Sterling silver will tarnish if left out on the dresser.  One way to prevent silver from tarnishing is to keep the jewelry in cloth pouches or plastic bags with a locking seal.  Even better would be to store jewelry in an anti-tarnish jewelry case or box.

Buffing with a silver cloth is the best way to do light surface cleaning.  Be careful if using a liquid cleaner.  Be sure to read the instructions to ensure it is safe for pearls and other soft stones.

To preserve the luster of pearls, rinse the pearls with cool water and dry off with a soft cloth.  Do not store pearls in plastic bags as they are organic and need to breathe.