leading to tarnishing. By keeping your jewellery separate when you store it or by even investing in a tiered jewellery box with multiple sections, you can prevent your jewellery from becoming tangled and scratched while also ensuring that it remains relatively tarnish-free. You could even take it a step further by storing each item in an anti-tarnish bag or in non-adhesive zip-lock bags. 

Keep It Away From Sunlight & Wood

When storing your jewellery, it is crucial that you place it in a cool, dry spot. This will keep your pieces away from two of the biggest culprits for tarnishing, moisture and sunlight. This means you should avoid storing your jewellery in areas such as the bathroom and the kitchen because these rooms frequently come into contact with moisture, while areas such as sun rooms and window seals often see too much light. A general rule of thumb is to keep your accessories in a jewellery box that is kept in areas such as a wardrobe or even the linen cupboard. When picking out your jewellery box, however, avoid the ones made from wood as they have often been treated with chemicals that are hazardous to silver and increase the likelihood of it becoming tarnished. 

Avoid Storing Your Jewellery Near Beauty Products

While they might make your accessories smell good, storing your silver jewellery near beauty and personal care products is a big no, no. While it is very tempting to have your jewellery on display on your dressing table alongside all your personal care products, makeup, deodorant, perfume, skincare and other common beauty go-to’s are laden with chemicals that can interact with your jewellery. These products also contain high levels of moisture and can easily cause silver to become tarnished. For this very reason, you should also take care when applying these types of products when wearing your jewellery and to consider putting them prior or avoid getting too close. 

Store Them With Something To Absorb The Moisture

While there is a multitude of ways to avoid moisture near your jewellery, nobody’s perfect and accidents do happen. Fortunately, you can prepare for those “what if’s” by storing your earrings, bracelets and more with something that will help absorb the moisture. Two very effective remedies for combatting moisture are silica gel and activated charcoal, products that you are likely familiar with if you do a lot of online shopping. Another easy and cost-effective solution is placing a few sticks of chalk in your jewellery storage. Chalk is incredibly dry which makes it naturally very absorbent, chalk is also frequently made from materials that won’t interact.