If a piece of sterling silver jewelry shows signs of tarnish, clean it right away without letting it sit longer.
To remove oxidation from silver, use a silver polishing cloth. If the cloth does not remove all the tarnish, wash the jewelry (without stones or pearls) in warm water.
Put a few drops of mild dish washing soap in the warm water, then immerse the jewelry in the water and gently hand wash.
You can use a Q tip or soft baby toothbrush for tight corners.
For sterling silver jewelry that has gemstones or pearls, use a Q tip with mild dish washing soap to clean only the silver areas.
Once your pieces are thoroughly rinsed, make sure they are completely dry before storing.