How to clean a silver chain at home?

February 11, 2022

It is not always possible to quickly clean a silver chain that has become darkened by time or dirt. From time immemorial, the noble metal has been known for its capricious character, especially if you wear it every day, taking it off only before bed. The situation is complicated by the need to constantly have special tools on hand, and when they are not there, folk methods come to the rescue, such as how to clean blackness from silver, a chain or other product.

We have prepared for you a large article on how to effectively clean a silver chain, what methods are the most effective and safe, and also what you need to remember in order to preserve the pristine shine and cleanliness of an elegant piece of jewelry for a long time.

Why did the silver chain darken? Common causes of silver contamination

The main reason why silver changes color is the chemical process of oxidation, which sooner or later occurs on the surface of the metal due to contact with air. This unpleasant reaction is enhanced and accelerated solely by external factors, which include:

Human sweat - a chain worn under the body begins to turn black and stained 5-7 times faster, even if the owner follows all the rules of personal hygiene.
Household chemicals, cosmetics and perfumes - the main “synthetic” enemies of metal are considered alkaline, sulfur-containing compounds, as well as essential oils of perfumes.
Unfavorable ecology - this is especially often observed in the summer, when after a walk in rainy weather whitish stains appear on the product.
Excessively chlorinated tap water is a direct consequence of the previous point. Any prolonged contact with the surface leads to damage to the decoration.
Combining different metals - if you put inexpensive jewelry on a silver chain, anything can remain from it, even traces of rust.

Finally, if rhodium plated silver darkens, in 99% of cases this means irreversible physical wear. The abrasion of the coating cannot be stopped or “cleaned” in any way, and restoration is possible only in the laboratory conditions of a professional jewelry workshop.

Cleaning Features

Due to the large number of small weaves, cleaning a silver chain is a little more difficult than, for example, a ring or a cross. Cleaning each link with a toothpick is very labor-intensive, so it is advisable to purchase a small brush with soft bristles or use an old toothbrush, also soft.
Since silver is a soft metal, you cannot use scrapers, abrasives, rough matter, or household chemicals to clean it.
Before cleaning, all pendants must be removed from the chain and cleaned separately.

How to clean a silver chain with hydrogen peroxide?

There are two methods for such cleaning: with a pure peroxide solution, or with the addition of baking soda. The first method is simpler, but it will take a lot of time:

Degrease the product with wine alcohol, or soak it in a soapy solution for at least 30 minutes, then rinse with warm tap water.
Pour 1 liter of boiled water into a glass container, add 50 ml of peroxide there and mix everything thoroughly with an unnecessary wooden stick.
Place the chain in the resulting solution (one or more, it doesn’t matter) for at least 3 hours.
Periodically monitor the reaction on the metal surface; as soon as flakes of separated plaque begin to float around the jewelry, pull it out.
Rinse the chain and leave to dry at room temperature.

Manipulating soda is a little more complicated; it will require scrupulous work:

Add hydrogen peroxide dropwise to a level tablespoon of soda so that a snow-white, mushy paste is formed.
Take a cotton swab and apply the paste to dark areas or along the entire length.
Without rubbing anything too hard, leave the jewelry as is for 15-20 minutes.
Make sure that the composition has dried, forming a kind of “crust” on the metal.
Rinse the product and polish it with a soft cloth.

To avoid allergic reactions, work strictly with latex disposable gloves. In addition to protecting the skin, they will protect the cleaned chain from fresh traces of fat.

Prevention

To summarize, we can highlight several points, the observance of which will make the life of the owner of precious metal easier and will extend the life of the silver itself:

It is necessary to wipe the chain with flannel after removing it.
You should not leave your jewelry on while playing sports, as sweat greatly oxidizes silver.
You should not take baths or go to the pool with a chain around your neck, because wet rooms create a favorable environment for oxidation.
Monitor the composition of your cosmetics, as sulfur also affects how quickly the chain turns black, or wear it after applying makeup.
To keep a new chain in its original condition for a longer period, when purchasing, apply a layer of colorless varnish to it.
Don’t wait for the silver to turn black; give it preventative cleaning once every two months. Don’t wait for the silver to turn black; carry out preventative cleaning once a month. This will be quite enough.
It is best to store the chain in a box, which is covered with fabric on the inside.
When traveling to the sea, take off your silver, because sea water is an even more aggressive environment than fresh water.

How to quickly clean a silver chain using foil and soda?

The method is considered an improved version of the previous one, and in theory safer, because instead of hydrogen peroxide, ordinary heated water is used:

Prepare a glass bowl with high edges, cut 10-15 cm of food-grade aluminum foil and line the inside of the bowl so that the surface is covered.
Sprinkle baking soda directly onto the foil at a rate of 2 teaspoons per cup.
Place on top all the products that you plan to clean from plaque.
Boil water in a kettle and, without waiting for it to cool, immediately pour boiling water over the soda.
Be very careful, the reaction will create a lot of foam bubbles.
As soon as you smell the specific smell of hydrogen sulfide, note the time - for minor pollution it takes about 10 minutes, advanced cases - half an hour.
To avoid getting burned, use tweezers to pull out the chain and bring it to a warm running stream. You can’t suddenly put it in cold water; excess stress is detrimental to the metal.
If necessary, repeat steps two through six until all dark areas return to their original appearance.
Rinse the chain several times to get rid of the smell and leave it to dry.

The secret of the method is the chemical reaction of aluminum and soda, and boiling water acts only as a catalyst that speeds up the process. If you are afraid of burns, you can fill everything with a similar proportion, but with cold boiled water. The difference will be in time - such soaking will require at least 24 hours, and if the plaque is old, then all 48 hours or more, you see, is not very convenient.

Important points

There are special types of silver jewelry for which popular traditional methods are not suitable for cleaning. This category includes blackened silver and irradiated metal. They can be treated with special preparations or soap solutions can be used. Aggressive exposure to pure acid will damage the coating and loss of visual appeal of the decoration. When using powder or soda, due to the impact of small abrasive particles, scratches may appear and lightened areas may form.

For cleaning, use the following steps:

prepare a warm soapy solution;
the decoration is immersed in the liquid for 20 minutes;
The product is taken out and carefully wiped with a napkin.

You can clean blackened silver using potato solution. To do this, clean the tubers and place them in water. Silver jewelry is placed in the liquid with root vegetables and left for 4-5 hours, after which the products are taken out and wiped.

How to properly clean a silver chain with toothpaste?

The algorithm is even simpler, but it is only suitable for a small raid:

Take a clean, lint-free cloth, soak it in water and squeeze some paste onto it.
Wipe the chain with confident movements until traces of dirt begin to remain on the rag.
Rinse the jewelry and visually check problem areas.
If spots are visible somewhere, treat them point by point, for example with a cotton swab.
To enhance the effect, you can leave the paste on the metal for up to about 45 minutes.
Rinse the product, making sure there is nothing left between the links.
Be sure to polish along the entire length with a dry cloth.

Important: Do not under any circumstances try to clean the product with bleaching paste, and the presence of abrasive particles does not matter. Chemical compositions with bleaching are much more dangerous for the metal; they provoke stains, which are then very difficult to clean. Use green or transparent gel pastes with a minimum of dyes.

Jeweler's tips for cleaning silver

Cleaning silver at home will not be difficult, provided that the product does not contain precious stones or other inserts. If you choose the wrong cleaning product or method, the product can only get worse.

If necessary, you can purchase special alcohol wipes that can be used to rub silver, or you can also use a velvet cloth. Jewelry shops can also help with the restoration of a silver item.

Cleaning silver is not difficult, but after that you need to properly care for it.

Effective ways to clean a silver chain until it shines

Polishing silver after cleaning is sometimes even more difficult than removing plaque - the matte, heterogeneous texture of the metal requires a confident, but very careful effort. There are many methods and means for surface treatment, but we will focus on a few:

GOI paste
is a universal-purpose polish tested by several generations of Soviet citizens. There are four types, but we are only interested in No. 1 and No. 2, the only ones suitable for jewelry. Before applying the paste, prepare your tools - a soft cloth moistened with gasoline. Afterwards, the jewelry is rinsed several times with warm water to get rid of the smell.
Hygienic lipstick
- the basis of this colorless cosmetic product is beeswax, which is also the main component of classic polishing ointments. An unconditional advantage over GOI is a pleasant smell to choose from, and moreover, you do not need to use any solvents. It is enough to apply a small amount on the chain, distribute the lipstick along the links and wipe everything thoroughly.
Ammonia with soap
- the effect will only be if the proportions are strictly observed. It is recommended to mix two tablespoons of ammonia solution, adding soap shavings to it until it thickens to a paste. After this, you can start polishing, but do it quickly, otherwise the ammonia will begin to evaporate, and instead of a shiny surface you will get cloudy silver, which will have to be washed again.
Tooth powder
- you can use it without fear, but make sure that the jar says “No abrasive” in large letters, otherwise you will ruin the jewelry. Take a pinch of powder with wet fingers, gently squeeze the chain between them, and pull it along its entire length several times. Repeat until the level of shine suits you personally, then wash off the white residue with strong water pressure.

Important: Polishing rhodium-plated silver is only allowed in the “dry” way, without using additional compounds, otherwise there is a danger of damaging the coating. Flannel, cotton or waffle fabric will do the job perfectly.

Professional products

A blackened chain can be cleaned either in special workshops or on your own. There are specialized products that allow you to clean metal from blackness. In some cases, such as stains, they will be more effective and the cleaning time will be reduced. But when purchasing, you need to be careful, since cleaning products for gold are completely unsuitable for silver and vice versa.

Paste GOI

GOI paste was invented back in the 30s of the last century and is still used successfully.

You can buy it in stores that sell tools and building materials. There are 4 types of paste based on the degree of abrasiveness:

Coarse (No. 4) - for initial surface treatment and stain removal. After its use, the surface becomes matte.
Medium (No. 3) - for basic polishing, removing light blackness. The metal takes on its normal appearance.
Fine (No. 1 and No. 2) - used for final polishing and adding a glossy shine.

Sanding requires some skill and precision of movements, otherwise scratches can easily be left on the product. Before cleaning the chain, it should be prepared:

Brush with toothpaste or powder using a toothbrush.
Soak in a solution of ammonia in water with a drop of detergent (the method is described above).
Rinse in cold water.

Grinding process:

Dip a piece of soft cloth in gasoline and apply a small amount of paste.
Rub on a metal surface to distribute the paste evenly.
To clean heavy stains, use coarse or medium paste.
Finish the process with a fine paste to add shine.
Rinse the product under running water and wipe dry.

Attention! GOI paste cannot be used for products with gold plated and stones.

Cleaning liquid “Talisman”

A popular Russian-made product based on inorganic acids. As a result of a chemical reaction, it dissolves black and yellow plaque in a few minutes. Before use, you must carefully read the instructions, because “Talisman” is not suitable for blackened silver, jewelry with stones, or stainless steel.

Mode of application:

Wear protective gloves.
Pour a little product into a non-food container.
Place the chain in it for 2 minutes.
Remove and rinse with running water.

Advice! If the chain is heavily soiled, you can additionally clean it with a toothbrush after treating it with Talisman.

Connoisseurs Silver Cleaner

Professional cleaner for silver jewelry. The cleaning liquid quickly returns jewelry to its original appearance, removes dirt, stains and tarnish. Available in a plastic jar, the kit includes a basket and a small brush. To clean the chain, simply place it in the solution for 5-10 seconds, then rinse and polish with a soft, lint-free cloth. The product is suitable for jewelry with inorganic stones.

Foam "Silbo"

The product is designed to clean and restore silver items, giving them their original shine. The active foam formula allows you to clean dirt in the most inaccessible places, between links and stones. After cleaning, a film forms on the surface of the silver, protecting it from oxidation and contamination.

Instructions for use:

Remove the cap and spray a small amount of foam onto the product, spreading evenly.
Place the chain in a cap or any non-food container.
Leave for 3-4 minutes.
Rinse and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

The product is not allowed to be used for jewelry with blackening, organic and soft stones, or enamel. It is also not suitable for cleaning gold and steel.

Can gold plated silver be cleaned?

Gold-plated chains require no less attention than a classic 925 item, but not all “homemade” products are suitable for their safe cleaning:

Grape alcohol - the ethanol content in it does not exceed 86%, which is acceptable for delicate removal of accumulated sweat and grease dirt without the risk of spoiling the spray.
Egg white with white (any sodium hypochlorite-based bleach will do instead). Mix in a proportion of 1 egg per 1 tablespoon of liquid, soak for 5 minutes, wipe thoroughly, rinse under water.
Dark beer - it’s still unclear who came up with the idea of using a foamy drink as a stain remover, but there is an effect when soaked for 40-45 minutes.
Raw Potatoes – A fresh cut of the potato will help get rid of some residue, but after rubbing, rinse the chain thoroughly so that there is no white residue left behind.
A soapy water solution is the simplest option, suitable for soaking or quick washing. Absolutely any dishwashing liquid will make the task easier.

You need to finish cleaning the gilding by thoroughly wiping it, but it is not recommended to do this with a regular cloth - you need a soft, but at the same time dense material. The ideal option is a piece of natural suede, which will simultaneously dry and polish the jewelry. If you don’t have it at hand, take velvet or corduroy, carefully folded two or three times.

What to do with blackened silver?

There are two ways to apply blackening: mechanical and chemical. Mechanical is the application of graphite and iron oxide with turpentine to a silver product. This method is not durable. The chemical method is to fill microscopic cracks or engravings with metal oxides. When heated, the oxides adhere well to the base and last a long time. In this case, it is much more difficult to accidentally wash off the blackening.

Even though the exquisite tarnish does not require cleaning, the jewelry will still need careful care. When cleaning blackened metal, it is rarely known which application method was used, so you need to clean the links very carefully so as not to accidentally remove the blackening. Try to avoid aggressive mechanical and chemical influences. It is not recommended to clean blackened silver with ammonia, whitewash, boil in water or actively polish with a brush. Potato starch can also destroy some types of blackening.

In order to wash blackened silver, it is recommended to use soda or soap solution and a soft non-woven cloth instead of a toothbrush.

Rhodium-plated metals and accessories with unusual coatings are also best cleaned using the most gentle methods possible.

How should you not clean silver items?

Contrary to popular popular advice, some of them do more harm than good:

Dry washing powder - the famous “grandmother’s” method can scratch the surface of the jewelry in a matter of minutes, as it works better than some abrasives. It can only be used as a paste mixed with warm water, then rinsed thoroughly to remove any remaining soap granules.
Vinegar - an essence heated to +60 degrees Celsius - is indeed capable of dissolving plaque on silver, but practicing such “alchemy” in an ordinary apartment without an exhaust hood is simply dangerous. Vinegar vapors can cause serious burns to the mucous membranes, and the pungent odor will linger on the metal for some time.
Wooden sticks and toothpicks - a huge number of advisers on the Internet still claim that using light wood to clean silver items is a good idea. Now imagine that a sliver broke off from a skewer, got stuck in the links of the chain and dug into your neck like a splinter. Believe me, it will be very painful to pull it out.
Household cleaning products for the kitchen and bathroom - here you can guess from the name that such liquids are incompatible with jewelry products, although at first glance they are incredibly effective against most stains. This also includes hard brushes and any rough materials that can seriously harm a miniature product.

Important: Blackened silver cannot be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, ammonia or alcohol-containing compounds. Products with inlay are even more demanding of hygiene - for them it is allowed to use only special solutions that are compatible with a specific type of stone. If you don’t have such liquids on hand, it’s better to get by with regular laundry soap and warm water.

Special products for cleaning silver

For cleaning with professional products, use GOI paste. It is great for silver items. But you need to be extremely careful; choosing the wrong product can ruin your product.

Rules for storing and caring for jewelry silver

The most reliable way to prevent blackening of silver items is to treat them with care and carry out all hygiene procedures in a timely manner. It doesn't matter whether you wear your chain every day or on special occasions, remember a few simple rules:

When planning to leave the house, put on your jewelry last so that it does not get splashed with perfume or other cosmetics.
When returning home, do the opposite - take off your jewelry first, and only then the rest of your clothes, to reduce the time of contact with hot skin.
Never wear accessories during long walks or active sports - by sweating, you create an unfavorable environment for the metal.
Make it a rule to remove silver jewelry before water procedures, especially when taking a bath with foams, salts and other products.
You should not combine gold with silver, even if you think that different pendants fit together. In this case, oxidation stains will remain on the expensive metal.
Try to wipe the chain with a dry, lint-free cotton cloth at least once a week. This way you will remove superficial traces of sweat, which are not always noticeable.
Silver items should be stored separately from each other, in different sections of the box. The ideal place is a spacious “dead” closet with dry, dark compartments.

If you are not confident in your own abilities, it is better to have the chain professionally cleaned in a workshop. Modern technologies use combined hygienic methods, including ultrasound, which allows you to fearlessly deal with even severe contamination.

Where to store and how to protect it from blackening

No method will be effective if you continue to store your silver jewelry incorrectly.

Firstly, we always remove silver chains when playing sports and cleaning the house, as well as when going to the sauna or swimming pool.
Secondly, we apply creams and body lotion to ourselves only after removing the chain from our neck.
Thirdly, we store it in a dry, dark place, separate from medications and food. You can put foil on the bottom of the box and silver jewelry on it. Or place jewelry in flannel bags.
And lastly, do not forget about regularly washing silver chains, rings and earrings with soapy water. Carry out this procedure at least once every 2-3 months and your jewelry will always delight you with shine and shine.

How to Determine the Best Way to Clean Silver

To answer this question, three nuances should be taken into account:

Product quality;
Pollution level;
The presence of other elements (gilding, stones, etc.).

Before you start cleaning silver, you should remember that using any aggressive means is only appropriate for things that are entirely made of silver.

If there are stones or some kind of coating on this or that object, then it is wiser to use gentle products. It is better to entrust the cleaning of any miniature jewelry to a specialist.

Today you can buy a variety of cleaning agents for silver. They can be liquid or paste-like.

When cleaning silver, you should avoid using hard brushes or sponges to avoid damaging the items.

Silver is a noble metal, like gold it is low-reactive

... that is, it does not tend to react with other substances, including oxidation. It is a common misconception that silver turns black when exposed to air; it is not in danger of corrosion. However, everyone can observe that unkempt silver, when worn, greatly changes its appearance and not for the better. The culprit is sulfur from sweat, air and other sources.

Even a small amount of sulfur forms silver sulfide on the surface of jewelry. It is because of this that silver jewelry first stops shining, then turns yellow, turns brown, and turns black almost completely. How quickly silver blackens depends on the composition of the air - the dirtier it is, the faster the silver blackens. In addition to sulfur, silver reacts with copper, its presence next to the chain will also deprive it of its shine.

Attention! Some people believe that blackening of silver is a sign of a low-quality product. On the contrary, such reactions are characteristic of silver, and its further appearance depends on care.