How to clean silver from blackness at home
All women are happy to purchase new cutlery, household appliances, jewelry and other things necessary for life and personal comfort.
However, for a young housewife, with the appearance of something new in the house, first of all, the question of how to care for this or that thing becomes urgent in order to prolong its use and maintain its original appearance.
Today we will talk about how to clean silver, looking at such points as how to clean silver at home, how to clean silver quickly and effectively, and how to clean silverware and silver jewelry so that their appearance will delight you, our lovely housewives, and beyond .
The question of how to clean silver from blackness becomes relevant after just a few months of using it, so cleaning silver at home is inevitable.
Depending on the source of contamination, namely excess moisture, the effects of cosmetics and the effect of sweat on the metal, we determine how to clean silver at home in one way or another.
If you don’t like cleaning silver from blackness using your grandmother’s methods, go to the store, where you can find silver cleaning products that modern manufacturers offer us.
If you don’t have time or extra money, it’s better to be fully armed and know how to clean silver from blackness in the following ways.
Simple and clear: how to clean silver - ammonia
It is enough to just hold your silver wealth for 15 minutes in a 10% ammonia solution, and the items will shine as if they were just purchased. Any cleaning of silver is accompanied by thorough rinsing and wiping. So it is in this case.
Please note that it is unacceptable to clean silver from blackness containing such a precious element as pearls, because the product may cause a change in the shade of the precious insert.
Grandma's recipe: how to clean silver with citric acid
Another method available to everyone is citric acid. This time we will need a small enamel saucepan, one citric acid (bag) / 0.5 l. water.
The solution must be placed in a previously prepared water bath. Silver items and jewelry should be strung on copper wire, keeping your silver in boiling water for 15 to 30 minutes, and periodically turning it over to clean it on all sides. After the procedure, be sure to rinse.
How to clean silver from blackness: a universal remedy - soda
Such an affordable thing in the kitchen as soda will help us in this noble cause. You can easily clean both silver cutlery and beautiful jewelry with baking soda.
Cleaning silver with soda is not just a way to clean silver from blackness, but a whole magic of chemical reactions.
After all, taking only 0.5 liters. water. 2 tbsp. l of soda, boil everything, and put a sheet of foil on the bottom - you get the perfect cleaning mechanism. In just a few minutes the silver will shine.
Experienced housewives mix 1 liter of water, salt, soda with detergent (1/1/1 tablespoon), boil silver items in this solution for up to half an hour, and get an effective means for cleaning silver at home, cheap and cheerful.
How to clean silver with vinegar - a simple home solution
Like ammonia, vinegar is an excellent home remedy for cleaning silver, so soak the silver in vinegar for just 15 minutes, and after cleaning, thoroughly rinse and wipe the silver items.
Don’t be alarmed if not all the stains are gone on the first try; natural products are less aggressive than their chemical counterparts, so repeat the cleaning again.
How to remove blackness from silver with toothpaste
This method is also known to most housewives. It's simple and it works. You will need regular toothpaste, a brush, and a cleaning object.
We thoroughly clean jewelry or cutlery with toothpaste, and then rinse everything off with water.
The silver will shine like new. But remember, very delicate work can be damaged by this method of cleaning.
Cook potatoes and eggs and clean silver
The properties of a decoction of potatoes and eggs, as experienced housewives say, are also useful for cleaning silver.
It turns out that a cooled decoction of eggs, in which you soak precious items for several minutes, will carefully clean silver quickly and effectively.
With potato broth it’s a little different. Five minutes on foil in potato broth is enough to clean not very dirty silver. If the silver is not cleaned, use the other methods mentioned above.
Remember. Silver is afraid of moisture. Make sure to keep your silver items in a dry place and avoid the hassle of cleaning.
Source: https://ilnews.ru/2018/09/29/kak-pochistit-serebro-ot-chernoty-v-domashnih-ysloviiah/
We return silver to its noble shine: we clean it from blackness
There are silver items in every home. These include jewelry, cutlery, collectible coins, and interior items. On some of them, not too much darkening looks quite decent, giving the item an elegant and antique look.
But everything else needs to be cleaned periodically. Before cleaning silver from blackness, make sure that the chosen method will not damage the product.
We offer you several products that will help you restore the shine of objects dear to your heart at home.
Carefully remove small stains
To get started, try cleaning your silver using one of these methods:
- Pour very hot water (60-70 degrees) into a bowl and dilute a little liquid dishwashing detergent in it. Place the silver there for a few minutes. After this, you need to clean it with a soft toothbrush.
- Add citric acid or ammonia to the water in a ratio of 9:1. Place the silver item in the solution for a few minutes. Rinse with water. This method can only be used for products without stones.
- Before cleaning silver from blackness, grate one potato and fill it with water. Place the item to be cleaned there for 15 minutes. Then rinse it with water and rub it with a woolen cloth until it shines. This product is ideal for use at home.
Effective Methods for Cleaning Blackened Jewelry
When you think about how to clean silver from blackness, soda, toothpaste and ammonia come to mind. Of course, these are very effective tools that will help you clean tarnished silver at home. But are all of them safe?
Soda works well to remove blackness from silver items, but, unfortunately, it can scratch them. To prevent this from happening, never rub your silver with dry or soaked soda! It is better to dissolve it in a small bowl, the bottom of which has been previously covered with aluminum foil. The water should be very hot, but not boiling water. Place the silver in the solution and cover it with another layer of foil on top. Leave for 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water. The thing shines like new!
For greater effectiveness, you can add salt and dishwashing detergent to this solution. They will help you quickly clean jewelry from blackness at home.
As for the use of toothpaste and a soft brush, you need to act extremely carefully, especially if the jewelry has stones. The abrasive substances contained in the paste can harm stones and leave microscopic scratches on soft metal. In the future, getting rid of blackness will be much more difficult.
Ammonia is a little gentler. In order to use it to clean silver from blackness, you just need to place an object in it and leave it for 10 minutes. Then rinse it well under running water. Do not use this method if there are stones on the product!
A 10% sulfuric acid solution quickly removes any darkening. For the best effect, you need to boil the item in it for 10 minutes and then rinse it with water.
You can find washing powder or bleach in any home. If you dilute any of these products in boiling water and place a silver item in the solution, you can easily clean it of blackness and give it shine.
Finally, you can clean your jewelry using a regular eraser. With a little effort on your part, silver will quickly regain its original shine.
It is better to entrust the cleaning of exclusive silver jewelry with expensive stones to professionals. If you still want to clean them at home, use special liquids from jewelry stores. They must be used according to the instructions.
Laundry soap is also considered a good way to clean such capricious products. Dissolve a small piece in water and wipe the item with a soft cloth soaked in this solution. The blackness around the stones can be easily removed with a cotton swab.
Another gentle cleaner for delicate jewelry is lipstick. Apply it to the item to be cleaned and gently rub it with a piece of flannel. The lipstick will gently remove darkening and will not damage the precious metal.
Remember that rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds are quite durable stones, so stronger cleaning products can be used to clean them. But turquoise, moonstone, amber and malachite can only be cleaned with soapy water.
- We recommend: how to clean silver with stones at home
Using these methods, you can easily clean your silver items and restore their original shine. But if you don’t want to use cleaning products often, store your silver items correctly. The less they come into contact with a damp environment, sweat and dirt, the less often they will have to be cleaned.
Source: http://OStirke.ru/kak-chistit/serebro-ot-chernotyi.html
How to clean silver at home from blackness so that it shines: folk remedies for products with and without stones
Healers believe that the darkening of silver items indicates problems in the body of their owner. Especially if the chain and pectoral cross have faded.
This is a signal of problems with the kidneys and cardiovascular system. The reaction is associated with high sweating and changes in the acid-base balance of the skin. In addition, people say that silver things turn black, protecting a person from negative energy, as if they “absorb” it into themselves.
At the same time, science explains the appearance of dark plaque by a specific chemical reaction of the metal. It occurs under the following circumstances:
- high humidity in the place where products are stored;
- prolonged contact of jewelry with skin;
- contact with cosmetics and substances containing sulfur ions.
Preventive measures
Regardless of the causes of plaque, there are recommendations that, if followed, will help keep products clean.
- Hygiene procedures. Silver items should be removed when showering and bathing. And also when performing wet cleaning, washing dishes and laundry.
- Holidays at sea. You should not wear jewelry when swimming in sea water. Especially in the Black Sea, as it has a high content of hydrogen sulfide.
- Sports, heavy physical labor, illness. Do not allow metal to come into contact with sweat.
- Makeup. Earrings, chains, rings, bracelets should be put on after absorbing skincare cosmetics and avoid their contact with decorative cosmetics.
- Storage. Things made of this noble metal are kept in a dark place, preferably wrapped in foil.
The following tips for preventing plaque formation help extend the time between cleaning silver items, but do not eliminate this need forever. The metal will still darken, and it needs processing to make it shine.
Matte silver does not tolerate abrasive cleaning and acids. It is better to choose a simple solution, for example, a soap solution. Black silver must be cleaned especially carefully; it is very easy to damage the valuable coating. For the procedure, a solution with soap and soda is often used.
If the jewelry has inserts, you should avoid strong mechanical cleaning. Please note the following:
- sapphire, aquamarine, emerald - any option for cleansing, as these are high-strength stones;
- opal, turquoise, moonstone, malachite - you need products without abrasive particles;
- topaz, garnet, ruby - do not clean at high temperatures, otherwise they will change color;
- pearls, ivory, amber - take such products to a workshop, since during home manipulations they can easily be damaged by acids and alkalis.
Specialized jewelry workshops and stores sell special jewelry cosmetics for silver jewelry: wipes, liquids. These are products that are used at home, but give a professional effect. To process spoons, forks, knives, and figurines, you can use the ultrasonic cleaning service.
The following five folk recipes will help restore your products to a clean and shiny appearance.
- Toothpaste. Apply a little product and rub with a toothbrush. If the plaque is very strong, use tooth powder mixed with ammonia (ammonia solution).
- Peroxide and ammonia solution. Dilute two tablespoons of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in a liter of water. Place the silver item for 15 minutes, rinse and wipe dry. For blackening, you can also use only ammonia.
- Vinegar. Pour some vinegar into a metal pan and heat to 50°C. Place the silver there for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
- Limonka. Pour 0.5 liters of clean warm water into a metal container, add 100 g of citric acid (or squeeze the juice of one lemon). Place the darkened decoration on a copper wire, place it in the solution and boil for about 15 minutes. The contact of silver with copper allows you to remove plaque.
- Soda. Dilute baking soda with water to a paste consistency. Spread the product with the resulting paste, rub with a brush, rinse and dry.
Aggressive compounds cannot be used to treat objects with fragile elements or delicate corrugated areas.
Unexpected ways
Chemistry experts recommend three more ways to clean silver. They may surprise and cause mistrust, but their effectiveness is scientifically explainable.
- Lipstick. It contains titanium dioxide, which cleanses impurities. And also fat that polishes the surface.
- Egg yolk. Creates a protective film on the surface and prevents oxidative processes. Apply the yolk using a cotton pad, wait until it dries and rinse.
- Aluminium foil. The blackness disappears due to the reaction of silver with aluminum and sodium bicarbonate. You need to put foil on the bottom of the pan, then silver items. Separately, boil 1 liter of water and add 50 g of soda. Pour the decoration for ten minutes. You can use salt instead of baking soda in this recipe. To achieve maximum effect, use salt and soda (a tablespoon each) at the same time, as well as half a glass of vinegar.
Using the life hacks listed above, you can also clean gold-plated silver.
Source: https://DomZnatok.ru/uborka/uhod-za-veshhami/kak-pochistit-serebro-v-domashnih-usloviyah/
How to Clean Silverware and Jewelry at Home
Owners of stylish silver-white jewelry know how to clean silver at home so that it shines again, just like when you bought it. Of course, this can be done quickly and effortlessly in a jewelry workshop. However, professional cleaning costs money, and products made from this metal darken quite often.
If we talk about silverware, then it is unlikely that anyone will turn to a jeweler every time before setting a festive table. Therefore, anyone who has silver at home - be it jewelry or cutlery - will benefit from learning how to bleach silver at home.
Why does silver darken?
In the East, they believe that if a piece of silver jewelry turned black, then they wanted to damage the owner. That is, a bracelet, earring or ring took on negative energy, thereby protecting the person.
Many believe that a product that darkens during wear is the result of nervous overload, stress and illness. At the same time, science has proven that blackness is caused by silver sulfides, which form on the surface of products when they come into contact with sulfur.
A reasonable question: how can silver jewelry “meet” sulfur?
Sulfur is found in human sweat. By the way, increased sweating is typical for stressful conditions and some diseases. Many cosmetics also contain sulfur. These are mainly creams, ointments and other cosmetics designed to care for problem skin.
Another problem that silver jewelry owners face is dullness and loss of original shine. Jewelry stops shining due to dirt, dust and greasy deposits that form after daily contact with the skin. Jewelry also becomes dusty if stored improperly. It is best to place rings, earrings or bracelets in a box, placed in plastic bags or wrapped in foil.
Advice: in order to think as little as possible about how to clean silver from blackness and dust, you should follow preventive measures - remove silver jewelry before active training, before visiting a bathhouse or sauna, before applying cosmetics, and store them correctly.
How to restore shine to silver
To refresh the appearance of jewelry or lighten it, you should proceed from the reasons that caused its darkening, and also evaluate the degree of contamination. The cleaning method, solution, and, as a result, the ingredients will depend on this.
The most well-known, time-tested means for effectively cleaning silver at home are:
- laundry soap;
- dishwashing liquid;
- ammonia;
- dentifrice;
- baking soda;
- citric acid;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- table vinegar.
In addition, the following will be useful:
- cotton pads;
- aluminium foil;
- soft toothbrush with trimmed bristles;
- soft cloth;
- a piece of suede.
Using laundry soap or dishwashing detergent (they can also be replaced with washing powder or shampoo) you can wash away the greasy film that over time begins to cover silver jewelry that is constantly worn on the body, such as a pectoral cross, favorite earrings or ring. Ammonia, or more precisely an ammonia solution (ammonia), table vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can bleach silver.
Baking soda and tooth powder act as a light abrasive to effectively remove stains.
And boiling items with citric acid (or baking soda) and foil allows you to chemically clean jewelry or silverware in large quantities.
Therefore, this option is often used when removing dark deposits from silver cutlery from sets for 6, 12 people - it allows you to quickly clean many items, rather than manually polishing each fork or spoon.
We clean jewelry with and without stones
Before cleaning a silver chain at home or other jewelry, it is worth assessing the degree of contamination: whether it has just become tarnished or whether there are dark spots on it.
You can remove the grease film, layer of dust and clear small blockages in the recesses by preparing a soap solution and treating the product with a toothbrush. If you need a way to clean silver from blackness, after soap treatment you should carry out a brightening procedure.
Detailed instructions with standards and times will be discussed below.
It is also important to know how to clean silver earrings or a ring with stones. Depending on what stones the product is decorated with, the cleaning solution is selected. The softer the stone, the more carefully it should be cleaned. You can find out how hard and scratch-resistant it is by finding the corresponding name in a table compiled according to the Mohs mineralogical scale.
If the stone index is below 5, then it can only be cleaned with soapy water and in no case should you use abrasives (tooth powder, baking soda). For example, the index of malachite is 3.5-4, coral and pearls are 3-4, amber is 2-3. When cleaning jewelry set with these stones, you should be very careful not to scratch it.
However, knowing the Mohs index is not enough. Many precious and semi-precious colored stones can change and sometimes lose their color under certain conditions. For example, topaz. Its hardness is 8. However, when cleaning it, you should not use products containing chlorine, soak it in hot water, and especially not boil it.
For cleaning, prepare a soap solution at room temperature (21-25°C) or use the method for cleaning silver with ammonia. This method is also applicable to jewelry with cubic zirconia and zircons - one of the most common “neighbors” of silver.
Tip: when thinking about how to clean a silver ring or earrings with stones, pay attention to their fastening. If they are only glued, but not secured, the product cannot be soaked. You should limit yourself to wiping with a cotton pad soaked in the prepared solution, brushing with a toothbrush or polishing with an abrasive-containing slurry, without touching the “finicky” stones.
I would like to pay special attention to how to clean the cross. The cross can be decorated with stones, so when cleaning it you should follow the rules for products with inserts. It is also important to make sure that the cross is made of silver before cleaning.
A common material, similar in appearance to silver, from which a cross can be made is tin. However, a tin cross cannot be cleaned in the same way as a silver one. Therefore, it is important to check for the presence of a sample, which will indicate that the cross is made of silver.
Step-by-step methods for cleaning jewelry
Before cleaning your silver, be it a chain, a ring or a cross, inspect your jewelry in the light of the information given above and begin cleaning, choosing what is suitable for this or that type of item.
- Prepare a cleaning solution or soap slurry.
For items without inserts or decorations with stones that can withstand the effects of ammonia, a cleaning solution is suitable. Otherwise, it is better to use soap gruel. Also, soaking in the paste is a great way to clean a silver chain at home. The soap penetrates every link and causes the dirt to soak away.
Washing solution: 1 tsp. dishwashing detergent (or 1 tbsp. washing powder, or 1 tsp. shampoo) + 1 glass of boiling water + 1 tsp. ammonia.
Soap slurry: grate laundry soap on a coarse grater or shred with a knife. Add some hot water. After the soap shavings swell, you can soak your jewelry in it.
You can keep silver items in a washing solution or soap slurry for from 15 minutes to 10 hours. The time depends on the intensity of the pollution.
- After the dirt has soaked, you can clean off any remaining dirt with a toothbrush. In this case, you should go through all the recesses, engravings, locks, links that the chain has, and other hard-to-reach elements.
- Rinse the jewelry under running clean water and dry it.
- Polish your silver items with baking soda or tooth powder. To do this, take a cotton pad, lightly moisten it with water and dip it in tooth powder or soda. Rub the disc over the silver, removing the blackness. Rinse under running water.
- Dry the jewelry and polish with a suede cloth.
The method described above takes time. If you need to quickly refresh the appearance of your silver jewelry, a silver cleaner such as table vinegar is suitable. It is enough to heat it slightly (up to 34-36°C) and dip the product in a bowl of vinegar for 5-10 minutes. Then the jewelry must be washed, dried and polished.
Tip: before cleaning your silver earrings, pay attention to the following point - if the earrings have an unpleasant odor and their surface is covered with a gray-green coating, treat them with hydrogen peroxide by directly dropping it onto the dirt. It is also helpful to wipe the earlobes with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide to prevent re-contamination of the earrings.
Cleaning silverware
An effective and spectacular method of cleaning silver - using foil and baking soda - allows you to clean many items at once, so it is often used when brightening silverware. Silver and aluminum form a galvanic couple. As a result of the reaction, which takes place at elevated temperatures, sulfur ions leave the silver and transfer to the aluminum foil.
In this case, baking soda is needed in order to “free” aluminum from under the oxide film with which the foil is covered in production.
- Place a suitable sized dish on the switched on stove and cover its bottom with cling foil. Prepare the solution: for every 450 ml of water, take 3 tsp. baking soda (or citric acid). When the water begins to boil, place silver in the bottom of the dish.
- Products are cleaned right before your eyes! The blackness is replaced by a silver glow.
- Once the cutlery has brightened, carefully remove it from the boiling water and rinse in clean water. Then wipe dry.
- This method can clean many forks and spoons at once. You just need to select suitable dishes and pour in enough water to completely cover the cutlery. When pouring water, count ml - in proportion to it, you should increase the amount of soda (citric acid).
Cleaning silver at home is easy. You just need to remember the basic principles: treat the stones with care and follow the rules for preparing solutions. And the necessary ingredients can be found in every home.
Source: https://mschistota.ru/sovety/kak-pochistit-serebro.html
How to remove blackness from silver
Almost every home has silver items. This can be either cutlery or jewelry. Silver looks expensive and impressive, but over time it oxidizes in air.
Because of this, sulfide plaque occurs, which causes blackening of objects. Fortunately, you can get rid of this plaque at home. To do this, you need to use the available tools that any housewife has.
When cleaning, it is important to consider the type of item: regular silverware or jewelry with stone and gold.
General Tips
When cleaning silver items, it is important to follow these guidelines:
- Do not use products with hard abrasive particles. You can use a soft toothbrush to clean silverware, and natural bristle brushes are suitable for cleaning jewelry.
- It is advisable to clean 925 sterling silver with special means.
- Radiant silver withstands chemicals well, but is easily scratched. Therefore, such products must be cleaned with a soft cloth.
- If foil or aluminum utensils were used during the cleaning process, you should thoroughly rinse the silver with running water. Otherwise, the surface of the product may become coated with aluminum sulfate.
- If you want your silver to shine like at an exhibition, you need to treat it with hot water and lemon juice.
- You can dry silver items on paper napkins or using a hair dryer.
- You can polish silver with flannel, wool and suede cloths, as well as a regular eraser.
- After cleaning, it is advisable not to wear silver jewelry for 2-3 days so that a protective layer can form.
Silver items should be cleaned regularly. It is much more difficult to remove old stains on your own without harming the coating.
Causes of darkening of silver
Previously, it was believed that silver darkens when a person is damaged. But with the development of chemistry, the real reasons for the darkening of silver items were revealed:
- Air humidity or interaction with wet skin.
- Human sweat, if it contains a large amount of sulfur. This may be caused by taking certain pills or by the presence of pathologies in the body.
- Contact with cosmetics, food (salt, yolks, onions), detergents or rubber.
- Improper storage.
Silver items made from low-quality raw materials also quickly turn black.
Methods for cleaning silver
It is important to remember that aggressive substances can only be used to clean silverware or simple earrings, chains, crosses, etc. If these are jewelry with stones, pearls, enameled or gold plated, then gentle products must be used.
It is recommended to entrust expensive high-quality jewelry to specialists.
Soda
Regular baking soda will help get rid of blackness on silver items. To do this you need:
- mix water and soda to a paste;
- apply the resulting mixture to the object;
- leave for 10 minutes;
- remove any remaining composition by wiping the surface with a soft cloth.
This method is suitable for cleaning silver spoons, forks and knives. If you need to carefully clean the product, then you should use another method.
Algorithm of actions:
- dissolve 20 g of soda in 250 ml of boiling water;
- pour the resulting solution into an aluminum pan or any other container, after placing a piece of foil on its bottom;
- place silver objects in the container;
- leave for 15 minutes;
- Carefully remove the products and rinse them with running water.
Baking soda has abrasive properties, so you need to wait until it is completely dissolved in water.
Dentifrice
Another effective way to clean silver is toothpaste or tooth powder.
Cleansing steps:
- You will need to take white toothpaste without impurities or dilute the tooth powder with water to the consistency of a paste.
- Apply the product to the silver item using a soft cloth or toothbrush and lightly rub the stained areas. In this case, you need to move in one direction, without pressing on the surface.
- Wash the cleaned item with running water, dry and polish with a soft cloth.
This method is not recommended for expensive silver items, as the products used may damage the surface.
Citric acid and vinegar
You can effectively clean silver at home using a citric acid solution:
- dissolve 100 g of citric acid in 500 ml of water;
- pour the resulting solution into a container and lower a piece of copper wire into it;
- boil the solution and put silver items in it;
- wait 15 minutes;
- remove and wash items;
- dry and polish them with a soft cloth or eraser.
If the blackness has appeared recently, then table vinegar can cope with it. Required:
- moisten a soft cloth with 6% vinegar;
- wipe the product and rinse it with running water.
Instead of vinegar, you can use a 10% citric acid solution. To prepare it, you need to mix 100 ml of water and 10 g of acid.
Ammonia
To clean old black spots, you need to prepare a solution of 300 ml of water and 30 ml of ammonia. Wipe the product with this solution and then wash it off with water.
There are several more ways to cleanse blackness using ammonia:
- Mix water, ammonia and tooth powder in a ratio of 5:2:1. Then apply the resulting composition to the surface to be cleaned using a soft cloth. Wait 10-15 minutes and wash off the mixture.
- Combine ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions. Pour the resulting solution into a container and soak silver items in it for 15 minutes.
- Add ammonia to the grated chalk to form a paste. Apply the mixture to the product. Instead of chalk, you can use tooth powder.
If the stains on silver items are fresh, you can simply wipe them with a cotton pad soaked in ammonia.
Salt
You can make silver shine using table salt.
Procedure:
- dissolve 25 g of salt and 10 g of citric acid in 500 ml of boiling water;
- soak silver items in the resulting solution for 10-20 minutes;
- After the allotted time has passed, rinse the items with running water.
There is another method:
- pour 500 ml of water into an aluminum pan;
- bring water to a boil and add 10 g each of salt, soda and dishwashing liquid;
- place silverware into the pan;
- wait 30 minutes.
After this, you should carefully remove the items, rinse with running water, dry and polish.
Cigarette ash
An unusual means for cleaning silver items is cigarette ash.
Mode of application:
- pour the contents of the ashtray into a pan of water;
- boil the solution;
- place the items to be cleaned in the pan;
- wait 10-15 minutes;
- Remove the products and rinse them with running water.
You can also soak a soft cloth in lemon juice and sprinkle some ash. Then rub the contaminated areas.
Curdled milk
If you have sour milk on hand, you can also use it to clean blackened silver. For this you will need:
- put a silver object in curdled milk;
- leave for 5-15 minutes depending on how dirty it is;
- rinse with warm water and dry the product;
- Polish the silver with a soft cloth.
In this case, the active ingredient is lactic acid.
Potato
Regular potatoes will help you clean silver at home.
Instructions:
- peel a few potatoes and cut them into slices;
- place the chopped potatoes in a container with water;
- put silver items there;
- wait a few hours.
The active substance will be starch, which will gradually transfer from the potatoes into the water and remove plaque from the silver.
You can also use water after boiling potatoes:
- it must be poured into a container and put a piece of foil there;
- then lower the silver items into the container;
- wait 5-10 minutes.
After this time, the cleaned items are washed, dried and polished with flannel or suede.
How to clean jewelry with stone or gold plated?
The situation with cleaning jewelry is more complicated. Silver chains, bracelets and rings with stones, set with turquoise, amber, pearls or plated with gold, require a delicate approach.
Fresh stains can be removed with a cotton pad soaked in cologne or alcohol. To clean recesses and other hard-to-reach places, you need to use a cotton swab. Jewelry with stones can also be cleaned with a soft toothbrush or a brush with natural bristles. But you should act very carefully so as not to damage the coating.
If the jewelry is made with pearls, you will need to sew a linen bag, pour 1 teaspoon of salt into it and place the product there. After this, the bag is washed in warm water.
Ammonia and vinegar
Black plaque can be removed by soaking the products for 15-25 minutes in a solution prepared according to one of the recipes:
- add grated laundry soap and a little ammonia to warm water;
- dilute 1 large spoon of ammonia or table vinegar in a glass of water.
After the specified time has passed, the jewelry should be rinsed with warm water and dried by placing it on paper napkins. Then the products are polished with a soft cloth.
Lipstick
Lipstick can also help clean silverware. The fact is that it contains mineral particles that can cope with black plaque.
To use this unusual method, you need to rub the surface to be cleaned with lipstick and polish the product with suede or flannel. The procedure must be repeated until the plaque is completely removed.
You don't need to use a good lipstick to clean. An inexpensive one, which does not match the quality or shade, will do just fine.
How to clean blackened silver?
Blackened silver requires a special approach. There are several ways to clean it:
- Mix 10 g of soap, 1 spoon of soda and 0.5 liters of water. Soak the product in the prepared solution for 20 minutes.
- Peel and cut raw potatoes. Place it in a pan of water. Put silver items there too. Leave for 3 hours. Then rinse the items with warm water, dry and polish.
Storage rules
If silver items are stored correctly, they will delight the eye with their shiny surface longer. To do this, you need to follow certain rules:
- It is recommended to store silver jewelry in separate closed boxes in a dry place. If the jewelry has not been worn for a long time, it should be washed with soapy water, dried and wrapped in foil or flannel cloth.
- Avoid contact of silver with cosmetics, medications, cleaning agents and rubber.
- It is advisable to remove silver jewelry before cleaning, swimming, bathing and applying cosmetics.
Silver inevitably turns black over time. However, this is not a reason to part with your favorite thing. There are always many tools at hand that can restore an item to its original appearance. You just need to know how to use them correctly and safely.
Source: https://priborka.life/chistka/kak-ubrat-chernotu-s-serebra.html
How to clean silver from blackness at home? — Effective and fast
Recently, silver jewelry has become increasingly popular; they are considered more elegant and sophisticated than gold, but they also require special care, otherwise they lose their appearance, and then their owners ask the question “how to clean silver at home?”
In this article we will try to figure this out.
What causes the darkening?
This metal darkens due to oxidation processes.
Its contamination can be caused by sweat or sebum, as well as contact with cosmetics and chemicals; it is afraid of moisture and sulfur and begins to oxidize under unfavorable storage conditions.
Useful tips
Take help from professionals. This way you will have a guarantee that not a single millimeter of your favorite pendant or ring will be damaged.
This is especially true for items with engravings, with inserts of enamel, pearls, and precious stones.
Use a special cloth, this is sold in every jewelry store. Moreover, each precious metal has its own. Be careful, read the labels! A gold napkin will not work for you!
Before starting the process, wash the metal in soapy water. You can even use household cleaning products.
After this, use a soft brush to scrub the darkened areas, and for hard-to-reach places, use a cotton swab. Ordinary medical alcohol will also help solve the problem.
You need to either soak it in it for a couple of hours, or wipe it with a rag (cotton wool) soaked in it.
If there are inserts with precious stones, cleaning is carried out only with alcohol or soap.
There are many ways to help clean your favorite brooch and earrings. Let's look at the main ones.
How to clean with soda
Sodium carbonate is the most elementary and simple way, because each of us has the substance.
However, the powder will not work; it can scratch the enamel. It’s better to make a paste or solution.
How to make a solution?
A small amount of water is poured into the pan, a few tablespoons of the substance are added, and the contents are brought to a boil. After this, the foil and the jewelry itself are immersed in the container.
After a quarter of an hour, it must be taken out and dried thoroughly.
Gruel
To prepare the paste, you will need 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water, and add a little salt.
All this is applied to foil, into which the object to be cleaned is then placed and soaked for half an hour.
You can also boil what is being purified. To do this, put foil on the bottom of the pan, silver on it, pour in and add a couple of tablespoons of soda, then boil for 5 minutes.
Basic Rules
Never use metal brushes, otherwise you may leave scratches.
At the final stage, soft sponges and brushes with a minimum degree of hardness are excellent.
All manipulations are done manually. It has a strong abrasive effect, so you can easily damage the jewelry.
Applying toothpaste
It can also help clean dirt and blackness from your silver jewelry. To do this, we will additionally need a napkin or lint-free cloth (such as cotton).
First, mix the paste with sodium carbonate, then apply it to the cloth and rub with careful, light movements. After this, we rinse the product and wipe it.
Attention! If the surface is corrugated, then this method is not applicable, since it will be difficult to wash the contents from everywhere. The dental cleaner is not intended for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
Take note! Multi-colored or colored paste, as well as gel, will not work!
Previously, tooth powder was used effectively. It also works great for cleaning.
Ammonia - why not?
For minor stains, do the following: apply a little ammonia to a rag and wipe the surface.
However, if the darkening is significant, then what is being cleaned is immersed or even soaked in ammonia.
- Heat the soap solution (300–350 grams), add 4–6 drops of ammonia to it. Soak the product for a quarter of an hour.
- Immerse the product to be cleaned in ammonia (well diluted) and leave for up to half an hour, shaking from time to time.
- Ammonia can also be mixed with chalk and wipe the contaminated area with this mixture.
- If the item is very dirty, then use undiluted ammonia. Immerse for a maximum of 10 minutes!
Have you tried vinegar?
Under no circumstances take essence, only 3–9% vinegar! First we wet the rag, then apply it to the item and wipe it with smooth movements.
Lemon acid
For this you will need:
- capacity;
- 100 g. lemon;
- 0.5 l of water;
- a small piece of copper wire.
First, we form the composition: pour both liquid ingredients into the pan, place the wire, and boil. Continuing to heat, place the precious metal for 10–15 minutes.
Another method is to place a thin metal sheet on the bottom, add a few large spoons of lemon to the water, and boil the product for 5 minutes.
Potatoes can too!
If you have cooked potatoes, do not rush to immediately drain the broth! You will still need it!
First, let’s cool the resulting broth, then immerse our jewelry in it for 2 hours. Afterwards we dry them.
There is another option: we need potato peelings. We fill them with cold water and put the item there. Next, wash and dry. Grated potatoes are also sometimes used.
Olive oil
It is necessary to apply a few drops on a cloth and rub the object, after which you need to use soap and completely remove the oil. Rinse thoroughly so that no greasy areas remain.
Use a cloth, preferably lint-free
This method gives new life to those lipsticks that are not the right color for you. Do not use lip gloss for such purposes; in this case, it will not lead to any result.
Stationery eraser
It helps not only to erase pencil marks in a notebook and black stripes on patent leather shoes, but also to remove dark spots on metal.
It is suitable for things without ornateness, corrugation, or bends, since the eraser itself is quite massive (compared to earrings or a ring) and is not suitable for wiping out dark spots in hard-to-reach places.
Special equipment
Jewelers treat cleaning various precious metals at home with irony, because they have more professional products.
Such compositions are most often produced in the form of wet wipes in sealed packaging or in the form of liquids.
Recommendation: be sure to read the instructions for use before using special equipment!
The advantage of such drugs is not only that they perfectly cope with darkening, but, above all, their protective effect.
When used, they create a film on the surface that reliably protects against oxidation.
This option is considered the most suitable for cleaning items that use stones and rhinestones in their design.
How to clean a chain?
A chain is one of those items that causes certain difficulties when cleansing. It's all about its links - they are difficult to clean and rinse well. Therefore, you can immediately eliminate the method using tooth powder and eraser.
It is better to use either the help of professionals (maybe a professional remedy) or advice on the use of citric acid and ammonia. Thorough washing after cleaning is mandatory.
How to clean silverware?
It is not recommended to clean dishes using chemicals, acids, etc., since family members will then eat them or from them. It is better to use baking soda or tooth powder.
This will be much safer, and your dishes will acquire their original shine.
Let's talk about daily care
There is no need to wait until your ring is very dirty, and you will have to try all the options that were described above. Start caring today!
- Storage. Consider having a special storage box. It should be glass or stone. You can put a few charcoal tablets or camphor at the bottom.
- Wearing. Be sure to remove chains and earrings before going to the pool or swimming in the sea. You should also not wear them when you decide to clean and cook something.
- Long-term failure. If you do not plan to wear the item for a long time, then to minimize oxidation, wrap it in food foil.
Is your ring clean yet?
To remove tarnish from silver items, you can use both professional and folk remedies. But any decoration requires constant care to eliminate cleaning altogether.
Don’t forget to follow the storage and wearing conditions, and then your chains and earrings will always shine brightly to the envy of everyone around you!
Source: https://bleskk.com/kak-ochistit-serebro-ot-chernoty/
How to clean silver from blackness
- How to clean silver jewelry from blackness at home
- How to clean silver jewelry and products at home – Stroim24.info
- Reasons for the appearance of black plaque on silverware and jewelry of different sizes
- High-quality cleaning of silver using ultrasonic devices, napkins and traditional methods
- How to clean tarnished and matte silver in a jewelry workshop
- Correct means for removing blackness from silver at home: acid, potato broth, Coca-Cola, soda, ammonia, foil
- How to easily clean dark spots and add shine to silver items: lipstick, ammonia, GOI paste, salt, ultrasonic bath - gallery
- Recipes for solutions and mixtures for whitening oxidized silver spoons, blackened chains, earrings, crosses and other jewelry
- How to remove plaque from silver and gold items using vinegar
- We add shine to yellowed silver jewelry, jewelry with cubic zirconia, pearls and silver-plated items
- How to remove dirt and oxidation from blackened silver: using delicate products
- Effective ways to clean rhodium-plated silver earrings, rings and bracelets
- What composition copes with the blackening of gold-plated silver plated
- Quickly clean silverware with enamel using toothpaste and ammonia
- How to remove iodine stains and restore shine to jewelry that has become dull after cleaning
- Good ways to clean old silver, jewelry with inserts and tarnished silverware - video
- How to clean silver quickly and effectively
- How to quickly and effectively clean silver from blackness at home
- Protect your ring from blackness: effective ways to clean silver at home
There are many ways to clean silver at home from dirt and blackness that spoil the chain.
Let's look at the most effective of them in the article below. How to clean a silver chain from blackness at home
Method 1
Take an ordinary glass jar and pour 100 grams of cool boiled water. It is necessary that the jar has a thread and a lid. Take a tablespoon of ammonia and pour it into 100 grams of water. Next, we need a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent, which we add to the water.
Stir everything thoroughly until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, into which we immerse the blackened silver. Close the jar with a lid and leave to ferment for a while. After some time, we take out the silver and rinse it with running water. You can clean the chain links with a soft toothbrush. After this solution, the silver will brighten and become clear.
Method 2
Another popular method is to clean silver using foil. We will need aluminum foil, the size of which will depend on the volume of the chain.
Take a soup plate and place foil in it so that its edges cover the plate to the middle of the outer wall. Add a tablespoon of regular salt and baking soda.
Add a couple of tablespoons of running water to the mixture and carefully stir the resulting composition. Place the silver chain inside the plate with the mixture and leave for 30 minutes.
If after time the solution darkens, it means that the silver purification process was completed correctly. We take out the chain, rinse it with water and wipe it with a paper napkin.
The result will speak for itself, because silver after such purification becomes noticeably lighter. If the chain contains inserts of stones, then it is better to choose another method of cleaning silver.
Salt in interaction with soda can make stones dull, regardless of whether they are natural or artificial.
Method 3
This option is similar to number 2, but it does not use salt. Take aluminum foil and place it in a glass. Next, pour a tablespoon of baking soda and place the chain on it.
From a boiling kettle, pour just enough boiling water into a glass with foil to cover two fingers of soda and the chain. Leave the bubbling solution for three minutes.
An alkaline environment perfectly removes all tarnish on a silver product.
Interesting! In order not to be tormented by the question of how to clean silver at home from dirt and blackness, it is recommended to put the chain in an alcohol solution overnight. This is done so that sebum does not remain on the silver item.
Method 4
When cleaning a silver chain in this way, one condition must be met: the room must be well ventilated. We take a container in the form of an ordinary glass, a solution of 10% ammonia, and a thin wooden stick. Pour enough ammonia into the glass to cover the chain.
Using a wooden stick, we begin to carefully stir the chain in the solution, which will immediately begin to darken. You can keep the silver in the solution for about 10 minutes. Remove the jewelry from the solution and rinse with plain water. You can, as in the first option, go over it with a toothbrush to clean the links and clasp. The result is excellent.
Method 5
This silver cleaning option is intended for very dirty items without stones. Otherwise, the inserted stones may separate from the main product when heated. So, we take a small aluminum bowl, citric acid, baking soda, a toothbrush and the chain itself.
Pour about half a liter of water into a container and place it on the stove, adding two tablespoons of citric acid. Place silver in the vessel and wait for it to boil. Boil the product for about five minutes. We take the silver out of the vessel, place it on a cloth napkin and begin the second stage of cleaning.
Pour baking soda into a separate shallow jar. We wet our fingers in water, dip them in soda and begin to rub the silver chain with our fingers. Instead of fingers, you can use a toothbrush, a cloth, or a hard sponge.
Place the product grated and cleaned with soda into water with citric acid, which remains after boiling. Place the shiny chain, washed under running water, on a paper napkin and let it dry.
If the silver product is too dirty, then after cleaning it with soda, you can boil it again for five minutes.
Method 6
For this option - how to clean silver at home from blackness and other contaminants, the chain should be checked for mold. Take 4 tablespoons of 9% vinegar and pour it into a mug.
Place the silver chain on which mold has appeared in a mug with vinegar for five minutes. We take out the product and rinse it with running water.
After these manipulations, it is recommended to polish the jewelry with a soft woolen cloth.
Method 7
This method is very simple and does not require preliminary preparation. We will need regular tooth powder, which is sold in economical jars. Pour it into a saucer and use a clean toothbrush to rub the product until it shines. The composition for cleaning teeth can be mixed with baking soda in a 1:1 ratio.
Instead of a toothbrush, you can take a woolen cloth, which will give a dazzling shine to your dirty jewelry. After rubbing, rinse the chain with running water and wipe dry with a cloth.
Method 8
We will need chalk, laundry soap, water, wooden and cotton swabs, and a flannel cloth. Take warm water and rub laundry soap into it on a fine grater.
Mix the soapy water with a wooden stick and immerse the silver item in it for ten minutes.
At the same time, grind the chalk into powder and add a few drops of water to it so that when stirred, you get a homogeneous paste.
It is necessary to remove the chain from the soapy water and rub the product with a fine mixture. Heavily dirty areas can be cleaned with a cotton swab. Leave the rubbed decoration on a paper napkin for five minutes, then dip it in soapy water again for a while. Remove and rinse the chain under water and let it dry.
Method 9
If there are stones in a precious item, then this advice is for those who do not know how to clean silver with stones at home from blackness and other dirt.
It is recommended to clean the chain in the following way: we will need a couple of containers with running water, 100 g.
cognac, hair shampoo, cotton swabs for the ears, a piece of cotton wool, one or two toothpicks, a toothbrush, a cotton napkin and a piece of suede fabric.
Pour half a standard glass of warm water into the first vessel, add a teaspoon of shampoo and mix thoroughly. Dip the tarnished, contaminated chain into this water for ten minutes.
Next, after removing the chain from the water, we begin to clean off the dirt with a toothbrush. For depressions and strong darkening, we will need a cotton swab or a toothpick with cotton wool wrapped around it.
Dip them in the same water and remove the dirt.
Pour warm water into the second vessel and lower the cleaned product into it. After rinsing it in clean water, we send the product to dry on a cotton towel. Next, take a cotton swab for the ears, dip it in cognac and wipe the chain and the stones on it. After wiping with alcohol, the decoration should dry, after which we rub it with a flannel cloth until it shines.
All of the above methods can be used at home. They do not require preliminary preparation or special expensive means. All of the above components are always at hand at home. You can clean it as your jewelry gets dirty. After cleaning, the products regain their store-bought shine and remain shiny for a long time.
Source: https://klubledi.ru/kak-pochistit-serebro-ot-chernoty.html/amp
What is the best method to remove black plaque from a silver chain? Instructions +
The natural process of oxidation of the metal coats silver jewelry with an unpleasant gray film. How to clean a silver chain at home? You can return the decoration to its original appearance without the participation of specialists.
The appearance of silver is deteriorated by salts that are part of human sweat, moisture and sunlight.
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.
Method for cleaning silver with foil
At home, you can quickly and effectively remove even the strongest traces of black plaque and green deposits.
You can remove the dark film from silver using regular foil. The aluminum contained in it will react with the dark coating and make the chain shine again. To do this, you need to line a pan with silver and boil the chain in it, adding soda. Then you need to cool the chain in water and wipe it off. This simple manipulation will clean your jewelry so that it shines.
If you still want to avoid boiling, the experiment can be repeated with foil and potato broth. In this case, you need to soak the chain for 15 minutes. Undoubtedly, the advantage of such plaque cleaning methods is care without polishing. Mechanical cleaning in any case creates small scratches, which over time spoil the appearance of the chain.
How to quickly clean silver with a special jewelry cleaner?
Very often, silver care products are offered to be purchased at a jewelry store. Silver is a finicky metal - try to choose a proven product.
In the jewelry department you can purchase special liquids, soaps, and impregnated wipes that can gently remove blackening and prevent damage to valuable metal. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the product turns out to be too aggressive: it is diluted below the recommended level and the effect lasts longer than expected, a layer of silver may come off from silver-plated products.
Remedies for blackheads at home
If you don’t want to spend extra money to clean one chain and a cross, you can always try traditional methods. They are usually quite effective and use ingredients that are always on hand.
An excellent method of whitening from black plaque is toothpaste. True, now that there are a great many of them on the market, this complicates the task a little: you need exactly white, without stripes or inclusions. Transparent gel will not work in this case either. Rub the jewelry with an old toothbrush, rinse and blow dry to avoid unnecessary contact with water. Wipe the chain only with a soft cloth, such as flannel. Usually this is enough for high-quality care of small silver.
Ammonia is perfect for cleaning any household silver. This all-purpose cleaner will remove black stains from both silverware and chains. In order to clean the chain, you need to wipe it with a 10% solution of ammonia, using gauze or other fabric that does not leave lint.
If the charges are stronger, for example when worn for a long time, you can immerse the jewelry in the solution. You can use ammonia along with crushed chalk, rubbing the chain with this composition. You will most likely need a toothbrush to remove the chalk from the links. But such cleaning works well on all the small details.
Important! If you choose to clean your silver with an abrasive, choose the softest of them: soda, chalk, tooth powder. A piece of flannel with a little effort and the silver shines. Olive oil can be used to clean silver: it removes plaque well and does not damage the surface of the product. True, washing off the oil itself will add a little hassle to care. Wash off the oil with soapy water.
Sometimes, after prolonged constant wear, you can see strong blackening on your favorite jewelry. A mild acid solution will help here. Citric acid will help dissolve the blackness and will not spoil the decoration. Both freshly squeezed lemon juice and citric acid solution will do. The product is immersed in it for 15 minutes, then wiped thoroughly.
Soaking the chain in table vinegar is also quite effective. The main thing is not to forget it there, otherwise the silver may be damaged.
If you can no longer see just black spots on your chain, but the silver has simply turned green, you need stronger measures: boil the silver in a soapy solution with soda for about 5 minutes.
Soak your silver overnight in a water solution of dish soap and lemon juice, and in the morning it will be as good as new. Rinsing with soapy water can be considered a prevention of blackening when worn for a long time on the body.
Cleaning silver with salt
Salt is one of the universal means of cleaning metals; it is also suitable for silver.
The chain is soaked in a salt solution for an hour, then boiled in it. After wiping, all deposits are usually eliminated. Milk not only helps clean silver, but also significantly brightens it, making it look newer and more attractive. If you encounter severe contamination, you can add soda to the milk.
If you have silver jewelry with a natural stone, then you are even more constrained in choosing cleaning products. It is necessary not only to clean the silver, but also not to damage the stone. A glass of vodka is perfect, where you immerse the jewelry overnight and take it out in the morning already cleaned.
Instead of an alcohol solution, you can use Coca-Cola; the acids in its composition can also break down contaminants. As you can see, cleaning silver is not such a difficult task and it can be done with improvised means.
What can I do to prevent a silver chain from turning black so quickly?
Silver does not oxidize, but still turns black when exposed to air. Therefore, store it in a sealed bag, and only then place it in the box. Water also harms the chain. Before washing or swimming in the pool, the jewelry must be removed. Maintaining hygiene also affects the appearance of silver, since sweat and traces of cosmetics are directly reflected on it. Silver does not like moisture; it will darken faster in warm and damp places.
Source: https://kakchistim.ru/uhod-za-veshchami/dragocennosti/kak-pochistit-serebryanuyu-cepochku.html
An effective recipe for cleaning silver
On the Internet you can find many tips and recipes that will help clean silver jewelry from blackness, but not all of them inspire confidence. We bring to your attention a recipe that requires only a few steps, but at the same time pleases you with the end result. To perform it you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of soda;
- water;
- food foil;
- blackened decoration.
The procedure is quite simple, so it won’t be difficult to perform:
- Dilute 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 500 ml of water and stir thoroughly
- Place this solution on the stove and bring to a boil.
- When the water begins to show the first signs of boiling, lower a small piece of food foil into it.
- Then place the silver jewelry in boiling water with foil.
- This solution should be boiled together with the jewelry for 20 minutes, after which the silver should be caught and wiped with a paper towel.
Thanks to this recipe, silver will acquire its original appearance and begin to shine like new. If the area of blackening is small, you can carry out a simple manipulation by simply dipping the jewelry in hot soda with baking soda dissolved in it. Keep the jewelry in this solution for at least 15 minutes, after which they should be removed and wiped with a soft towel or napkin.
How to clean jewelry with stones
If the jewelry consists not only of silver, but also has stones, then you should know about some rules for cleaning jewelry with stones:
- Jewelry with stones such as sapphire, emerald and aquamarine do not require special care; these stones are particularly dense, which is why they are not afraid of any external influences.
- Jewelry with opal, malachite, turquoise and moonstone require more careful handling. Products with abrasive components can damage the surface of the stone, causing it to become cloudy.
- Ruby, topaz and garnet are sensitive to high temperatures and may change color.
- If you have jewelry with amber, pearls, coral or ivory, then you need to be extremely careful with them and not take risks.
It is better to entrust the cleaning of such products to professionals, because... These stones are distinguished by their sensitivity to certain products containing alkali or acids.
How to clean silver from blackness at home Link to main publication
Source: https://freelancehack.ru/other/kak-pochistit-serebro-ot-chernoty-v-domashnih-uslovijah
How to clean silver at home - useful tips and life hacks
Silver jewelry is very beautiful. It's a pleasure to look at them. But they can fulfill their aesthetic function only if there is no blackness on the surface. And, unfortunately, it appears very quickly. And every owner of silver items knows about this negative property - the ability to become dirty in a matter of days. And the only reassuring thing here is that there are many ways to get rid of blackness. This article shows the most effective and simple ones.
To solve the problem associated with the contamination of silver items, some products that are often used in the household for one purpose or another will help. Cleaning is usually carried out in four stages.
1. Washing
First you need to wash the contaminated item in a warm soapy solution. You can use regular soap or replace it with liquid soap. You can use shampoo or dishwashing detergent instead.
2. Cleaning
The next step is the main one. This is the cleaning itself using the selected substance.
3. Rinse
Then the item must be rinsed thoroughly. For this, plain water is used, which does not contain any impurities.
Important! After rinsing, the silver item must be dried.
4. Chafing
And all that remains is to rub the thing until it begins to shine brightly again. A soft cloth is used for rubbing. Microfiber, flannel and suede are best options.
Important! It is recommended to have a special brush for silver jewelry. It will help remove dirt from places that are difficult to reach with ordinary rags. It is better to take a toothbrush, but not a new one, but an already used one. And the point here is not at all about saving the budget, but about the fact that such a brush has softer bristles.
Those who have already cleaned silver at home, when asked: “What should I use?” without hesitation they usually answer - “ammonia”. This substance is considered by many to be the most effective. Therefore, all owners of silver products are recommended to keep at least one small jar in stock.
Preparation
Preparing a remedy from ammonia is simple. You only need a couple of tbsp. l. add this substance to 1 liter of water. This alone may be enough to restore the shine of silver. But if it doesn’t help, you can add hydrogen peroxide to the water along with ammonia.
Important! Peroxide should be used only if it is known for sure that the product is made only of silver and does not contain impurities. Otherwise, a chemical reaction may begin, and a coating will appear on the surface that will be difficult to remove.
Application
When the solution is prepared, you need to dip the item into it and wait a quarter of an hour. Then all that remains is to remove the jewelry, rinse it and wipe it with a soft fleecy cloth.
You can combat blackness on the surface of silver with soda.
Flaw
The only problem is that this method only works if the product does not have small indentations and protrusions.
Substances that can help clean silver are also found in toothpaste. So, the chalk and sand present in it remove plaque well without leaving scratches.
If it doesn't help
If using toothpaste does not give the desired effect, then you can take radical measures - add ammonia. With the resulting mixture of ammonia and toothpaste, you just need to wipe the product and then rinse.
But here is one of the most ancient methods, which was used back in the days when silver was more expensive than gold. It is not complicated and requires the use of only one substance - egg yolk. You will also need water for rinsing.
Advantages
The method based on the use of an egg helps not only to get rid of dirt and restore the lost beauty of a silver item. After cleaning using this method, the jewelry will be protected from oxides that cause darkening. This means that it will not need the next cleaning soon.