Cleaning & Polishing Tips for Fine Pewter Jewelry

July 25, 2015

Fine pewter is a tin based alloy consisting of at least 90% tin and 1-3% each of silver, copper, bismuth, and antimony. Because lead is known to have a harmful impact on the human body, almost all pewter items created in the U.S.A are lead-free.

Not surprisingly, pewter is the fourth most popular metal used in jewelry, ranking just behind gold, silver, and platinum. Pewter is a sought after material for jewelry because it can be polished to a high shine, chemically darkened for an antique look, or “brushed” to leave a rough surface. Since pewter does not easily rust, corrode, or tarnish, it is relatively care free to maintain. Read on few tips on how to clean, polish, and store your fine pewter jewelry.

How to clean pewter jewelry:

• Unlike sterling silver, lead-free pewter does not tarnish when exposed to air. Cleaning pewter jewelry involves nothing more than washing the surface of the jewelry with a mild dish soap and warm water using a soft cloth.
• Never wash your pewter in the dishwasher as the detergent and rough washing cycle will damage the finish.

How to naturally polish pewter jewelry:

• Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1/4 cup white flour to create a paste (for satin finish pewter, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the mixture create a gentle abrasive texture).
• Use a soft cloth to apply the cleanser, rubbing it in with a circular motion.
• Leave it in place for 30 minutes, then rinse off with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

Pewter polish is available, however only a small amount should be used as seldom as possible. DO NOT use brass or silver polish for cleaning pewter as these cleansers may cause your pewter pieces to discolor.

How to store pewter jewelry:

• Pewter jewelry should be kept away from sources of extreme heat and removed when working with any kind of chemicals. When storing pewter jewelry, wrap items in a soft cloth to ensure enjoyment for years to come.

We welcome you to shop our Made in the USA collections of fine pewter necklaces, bracelets, lapel pins, and scripture verse pocket tokens available for purchase from Clothed with Truth.              

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