How to clean silver using foil and baking soda at home

It never hurts to have an arsenal of proven means for cleaning and polishing precious metal on hand, especially when you prefer to use silver jewelry and silverware in your everyday life. But when this is not the case, and silver items dear to your heart have become tarnished and lost their attractive appearance, there is a quick way to restore the metal’s former shine at home with foil and baking soda.

This simple and effective method will help save your jewelry from black patina and will not take much time. Let's look at how to clean silver using foil and soda.

Types and causes of silver contamination

Silver needs attention and care. Not all the time, but you will have to clean it from time to time. There are explanations why this happens and silver objects lose their shine and become covered with a black coating.

Firstly, silver is a “sensitive” metal. It reacts to many factors, and the main irritant for the metal is sulfur.

A little clarification is needed here. Silver itself is too malleable and is not suitable for use in the jewelry industry. To make it more durable and at the same time maintain ductility, copper is added to silver. And it is copper that reacts with sulfur, which causes black formation on jewelry and cutlery. Therefore, even air (due to the hydrogen sulfide content in it) can affect the darkening of silver.

Secondly, ordinary dirt, dust and grease cause silver to become covered with an unpleasant coating. And even human sweat contributes to the appearance of patina.

Thirdly, frequent contact with decorative and caring products or household chemicals also negatively affects the color of the metal.

But darkening is almost impossible to avoid. Therefore, many people wonder how to clean their favorite silver item from plaque without damaging it.

If you often wear silver chains or rings, you will be interested in learning how to clean silver from blackness at home.

Is it possible to prevent the appearance of dark plaque?

It turns out that if silver items are stored correctly, they will retain their shine and beauty for a long time, but this only applies to those items that are not used often, for example, jewelry or cutlery.

The air in the room where they are stored should be dry; after each use, it is better to wrap the items in foil, each item separately. Taking good care of silver items will allow you to admire their exquisite appearance and beauty for many years, and pass them on as a heirloom from generation to generation. It’s not for nothing that silver objects are considered a symbol of a person’s spiritual purity.

Is it possible to clean silver with baking soda and foil?

Let's answer right away - yes.

The foil contains particles of aluminum, which, when combined with soda, enter into a chemical interaction that can reverse the oxidation process. This is a chance for silver to shine again with its unique shine. But the main thing to remember here is that soda is not just a good absorbent, but also an abrasive agent, and therefore is not suitable for every decoration. In some cases, this cleaning method will only do harm.

We will discuss below what can be cleaned using this method and what is the algorithm of actions.

Methods for cleaning silver with soda and foil

How to clean silver at home, and even spend a maximum of half an hour on it? Let's talk. Everything you need is in your kitchen. To clean using this method, the necessary ingredients can easily be found in every apartment, and if this is not found, then the nearest store will always have soda and foil.

Let's consider cleaning options for light, medium and very serious stains.

An easy way to clean light stains

The technique of removing dirt with foil and soda is very gentle, so it is suitable for any silver items and decorative items. For light stains and tarnished metal, this cleaning will be a surefire remedy to eliminate the problem.

Prepare in advance:

• I like any deep dishes;
• Baking soda and food foil;
• Half a liter of warm water;

Place a layer of foil on the bottom of the pan, and on top - the decorations that need to be cleaned. Sprinkle baking soda in a continuous layer and slowly add warm water. Wait all this for 7 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly under the tap. Ready.

Effective cleaning of medium-sized stains

Adhered dirt and blackness can also be easily removed with baking soda and foil. The recipe is similar, but instead of warm water, pour boiling water over the silver. A hissing sound will indicate that the components have reacted. Wait until the end, take out the silver and rinse in running water. Remember that you need to dry and polish with a soft cloth until it shines.

Cleaning from heavy dirt

Since it is a little more difficult to remove heavy stains, we will need one more additional component - a drop of dishwashing detergent.

• First, take a small saucepan and place a sheet of foil on the base. There should be enough space for each silver item to have enough space on it. Products must not touch each other.
• Make a soda solution. Pour approximately 40-50 grams of baking soda into 500 ml of hot water. Stir until the soda dissolves.
• Pour the resulting liquid into the pan with dirty products.
• Leave everything on low heat for a couple of minutes.
• At the end, silver items must be rinsed with plain water and wiped dry to prevent possible stains.
• To polish silver, use a soft flannel cloth.

The second way to deal with heavily darkened jewelry is a drop of dishwashing detergent. The algorithm is the same, but with a slight change.

• At the stage when you have already poured the soda solution into the saucepan with the decorations, add 1-2 drops of dishwashing detergent. Also stand for 5 to 10 minutes. No need to put it on fire!
• Then rinse under the tap and let them dry.

Advantages and disadvantages of this method

This cleaning method not only removes blackness and tarnish well, but also carefully removes black stains from the metal.

Soda dissolved in water gently cleans the surface without disturbing its integrity. And the foil, thanks to aluminum particles, comes into contact with silver, more precisely with silver sulfide, and ultimately the oxidation process is reversed, and the bright metallic white color returns to the silver. So, these two components - soda and foil - “defeat” stubborn dirt and dark deposits without harming the product.

In addition, this is a fairly economical cleaning method, given the fact that these two components are found in everyone’s home. When they are not available, you can buy them at the nearest store for pennies.

Since you can clean silver with soda and see the shine of tarnished metal again simply and easily at home, many people begin to practice this method without fully knowing everything. But even such an effective and safe method still has drawbacks. For example, for jewelry with some stones, this method is not suitable at all. This will only harm the stone and the product itself. Or if rinsing is poor, rings or earrings may become cloudy.

What to clean at home and what to trust to jewelers

When choosing a cleaning composition, it is important to consider the shape, composition and presence of inserts in the product. Pure silver is not used in industry or jewelry. Even the best silver jewelry is made from an alloy of precious metal with technical additives. Main alloys containing silver:

• monetary;
• sterling;
• nielloed;
• matte;
• filigree.

Blackened silver does not need to be cleaned of patina, just like filigree. The effect of antiquity does not spoil products made from such alloys. (Picture 1)

Such products must be handled especially carefully so as not to damage the original dark layer.

Clean heavily soiled blackened silver jewelry with minimal physical force. It is enough to soak such products in warm soapy water for about an hour, and then rinse and dry.

Precious stones of organic origin are less resistant to chemical elements than noble metals. When cleaning silver with inlays or inlays using home remedies, there is a risk of damaging the jewelry. Be careful when processing silver items containing inclusions of:

• amber;
• pearls;
• Ivory;
• corals

If you are not sure that you can carefully process the metal without touching the insert, take the jewelry to a jewelry workshop for professional cleaning or select a specialized gentle polish.

Emeralds, aquamarine and sapphire are not afraid of high-temperature treatment. Products with such stones can be cleaned in any way.

Boiling should be avoided when cleaning jewelry containing rubies, garnets and topaz. These minerals may lose their original color when heated.

Moonstone, turquoise, opal and malachite are fairly soft materials. Small, hard particles of cleaning paste can damage the sanded surface.

What samples can withstand such treatment?

Anyone can restore silver to its former appearance using the described method. There is no need to have special skills or knowledge. It is enough to correctly observe the proportions and exposure time of silver objects in the resulting mixture.

Any sample of silver can withstand such treatment, with the exception of products with a coating, for example, gold-plated or blackened. For rings and pendants made of lower grade silver (800, 830, 875), cleaning may be required more often: all due to the low silver content and high percentage of copper in the composition. Therefore, the item will oxidize faster. For samples 925 and 960, such manipulations are less often required; most often, polishing with a soft cloth is sufficient.

Recommendations

In order for silver items to return to their former beauty and shine, you need to follow simple rules:

• Use less aggressive chemicals and cosmetics. Or rinse products thoroughly with running water after applying creams and other textures.
• Avoid contact of silver with copper products.
• Before cleaning jewelry with baking soda and foil, remove dust and other sticky contaminants with running water.
• Repeat cleaning at least once a month. The lower the silver standard, the higher its copper content. This means that the oxidation process occurs faster.

Proper care of silver items will extend their service life and maintain their original appearance.

Source

How to clean silver with baking soda and foil at home

As already mentioned, the cleaning method with foil and soda is quick and “painless”. Still, there are some nuances.

Precautionary measures

• Follow the instructions. The proportions and exposure time must be accurate.
• If you don't know what kind of stone is inlaid into the ring, don't experiment. Don't use this method. You can irreversibly damage the stone and the jewelry itself.
• Do not boil items with stones or coatings.
• Don't take risks with your jewelry and don't clean blackened or gold-plated silver like this.

In other cases - please. This will be an excellent solution for removing patina and getting rid of unattractive stains.

Preparation of the solution

There are two options:

1. Add soda powder to warm, even hot water. Stir and pour the resulting mixture onto silver objects.
2. First, lay out what needs to be cleaned on a sheet of foil, then pour in baking soda and finally add hot water.

In both cases, a reaction will occur - hissing. Usually the plaque is removed immediately after the first application. When this does not happen, you can repeat everything from the very beginning.

Preparing Jewelry for Cleaning

Always, before using any silver sedum technique, the product must be prepared.

Wash surfaces with running water or wipe with a damp cloth to remove old dust and dirt. And only after that proceed to the procedure.

Cleaning process

The patina on silver fades due to a chemical reaction that occurs between the components. For greater effect, place foil on the bottom of the saucepan, and decoration on top, and only then fill with soda solution.

The cleaning process will be accompanied by hissing and a slight foam - this means that the reaction has occurred and the patina is being removed from the surface.

Using Vinegar

Heavily soiled, old silver jewelry without stones can be effectively cleaned by applying a procedure with the addition of table vinegar.

Foil is placed at the bottom of a glass container (you can take a small jar), baking soda and salt are poured onto it, their quantity is the same - one tablespoon. Then half a glass of boiling water and the same amount of 9% table vinegar are poured into the container. The solution is thoroughly mixed and the object is placed in it. The cleansing effect occurs quickly - five minutes of exposure is enough to obtain a high-quality result.

The accessory is washed with water and dried with a napkin.

Why does silver darken?

We are unable to influence natural processes. And the darkening of the metal refers to exactly this. Unfortunately, no one will be able to avoid this. Due to the use of copper as an alloy for silver, the oxidation process may occur faster or slower, depending on the percentage of copper in the jewelry.

In addition, creams and lotions, household chemicals, sweat - all this contributes to the blackening of metal. Therefore, silver of any standard must be cleaned. And choose those products that will be safe for your silver.

Precautionary measures

• Do not allow silver to be near hydrogen sulfide (gas, food, medicine, household chemicals).
• Do not leave products in places with high humidity.
• Do not wash silverware in dishwashers.
• Store separately in special containers with a cloth-covered surface.
• And most importantly, periodically treat silver with a soap solution and ammonia.
• Of course, remove jewelry in the kitchen, in the sauna, in the pool, at the sea, or when playing sports.
• Avoid contact with cosmetics.

Other cleaning methods

Of course, this method is not the only way to return silver to its previous appearance. There are many proven techniques that have been used since time immemorial.

• Soap solution. A universal technique, suitable for light stains and decorations with natural stones. Mix soap and water and soak items in this mixture for half an hour.
• Ammonia. Pour a few drops of ammonia into warm water and put the jewelry there for a quarter of an hour. Rinse well afterwards.
• Soda. Yes, it is also possible to clean silver with soda alone, but not in dry form. Dilute baking soda with water until thick. Gently rub the ring or earrings with the resulting mixture, and then rinse thoroughly and dry.
• Toothpaste. Apply the paste to the product with leisurely massaging movements, rinse and let dry.

We wrote in more detail about other means of cleaning silver in previous articles.

Soda boiling

In order to whiten tableware made from your favorite material, the only auxiliary products at home can be soda.

For the procedure, place a liter container of water on the stove, add three tablespoons of soda, and completely dissolve it. Then the items that need cleansing are placed. If you use a metal pan, you need to add a piece of foil - it will protect the kitchen utensils from oxidation. Usually half an hour is enough to boil products.

At the end of the procedure, silverware is thoroughly wiped with a napkin, rinsed with water, and dried well.