Silver has been known to mankind since ancient times. Coins, cutlery, jewelry and other products are made from it. However, over time, the surface of the silver may tarnish. In this article we will look at the main methods that will help you remove dark deposits from metal and return it to its original appearance.
All life hacks can be used at home, so if you need to clean silver quickly and effectively, read to the end.
But first, a few important points.
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.
Toothpaste
This method of cleaning silver is probably familiar to many. Apply a little toothpaste or tooth powder to a soft cloth, then begin to wipe the silver with it. The product is then washed and dried. It will shine like new!
Thus, caring for silver items is quite simple. It is necessary to clean such products only once a month, then they will delight you with their shine for a long time.
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How to clean silver at home
First of all, prepare a soap solution and wash your silver items in it to remove grease and other contaminants.
Then you need to rinse the silver accessories in water and wait until they dry.
Toothpaste and powder
The powder must be diluted with water until a thick mass is obtained. There is no need to prepare anything for toothpaste, the main thing is that it does not have any impurities.
This mixture should be applied to a napkin and begin to process silver objects with it. It is very important to make movements in one direction and in a straight line.
At the end of the entire procedure, it is worth rinsing the metal with clean water and polishing it with an appropriate cloth.
The method described above cannot be considered delicate, so it should be used for things made of silver that are not of great value.
Soda
Using soda you can easily and efficiently clean silver. To do this, you need to dilute soda with water to a mushy state and apply it to silver objects.
After 10-15 minutes, rinse off the mixture with water and wipe dry with a napkin.
You can clean silver items more carefully using a soda solution. To do this you will need:
- Boil a glass of water, add about 20 g of soda to it and stir everything;
- If you are using non-aluminum cookware, then a piece of foil should be placed at the bottom of the container;
- Then you need to put the jewelry in the hot solution and wait 15-20 minutes.
Citric and other acids
Here is another option on how to clean silver from darkening using citric acid.
- Take a half-liter container and add 100 g of acid to it;
- Place the container in a water bath, having first placed some copper object inside it;
- When the solution begins to boil, place silver accessories in it for 15-20 minutes.
If the decoration is not very large and dirty, it is enough to wipe it with a cloth soaked in vinegar. You can also use a 10% citric acid solution.
Salt
An interesting fact is that the most common salt can also give silver a shiny appearance. To do this, do the following:
- In one liter of hot water you need to dissolve 50 g of salt and 20 g of cream of tartar. Place silver items in the resulting liquid and wait 15-20 minutes.
- Pour 1 liter of water into an aluminum container. When it starts to boil, you need to add 20 g of salt, soda and some detergent. After thorough mixing, you need to put silver objects inside the container and boil for half an hour.
How to quickly and effectively clean silver
Not everyone knows that you can quickly and effectively clean silver using such a simple product as ammonia.
To do this, the surface of the metal must be wiped with a swab dipped in it. If the item has darkened too much, then it should be placed in a 10% solution of ammonia and left in it for 10-15 minutes.
In addition, you can clean silver in the following ways:
- Mix water, ammonia and tooth powder in a ratio of 5:2:1. Then process the metal with the resulting mass. After 15 min. rinse the product in water;
- Mix ammonia with hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions. You need to dip silver items into the resulting liquid and wait 15 minutes;
- Pour a little ammonia into the tooth powder and form a thick mass. Then, using a soft cloth, apply this composition to the silver.
Ketchup
Did you know that you can clean silver with ketchup? Certainly! Place a small amount of it on a paper towel and wipe the tarnished items with it. You can leave the ketchup on for 15 minutes, then wipe with a soft cloth, rinse and dry. To clean, for example, candlesticks, you can use a toothbrush instead of a cloth; it will help clean the product in hard-to-reach places.
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How to clean silver from blackness
We invite you to familiarize yourself with some more methods that will allow you to efficiently clean silver at home.
- Pour into the container any carbonated drink (Coca-Cola, Sprite, etc.) that contains phosphoric acid. Then you should put the silver item inside the container and boil for 10 minutes.
- Take washing powder and dilute it with water until a thick mass forms. Place the silver item there and boil for 10 minutes.
- Spray the silver with window cleaner and gently wipe it with a cloth.
Causes of blackening
After reading this section, you will probably want to buy a product made of 999.99 silver and... after a while you will be surprised, because sooner or later it will also darken. True, not as quickly and strongly as lower quality silver products, but still.
The fact is that silver is a very active metal that readily combines with other chemicals, forming an oxide coating - that very dark film that in ancient times was regarded as “damage to a person.” Silver coated with nickel and rhodium does not darken. If you want to get rid of the risk of becoming the owner of blackened silver, purchase rhodium-plated products. Although there are some nuances here too. More on this below.
Darkening of silver is one of the signs of the “authenticity” of a product. If your chain (cross, ring) has darkened, you really have silver in your hands.
Cleaning blackened items can remove valuable patina
Silver sulfide film
Formed when products come into contact with rubber, hydrogen sulfide, and thiosulfates . Sulfur compounds are found in the air, leatherette products, and cosmetics.
Hydrogen sulfide is released by our body through sweat. This phenomenon increases with digestive problems, consumption of legumes, increased sweating, etc. Under the influence of ambient temperature and ultraviolet radiation, sulfur causes darkening of silver items.
Thiosulfate is widely used in the food industry (acidity regulator E539), paper and pulp industry, and medicine. And also in dry cleaning, photographs. And so on.
Rubber comes into contact with silver in store windows and when stored at home. So, beautiful boxes for storing jewelry, softened with foam rubber and decorated with dermantine, will play a cruel joke on your favorite silver.
Silver often darkens when stored in new boxes when the glue or other elements actively release sulfur-containing substances.
Copper content
When the standard is lowered, a certain percentage of copper is added to the silver. This is a normal phenomenon in jewelry. But it also causes the surface of the silver to blacken.
Contact with household chemicals, cosmetics
Some foods and substances cause darkening of the argentum. For example, onions. Or chemicals for cleaning premises. Or, as already mentioned, cosmetics (creams, etc.). The solution is simple: when doing homework, wear rubber gloves. And remove jewelry during cosmetic procedures.
Improper storage
Some storage containers may release hydrogen sulfide. Rubber, leather, and eco-leather are especially dangerous for silver jewelry. You also need to close off access to air. Before sending for storage, clean the product from skin secretions (sweat, fat). Avoid contact with ultraviolet radiation - that is, store in the dark.
In addition, you should not place silver boxes in damp places. Very often, for example, girls forget jewelry in the bathroom. If at the same time there are things made of ordinary silver and blackened jewelry lying nearby, the latter will certainly cause a chemical reaction on the surface of the former, and they will darken.
Violations of production or cleaning technology
Tips for cleaning blackened silver
- Add tbsp to 1 liter of water. a spoonful of soda and 20 g of soap. The decoration should be immersed in the resulting liquid for 20 minutes.
- Peel and cut raw potatoes, put them in water and put silver in there for 3 hours.
- Do not clean blackened silver with ammonia!
General rules for cleaning silver
In order to properly clean silver, you need to follow the general rules given below.
- It is necessary to wash silver items regularly.
- Avoid abrasive materials and use only gentle products.
- 925 sterling silver can only be cleaned with special means, as the metal may lose its original appearance.
- Radiant metal should only be cleaned with a soft cloth or swabs, otherwise it will be scratched.
- If you want to add shine to the product, then they should be treated with lemon juice and hot water.
- It is advisable to dry silver on paper napkins.
- It is recommended to polish silver accessories with flannel, wool or suede cloth.
- Experts advise not to wear silver jewelry after you have cleaned it for 3 days until a natural protective layer has formed on it.
How to properly store silver
Finally, here are some key tips on how to store your silver. And although this cannot be a 100% guarantee of the safety of the appearance of silver items, we still strongly recommend that you keep them.
- Silver items should be kept in closed containers and with minimal humidity. If you are not going to use any silver item for a long time, then it should be washed with soapy water and wrapped in foil or flannel.
- It is unacceptable for silver to lie next to medicines, food, cosmetics, household chemicals, etc.
- Before going to the beach, taking a shower or going to the bathhouse, it is advisable to take off your silver items.
- If the silver gets wet, be sure to dry it with a napkin or soft cloth.
With proper care of your silver, it will always look good. We hope that our tips will help you clean your silver and make it shine.
