Tarnish-Busting Formula
1. Choose a plastic or glass (never metal) pan that is deep enough so that when filled with water your tarnished jewelry will be covered.
2. Put a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of the pan.
3. Pour near-boiling water into the pan. (✩ use warm water if cleaning permanent jewelry).
4. Add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to the water.
5. Place the tarnished jewelry onto the piece of aluminum.
6. If necessary, add more baking soda to the dish until you see the tarnish coming off your piece. You should get a slight bubbling effect with an odd odor.
This method really works! I found I needed to take a soft toothbrush to some of the metal beads to get the tarnish completely off, just a slight brushing worked. Never try it with a piece strung on silk, cotton, or nylon thread because of the hot water, it'll make them shrink and discolor the thread. But it went perfectly for this bracelet made of sterling silver, freshwater pearls, and crystals strung on beading wire. If you're cleaning a necklace or bracelet and it has stones that you're not sure how they'll react to this cleaning method, test an area in which it won't be noticeable first to make sure.
✩ ✩ ✩ This method is also great for cleaning your permanent jewelry. You can safely submerge your wrist by using warm water rather than hot water to clean your bracelets.
