Imagine that you are planning to go on a fabulous summer vacation and have brought along your favorite, beautiful piece of silver jewelry. Have you ever wondered whether wearing your silver in the swimming pool would be safe?

If you have a particularly special or precious piece of silver jewelry, it is usually best to avoid wearing it in the pool. Your silver should have limited exposure to chlorine and saltwater pools. The chemicals in the pool could eat away the silver, tarnish it and even cause it to rust.

Most swimming pools require treatment with harsh chemicals and depending on the composition of your silver, and it will tarnish and discolor in a pool. There are numerous reasons why silver could tarnish and lose its original shine.

Why Does Silver Tarnish When It Gets Wet?

While silver jewelry may not be as valuable or durable as gold, it is still a popular choice of jewelry for many people. Silver is similar in composition to gold but far softer and malleable. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and although it is beautiful, it is far too flexible and soft, and therefore it is not practical to make into jewelry.

Most people wear jewelry alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. The copper makes the silver more rigid and more durable. This is the reason why most of the silver jewelry you buy and wear is often sterling silver.

Because of the added copper, your silver jewelry will tarnish quickly, especially in humid and wet conditions. It is perfectly normal for silver to tarnish and change color. When you expose silver to certain chemicals in the pool, it reacts with these chemicals and forms a layer of tarnish on the surface which will discolor or darken the silver.

Can You Wear Silver In Chlorine Pools?

Sterling silver is water-resistant, and although the water itself will not harm the silver, it will depend on the composition of the silver and the number of chemicals it is exposed to. Water speeds up the oxidation process and results in the formation of tarnish.

Most swimming pools are treated with chlorine, which reacts with sterling silver. Wearing silver in a pool should be safe, but you need to consider how many harsh chemicals have been added to the water, as this could darken and change the appearance of your silver jewelry.

It would help if you exercised caution when you wear silver in the pool, as different water conditions could impact the metal differently. The length of time you spend swimming in a chlorinated pool could significantly influence the severity of the damage to your sterling silver jewelry.

Although the harsh chemicals in a chlorinated pool will tarnish your silver, you can remove the discoloration on sterling silver by giving your jewelry a thorough cleaning, restoring your silver to its original shine. However, the more often you like to swim, the more frequently you will have to clean your jewelry. Over time, chlorine could degrade your sterling silver, so it is best not to wear your silver in a pool.

Can You Wear Silver In Saltwater Pools?

The salt in swimming pools can corrode silver and leave a residue on your jewelry which will darken the surface and leave it with a dull finish. Saltwater also causes your silver to oxidize more quickly. If you swim in saltwater pools, you should regularly clean your silver. If possible, take your silver jewelry off before going into the water. If you forget, you can rinse and dry your silver with some clean water afterward.

How To Clean Silver Jewelry

Cleaning your silver once exposed to chemicals in a pool is not as difficult as one might think. Tarnish usually appears as a brown, black, or yellow coating. Sterling silver is more susceptible to becoming tarnished due to its copper content.

Because silver is a soft metal, you should be extra careful when cleaning it. Harsh cleaners such as baking soda or toothpaste are not suitable for cleaning as they could remove some of the metal over time and make your silver jewelry brittle.

There are numerous ways to clean silver jewelry. Choosing the correct cleaning method will primarily depend on your silver’s tarnished and available cleaning materials. Regardless of your chosen cleaning method, always ensure that you have two clean, soft cloths on hand. One cloth will be used for cleaning your silver, and the other will be used for drying and polishing.

The various cleaning methods are listed below. Many people will pick a method that appears to work for them and is the most convenient. If you own silver jewelry and you like to swim with it, it is highly recommended that you choose one of the following cleaning methods:

  • Silver dip – If your silver is lightly tarnished, the silver dip will work quickly and effectively. However, if your jewelry is heavily tarnished, it would be preferable to use a cloth and some silver polish.
  • Purchase a good quality jewelry polishing cloth – This should be an essential part of your cleaning kit. Besides helping remove heavy tarnish, the cleaning cloth adds a lovely shine to your silver.
  • Silver polish or cream – Ensure that you buy a polish that is solely intended for use on silver. This method is effective but can be abrasive if you are not gentle.
  • Always rinse and dry –  After cleaning your silver, ensure that you take time to rinse and dry your jewelry carefully. This method helps to remove any excess chemical residue from the cleaning process.

The Best Waterproof Jewelry You Can Wear While Swimming

Other jewelry options are available if you are worried that your silver jewelry will be damaged or tarnished in a pool and would still like the opportunity to wear jewelry while swimming.

Platinum, diamonds, and gold jewelry are safer options and fare far better in chlorinated water than sterling silver. Choose lightweight and comfortable jewelry if you want to accessorize with jewelry while swimming. Also, ensure that your jewelry fits securely, so you do not have to worry about your jewelry falling off or getting lost while swimming.

Editorial credit: HasanZaidi / Shutterstock.com

Conclusion

If you swim regularly in swimming pools that contain chlorine or saltwater, experts recommend that you remove your precious silver jewelry. Constant exposure to the harsh chemicals in a pool can cause your silver to tarnish and change color. Too much pool water exposure can potentially harm your silver jewelry.

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