Tarnish

Tarnish is silver sulfide which is created when sulfur in the air reacts with the metal. It is a chemical reaction with the air that causes the oxidation to be left on the metal. This is a natural process that happens, especially with Silver.

Preventative Care

Store metal in an airtight bag, away from moisture. There are Anti-Tarnish bags and tabs that you can store your metal in. You can also polish your metal with a polishing cloth to help prevent tarnish build up.

Removing tarnish

Small build up of tarnish can be removed with a polishing cloth. Large build up can be removed through electrolytic cleaning. 

Electrolytic cleaning: In an aluminum pan mix a solution of equal parts of baking soda to hot water. Let the metal stand for a few minutes in the solution. Make sure your silver makes contact with the aluminum. Sulfite is attracted more to the aluminum than the silver. Oxides are transferred to the aluminum. Repeat until tarish is removed. Rinse in water and use a mild soap on the metal before wearing.