8 ways to quickly clean SILVER at home

How to quickly CLEAN SILVER from blackness with your own hands? — 8 ways

Products made from this precious metal sooner or later begin to tarnish, regardless of use. In ancient times, it was believed that if a ring or bracelet darkened, then the owner of the jewelry was damaged. But darkening is a natural process for silver items. They fade especially quickly when in contact with water. In the case of jewelry, this is affected by perspiration, and cutlery loses its original appearance due to frequent washing. Silver is also affected by air, which is why even items stored in a closed place for a long time become covered with a cloudy coating.

Before proceeding with purification, it is necessary to clarify its alloy and impurities.

There are several of them:

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

You can clean up darkened silver at home. Before starting the procedure, clean the product from fat deposits with a regular detergent. Using a toothbrush with warm water, gently brush all the small depressions and curls. It is advisable to immerse the jewelry in soapy water and hold it there for several minutes. After this, rinse them with clean water and proceed to complete cleaning.

There are many means for this:

• baking soda;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• ammonia (ammonia);
• lemon acid;
• toothpaste or powder;
• salt;
• foil;
• cola cola;
• special products, liquids, wipes.
• eraser;

To get started, we recommend watching the video:

No. 1. Soda

Baking soda is an excellent household assistant, helping to remove the most difficult dirt and grease. If used carefully, silver can also be cleaned with soda, but this must be done gently, without rubbing, otherwise there is a risk of scratching the product.

To clean, do the following:

1. Mix a slurry of baking soda and water in a separate container.
2. Using a soft cloth or your fingers (if it is a small item), apply the resulting mass to the silver, carefully rubbing to remove any deposits.
3. Depressions and hard-to-reach places can be treated with a toothbrush.
4. Rinse the product and dry with a clean towel or cloth.

No. 2. Hydrogen peroxide

This cleaning method is not suitable for all such alloys. Hydrogen peroxide can both clean the product and, vice versa, leave behind even more dark spots. It all depends on the composition - the oxygen atoms that peroxide releases can both clean the metal and start the oxidation process. This is especially true for jewelry or devices that contain other metals and stones. After unsuccessful treatment with peroxide, it may turn black or become covered with dark spots.

It will be possible to clean up silver damaged by peroxide only in a jewelry store. The cost of such work often greatly exceeds the cost of the product itself. There are many effective cleaning methods using a solution of peroxide and ammonia, and if you decide to try, you should first test the resulting solution on an invisible area of ​​the jewelry, for example, on a chain clasp. If it becomes lighter, the solution can be applied to the entire decoration using a cotton pad.

No. 3. Ammonia (ammonia)

Using alcohol, you can quickly give your favorite jewelry or device its original shine.

For cleaning, use both pure alcohol and its solutions with water:

1. Prepare a solution with a 1/10 ratio of ammonia and water. If the decoration is not too dark, then just soak a cotton pad in the mixture and wipe it gently. Medium stains can be removed by immersing the product in the solution. Monitor the reaction and do not keep jewelry in ammonia for too long. Half an hour is usually enough for complete cleaning.
2. And for more contaminated decoration, use pure ammonia. The product is immersed in ammonia for no more than 15 minutes, and then rinsed with water and dried.

No. 4. Lemon acid

Using citric acid, you can significantly lighten an object or silverware.

The solution is prepared as follows:

• In 100 g, pour half a liter or a liter of water. Heat the solution in a water bath.
• After the liquid heats up, immerse the product in it along with any copper object (ordinary wire will do). Leave to boil for 15-30 minutes.
• Rinse the silver under the tap and dry.

No. 5. Toothpaste

Toothpaste does more than just remove plaque from your teeth. Experienced housewives sometimes resort to it to clean taps and other shiny surfaces. The paste is just as effective for cleaning silver items. Any pasta without additives will do. Apply it to decoration or dishes using a napkin or toothbrush. The same can be done with tooth powder, making a liquid paste out of it. When finished, rinse thoroughly to remove any remaining paste and polish with a cloth.

No. 6. Salt

Cleaning silver with salt is perfect for small jewelry, rings, coins and crosses. Prepare a container for the solution. Take a piece of foil, place it at the bottom of a bowl or pan, then add salt and water. Usually the solution is made in a ratio of 1 tsp. per glass of water. Place the products in a container and boil for no more than 10 minutes, and then rinse and dry.

No. 7. Foil

The foil cleaning method is similar to the salt method. Dilute the water, but only with soda in a ratio of 2 tbsp. half a liter. Boil, and then immerse the product and a slightly crumpled piece of foil there. Leave the silver in for one minute, remove, rinse with water and leave to dry.

No. 8. Coca Cola

Cola has long been famous for its cleansing properties. The famous drink is used to clean difficult stains and even plumbing fixtures. To clean large items (dishes, figurines), you may need more than one liter of Coca-Cola, which can hit your pocket hard, but for a small ring or earrings, a 0.5 bottle will be enough. Pour the drink into a glass and place the silver in it. Cleaning using this method may take 10-12 hours, but the result will definitely make itself felt.

How to clean silverware?

A concentrated solution of baking soda and salt is best for cleaning silver cutlery. Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of salt to a liter of water. Boil the mixture, put the products in there and leave for 15 minutes. You can use baking soda or salt separately, but then increase the concentration. After this, polish the forks, spoons and knives with a soft cloth until shiny.

Special Products for Cleaning Silver

Currently, you can find many special cleaning products in jewelry stores. Bring your jewelry to any jewelry store. The consultant will help you choose the appropriate product, paste or cleaning wipes specifically for your product. It is especially important to choose the right cleaner for silver jewelry containing stones and impurities of other alloys.

Special liquid

Most often, cleaning solutions include phosphates, surfactants and organic solvents, which effectively help remove dark plaque. Such products are not suitable for jewelry with pearls, corals, or amber, as they can damage the gemstone. Liquids are available in different packages. For example, the Aladdin product comes with a basket in which the necessary item is placed and then immersed in the solution for 30 seconds. It also comes with a convenient brush for more thorough cleaning. After the procedure, the product must be rinsed with water and wiped with a dry cloth. The only drawback of the product is the strong and unpleasant smell.

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There are also cleaning liquids in the form of sprays. One of the most popular and affordable is Chinese silver spray from Sunlight. The product also comes with a convenient brush for recesses and difficult places. In addition, as the manufacturer assures, it is absolutely safe for all types of precious stones. Sprays, unlike liquids, do not have a strong odor. To clean, just spray it on the product, hold it for a certain time, and then rinse with water.

Napkins

Manufacturers of silver cleaners also suggest paying attention to special wipes for removing dark deposits from products. They usually do not contain chemicals, which guarantees gentle cleansing. There are many different types of napkins, including disposable ones. There are special napkins for jewelry with various stones, as well as separately for dishes and tableware. In addition, napkins can only wipe certain areas of the item without touching the precious stones.

Paste

Ideal for adding shine and shine to cutlery and various silver interior items. The composition of the paste contains components that gently clean and do not scratch the product. Before applying the paste, the item is degreased by washing in soapy water. After this, the dishes or decoration are rubbed with a paste applied to a napkin and then left for some time (it may differ for all manufacturers). Remains of the product are removed with a dry cloth.

How to clean blackened silver?

Removing blackness from blackened silver is the most difficult task. Here it is important to find the fine line between getting rid of excess, but not damaging your original coating. Therefore, all aggressive methods and solutions are absolutely not suitable for such jewelry.

Use baking soda and salt in their pure form, but increase the processing time to half an hour. The second method is to place the decorations in a pan with cold water and a few peeled potatoes. Leave them there for 3-5 hours and then rinse them under the tap. If there is still blackness somewhere, use a regular office eraser.

How to CLEAN SILVER at home?

There are many ways to clean your home using household products. It is also necessary to take into account that some of them, if used carelessly, can damage the product, leave scratches and spoil precious stones. It’s worth figuring out which cleaning products you need to be more careful with and which ones are safe for jewelry, dishes, and antiques.

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• Soda is not the best option for dishes, as it can leave visible scratches. For this purpose, it would be ideal to use toothpaste; it can easily cope with light plaque. But even in this case, it is not recommended to use the paste often, as microcracks may appear on the dishes. Cutlery (forks, spoons, knives) also require special care and the best way to give them their original shine, without damaging them by friction, is to boil them with soda and foil (or with salt and foil, as in the methods above).
• An eraser can be used to clean small jewelry with complex cutouts, as well as coins. Ordinary lipstick will also work for such products. Lipstick is applied to a piece of fabric, processed and washed off with soap and water. For cleaning, you can also make a paste of ammonia and chalk.
• It is not recommended to scrub blackened silver too much as it may wash away the patina, which is its beautiful highlight.

What not to clean silver

Due to its atomic structure, silver is inert, does not oxidize in air and does not react with most acids. Therefore, there are minimal restrictions on cleaning high-quality metal: it cannot be immersed in chlorine bleaches, treated with household powder cleaners, or used with harsh abrasive materials.

Otherwise, we all have at least a dozen products at home that can be used to clean silverware or jewelry.

But when it is necessary to clean a combined product containing stones, ivory, pearls, if the jewelry is made of matte or scarlet silver, you should be extremely careful and choose professional means for caring for silver products.

Among folk remedies, a warm soapy solution is suitable for cleaning such products.

How to clean a SILVER CHAIN ​​from blackness?

At first glance, it seems that chains are the most difficult to clean, because if handled carelessly, the lock or the links themselves will break. But there is one cleaning method in which you don’t have to touch the fragile parts of the product.

For this we need vinegar:

• Without diluting with water, pour the vinegar into a suitable container and immerse the chain there for about 3 hours.
• Monitor the cleaning process. If the item is not heavily soiled, it will be cleaned in vinegar much faster.
• Acetic acid can remove even the darkest stains.

Boiling silver items

It is advisable to boil silver in a glass container and in a water bath. Be careful: heating liquids is a catalyst for all chemical reactions. Here are some recipes for boiling solutions.

Boil for 15-30 minutes in a solution of citric acid (100g per 0.7l of water) with the addition of copper wire.

Boil for 10-15 seconds in a solution of baking soda (1-2 tablespoons of soda per 0.5 liters of water) with the addition of food foil.

Boil in Coca-Cola for 3-5 minutes.

Boil for 15 seconds in a saline solution (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water) with the shells of two chicken eggs.

Boil for 10-15 minutes in saline solution (1 teaspoon of salt per glass of water)

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Boil for 2-3 minutes with washing powder.

How to Quickly Clean Silver with Precious Stones?

If, when using household products, you are afraid of damaging the precious stones of the product with chemicals, then it would be better to resort to specialized products such as napkins, liquids and pastes for silver. Many of them are designed specifically for jewelry with stones; they carefully remove plaque, do not scratch them, and create a protective film. Such products are sold in jewelry stores.

Some stones have their own characteristics, which are important to consider when cleaning products:

• Turquoise is a stone that does not tolerate moisture, so immersing it in liquid is not recommended.
• Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia should not be used to clean pearls. It is best to wash it carefully in soapy water.
• Cubic zirconia and quartz are also best cleaned with plain water and soap.
• Topaz and amethyst do not tolerate high temperatures, but are susceptible to alkalis and acids with low concentrations.

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You can lighten darkened silver using improvised means at home or using purchased products. Taking into account all the features of the product and being careful when cleaning, you can quickly and effectively give it its original shine without resorting to the help of jewelers.

General cleaning rules

In Tsarist Russia, noble houses kept a specially trained footman to clean silverware, and the worker devoted almost the entire day to this activity. To avoid spending as much time and clean your silver items quickly, there are several general recommendations:

Before proceeding directly to chemical cleaning, the product must be degreased and washed from dirt in warm soapy water.

1. Rinse in clean water - this will save time.
2. You need to take care of your silver so that you can spend less time cleaning it later. Set aside a specific time in your schedule to care for it - a regular procedure (at least once a month) will help avoid serious darkening.
3. When cleaning any product, you must handle the marking area very carefully. If the sample is erased or distorted, this will significantly reduce the total cost of the product, especially in 50 years, when it becomes an antique.
4. It is better to entrust extremely expensive, rare jewelry to the hand of a master.

Is it possible to boil silver?

If you are sure that you have silver in stock, then you can boil it. When boiling, chemical reactions are accelerated, and the result will be better, but if the product is only coated with silver, then boiling can ruin it. Be careful with hard water. After boiling in water with increased hardness, a white coating will remain on the products.

Jewelry containing some precious stones and pearls should also not be boiled.