How to Clean Liquid Silver & Turquoise

Cleaning a piece of jewelry that features both liquid silver and turquoise is tricky because the two materials require different cleaning methods that must be kept separate. Liquid silver refers to a form of heishi in which many small, cylindrical, silver beads are strung together to create a shimmering "liquid" effect. Turquoise is a relatively soft stone that can be damaged easily by any abrasive cleaning method. By carefully cleaning your liquid silver and turquoise jewelry, you can keep it looking its best.

Instructions

1

Place a sprinkling of baking soda in the palm of your hand.

2

Roll the strand of liquid silver beads back and forth gently in your hands, using the grit of the baking soda to clean it. At this stage, you must be very careful not to rub any baking soda on the turquoise parts of your jewelry. Although mild, baking soda is abrasive and will scratch the surface of the stone.

3

Blow off the excess baking soda and gently wipe the beads with a soft brush or cloth to make sure no residue remains.

4

Use a liquid silver cleaner only if the piece is extremely tarnished. Follow the instructions on the packaging carefully and, again, do not let any of the silver cleaner to touch the turquoise as it will damage the stone. Using a liquid cleaner on this type of piece is a last resort. Preventing the tarnish from happening in the first place will serve you well.

5

Use a bit of water and a very soft brush or cloth to wipe the turquoise clean. Even a very mild detergent or soap can harm turquoise; use only water.

6

Make sure the piece is thoroughly dry before storing in an airtight container like a sealable plastic bag.