Showering with sterling silver is possible but can cause it to tarnish over time. This can make it turn black or discolored. This is because the metal is sensitive to things that can be in the water, such as chlorine and salts. Therefore it is better to take it off before you shower if you want to keep your jewelry in mint condition. If you shower with it anyway, make sure to clean it afterward.
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What is sterling silver?
Sterling silver is a type of silver that is very strong and durable. It is used for various jewelry and art objects. The metal is often found in coins, watches, and other items. Silver has a long history and has been used for several centuries as decoration and personal jewelry.
Sterling silver is sometimes called 925 silver as well. This indicates that the material is made out of 92.5% silver and the rest are alloys (a combination of metals). These alloys are zink, copper, and nickel. They can come in contact with other materials and this can discolor the sterling silver. They are mixed with silver because silver on its own is too soft and wouldn’t make great jewelry as it would get deformed too easily.
Sterling silver is a durable metal. However, it does not last indefinitely. Over time, the metal will tarnish and become less valuable.
How does sterling silver tarnish?
Sterling silver tarnishes because it is sensitive to chlorine and salts. These elements can combine and cause a tarnish. It’s best to take it off before you shower if you want to keep your jewelry in mint condition. Once silver starts to tarnish, it can be affected by more materials so it can get worse quite quickly.
For this reason, you want to make sure that your sterling silver looks clean. While it often can get cleaned, it is better to make sure that it doesn’t get tarnished in the first place. Showing up for work with a dirty watch can give a bad impression.
Sometimes the water is treated to remove chalk with a water softener. This is often done by using salt. A lot of people use too much salt as they didn’t set the water softener correctly. Therefore there can be a lot of salt in the water. This salt can stick to the jewelry and make it dirty. You can let your water get checked by a company or get a tester to see if there is too much salt in your water. Checking the instructions of the water softener is a great idea as well.
How to store jewelry while you are showering
A jewelry box is the best way to store jewelry. This makes sure that your jewelry is not exposed to humid air. Jewelry display racks can look cool but don’t protect your jewelry too well. Adding a piece of chalk or a silica bag to a box that is not air-tight can help as well. There are also silver protecting strips that can keep your jewelry box in a good condition. Ziplock bags are also a great way to store jewelry as it can keep your jewelry dry and away from humid air.
Cleaning your jewelry often is essential as well. Especially if you sweat a lot, it can be a great idea to get it cleaned. Sweat contains salt that can interact with your sterling silver. Advanced jewelry boxes have gauges that indicate how humid the box is. This can give an indication of how well the jewelry is being stored.
How to maintain sterling silver: avoid rust
One of the best ways to maintain sterling silver is to take it off and wash it with soap and water. You can also use a silver polish from time to time and a cloth to clean it. A soft cloth can also help to clean it.
If the silver is really dirty, you can get it cleaned professionally as well. This can really make a big difference as discolored silver doesn’t look that great.
A lot of people don’t want to take their jewelry off every time they take a shower. Showering with it from time to time is not a problem. It is more if you do it for a longer period of time that it might get tarnished. It depends on how important a clean look is for you.
Why showering with sterling silver is not a good idea
Another reason that you shouldn’t shower with your jewelry is that it might fall off while you are washing yourself. Earrings might fall when you are washing your hair. This can end up in the drain and even clog it up. You might have to call a plumber to get it out of the drain. It happens more than you think. Getting it out the drain can be difficult or even impossible. If you really value your jewelry, you can just take it off. To avoid this, it is best to remove it before you shower.
Water can get under your jewelry and if this is not properly dried, it can create a nasty spot on the jewelry. With the advent of rain showers, more water is used than before and this gets everywhere. A lot of people don’t notice this but this standing moisture can lead to some spots.
To conclude, it is best to remove your sterling silver jewelry or watch before you shower. This makes sure that it remains clean and isn’t affected by the chemicals in the water. The same is true for swimming with it in a pool.
You should wash your jewelry from time to time as well to keep it clean. Sterling jewelry can last a long time and you can give it to your kids if it is properly taken care of. Plated jewelry that only has a small layer of silver on plastic, won’t last that long and shouldn’t be showered with as this can make it look tarnished quite fast. This type of jewelry is cheaper for a reason.
Overall, showering with jewelry can be quite tricky. Make sure that you don’t have hard water and dry it afterward.
Sterling silver can last a long time if you take proper care of it. This can involve removing it before you take a shower.
The modern shower was invented only quite recently. People used to have silver before this. In this post, we made sure that you know what to do with your sterling silver if you want to take a shower.
Sterling silver is used in a lot of jewelry. In this post, we have outlined how you can shower with it to make sure that it lasts a long time. Dull-looking jewelry is quite useless so it is important that you maintain it well.
