silver jewellery

[Jules001]

my niece has given my 14 yr old daughter some very nice pieces of silver jewellery including some pierced earrings, they have all been worn by her and although I know she is family, I still want to sterilise them in some way before my daughter wears them. So a) how can I sterilise them and b) what are your opinions on wearing second hand jewellery of this type?

[Redbel]

Hi Jules, I have quite a few piercings, mainly ear piercings. Once a week I take them out, boil a kettle of water add a touch of salt to the water and just leave them for a few minutes, rinse them and put them back in. I'm not sure if you can do the same with Silver jewellery, but I'm sure soaking them in boiling water wouldn't do them any harm, it would also sterilise them aswell. I wouldn't have a problem wearing secondhand jewellery, like you even if they came from a family member I would still sterilise them.

[lia*]

use rubbing alcohol to clean them.

[ermintrude35]

...boiling water with a dash of surgical spirits (available from the chemists) should do the trick

[PhilBy]

How about a jar of silver dip?

[Gard]

I work in a jewellers and we use a combination of warm water, fairy liquid and a drop of ammonia to clean our jewellery. If you use silver dip make sure you rinse the jewellery as after a short period of time, silver dip will make the jewellery tarnish.

[lisa74656]

I always use dettol for my earrings but i water it down a bit first. I put a small amount of the dettol in with some hot water. I was told to use it when i first got my ears peirced. Never had any problems with any metals.

[chazza]

Soak them overnight in either Surgical Spirit or TCP. This will kill any infection

[Jules001]

thanks everyone, I have now sterilised them all ready for her to wear at the weekend!