Cleaning silver with ammonia (ammonia) at home: is it possible, how to do it correctly, recipes for jewelry with stones | mk-soyuz.rf
Greetings, dear readers! Cleaning silver with ammonia is the topic of our article. We’ll also talk about the reasons why silver is contaminated, what should not be used to clean it, we’ll tell you recipes for cleaning solutions and much more.
Types and causes of silver contamination
Many people like silver jewelry, some use silver cutlery. But over time, precious metals may lose their attractiveness, darken, acquire a black coating, their color begins to cast yellow, and a red tint may appear. Why does this happen?
The most common cause is oxidation, and it occurs due to the following reasons:
- ingress of perfumes and other cosmetics,
- high indoor humidity,
- frequent contact with salt and detergents,
- Constant contact with water also spoils the appearance of the product.
Is it possible to clean silver with ammonia?
Let's figure out whether cleaning silver with ammonia is acceptable, whether this method is safe, and whether it is convenient.
Ammonia is a strong oxidizing agent. Bringing silver items to perfect condition with ammonia is the most common safe and working option.
Ammonia, due to its ability to react with all oxidizing agents, perfectly cleanses contaminants.
Advantages and disadvantages of this method
One of the advantages of using ammonia is its availability. The product is inexpensive, distributed through the pharmacy chain, and is used in everyday life, including for cleaning jewelry.
Another advantage of ammonia is that it dissolves in water and then evaporates without harming the metal that you are freeing from dirt and deposits.
There are not many disadvantages: this method is not suitable for restoring the shine to gold-plated silver and items with pearls. Ammonia should be used to wash items made of only one metal at a time. If, for example, you put gold rings and a silver chain in it, the gold item will turn white, and the silver item, on the contrary, will turn yellow.
Vsevolod Kozlovsky6 years in the jewelry business. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds. Do not clean tableware with ammonia: if you do not rinse it well after using ammonia, the remaining alcohol will enter the body, this can cause burns to the mucous membranes.
Which samples can withstand this treatment?
Silver is a very malleable precious metal, so alloys containing 96 percent or more silver are not used to make jewelry or cutlery. The most common samples are 875 and 925. Products made from silver in combination with copper are considered more durable, but they have a yellowish tint.
No matter what quality the product is, even with the most careful handling, it will somehow get dirty and darken. It is possible to treat a silver alloy of any standard with a solution of ammonia.
What not to clean silver
You should not use detergents and cleaners aimed at dissolving rust and plaque (Domestos, Pemolux and others): acid and alkali can harm silver.
Do not use hard toothbrushes or abrasive sponges. Ammonia should not be used when cleaning blackened metal, since if you are too diligent, the coating may simply come off.
By choosing the wrong method for cleaning silver, it is easy to ruin your jewelry, so you need to approach this process extremely thoughtfully and carefully.
Cleaning silver with ammonia at home
It is quite possible to bring silver cutlery and jewelry to a shine at home. It is only important to adhere to certain cleaning rules.
Precautionary measures
Do not allow ammonia to come into contact with your skin: this solution can corrode the skin.
Contact of ammonia on the skin or mucous membranes can cause a burn. Rinse the affected area and consult a doctor.
The pungent smell of ammonia can cause poisoning if you breathe it in for a long time, so when working with ammonia, the respiratory system must be protected.
Cleaning Solution Recipes
Cleaning silver with ammonia is accessible to everyone, and there are many ways. In the first case, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap are used (I advise you to use baby soap). The ingredients are taken in equal proportions and mixed with water.
Another option: using ammonia and tooth powder. It is suitable for those products where there are no stones. Only three components are used:
- 2.5 tbsp. spoons of water (preferably warm),
- 0.5 tbsp. spoons of tooth powder,
- 1 tbsp. spoon of ammonia.
Tooth powder can be replaced with paste.
The easiest way is to place the jewelry in ammonia and water (2 tablespoons of alcohol per 1 liter of water) for 10-15 minutes. Then wipe the surface of the product.
Preparation of the solution
The mixture for cleaning precious items is easy to prepare and does not take much time. Decide which of the proposed solutions is suitable for your jewelry and mix all the ingredients. Before you begin cleaning, it is important to properly prepare for the process.
Preparing jewelry for cleaning
Home cleaning is contraindicated for inserts made of amber, coral or pearls; it is better to contact a professional. If your silver items do not have such inserts, then there are no contraindications for home cleaning.
First, you should clean the item from easily removed dirt, such as cosmetics, dust and grease. Ideal helpers for this are rags, sponges or toothbrushes.
Cleaning process
For the actual cleaning, several methods are offered. If we use ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap for cleaning, then it is enough to put the silver in the mixture for a short period of time, and when the dirt or darkening disappears, all that remains is to dry and rub the precious metal with wool.
Objects can be cleaned well with a sponge dipped in a mixture of toothpaste and ammonia; a soft toothbrush will also do. After this, just wipe the silver dry.
Other cleaning methods
You can restore the shine of silver using other methods, for example, soap solutions or grated potatoes. If the decoration does not contain stones, use lemon juice.
Fresh silver stains can be removed with toothpaste without adding ammonia. Simply squeeze the paste onto a sponge and work the product in a circular motion, then rinse. Paste has an advantage over powder: its particles are larger and harder than toothpastes, which means that when using tooth powder, you risk scratching the product.
An old recipe: place foil in potato broth and place silver objects there for several hours. After such cleaning, the silver will shine like new.
Leave the decoration in lemon juice mixed with the same amount of warm water for half an hour. Then rinse the item and wipe dry.
Source: https://xn----ntbhhmr6g.xn--p1ai/dragmetallyi/kak-pochistit-serebro-nashatyirnyim-spirtom-i-ne-isportit-kakie-ukrasheniya-mozhno-chem-nelzya
Cleaning silver with hydrogen peroxide and ammonia: 5 methods and 4 tips
I have some silver jewelry that I stopped wearing a couple of years ago because it tarnished. A week ago I came across a chain and decided to see if it was possible to return it to its original appearance.
After cleaning silver using any of the described methods, rinse it thoroughly with clean water.
I read the advice of jewelers and manufacturers and came to the conclusion that the best way to clean silver is with ammonia and peroxide. I'll tell you how to do the work.
4 reasons for darkening and 4 care tips
It all depends on what silver interacts with:
- Storage in high humidity conditions.
- Frequent contact with water.
- Exposure to sweat secreted by the skin.
- Reaction to components of cosmetic products.
To reduce the likelihood of darkening, remember these simple tips:
- Wipe with a soft cloth after each use.
- Store each product in a separate package or bag.
- Remove jewelry at night and when doing housework or playing sports.
- Use a dark place to store away from heat sources.
Method 1 - cleaning with peroxide and ammonia
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
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Step 2: Prepare a cleaning solution
Don't pour too much. The liquid level should be 2 cm below the edge, as a violent reaction occurs during the process and you will have to collect caustic foam from the table |
Step 3. Dip the product into the liquid
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Step 4: Observe the reaction
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Step 5: Wait for the reaction to complete
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Step 6. Remove items from solution
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Step 7: Rinse the jewelry
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Step 8: Wipe the surface
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5 other ways
Method 1. Tooth powder or toothpasteUsage:
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Method 2: Baking sodaUsage:
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Method 3. Table vinegarUsage:
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Method 4. Detergent and ammoniaUsage:
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Method 5. Soda and foilUsage:
In case of severe contamination, you can boil the products in this solution. Is it possible to clean options with stones in this way? No, they may become cloudy |
3 tips that I found on different forums
1. Dissolve a small amount of washing powder in water . Add silver and boil for about 10 minutes. The method is suitable for cutlery and gold.
Play off:
Dissolve ordinary washing powder in water in a metal bowl, put the items you want to clean (metal) in there and boil for 10 minutes. Then rinse in warm water, if necessary, scrub with a brush or sponge. They will be as good as new. This is how I clean gold, silver and cutlery, quickly and easily.
2. Use nail polish remover . Soak a cotton pad in the product and wipe the surface well. You can first moisten the plaque, then it comes off much faster.
Abri:
I don’t know about this, it’s unlikely, but the nail polish remover really helped. The chain is like new!!! Girls, thank you all so much!!!
3. Take an aluminum pan, add water and bring to a boil . Add a tablespoon of salt. Place the silver items and remove them immediately.
Already:
I’m telling you the ideal method without washing powders and foil. Take an aluminum (!!!) pan or any other aluminum cookware, boil the water, when it boils, add a tablespoon of salt, put in silver, gold, cutlery, whatever. And there is no need to boil it all there. I just put it down and took it out.
What to remember
- Take proper care of your silver . Wipe it, remove it at night and store it in a separate package.
- Use a mixture of peroxide and ammonia to quickly clean silver. Just dip the items into the solution and wait for the reaction to complete.
- Try other methods - soda, toothpaste, vinegar . In especially difficult cases, boil with soda.
Source: https://domovoda.club/ukrasheniya/164-chistka-serebra-perekisyu-vodoroda
Cleaning silver with ammonia: methods, techniques, tips
Silver objects have served people for many centuries and are still popular. But silver has a drawback - over time, a coating appears on its surface, which spoils the appearance of the product. They learned to remove it using folk remedies and chemicals. You can quickly and effectively clean silver at home with ammonia, which you can find in your medicine cabinet. If everything is done correctly, the quality of the metal will not suffer.
Causes of plaque on silver
It was once believed that silver darkens if its owner is damaged, but then the reasons for the appearance of the plaque were explained from a scientific point of view:
- The quality of the metal is indicated by the sample number, and the higher it is, the better the silver. For silver products this is 925 standard. The higher sample number 999 is used mainly for spraying due to the fragility of the structure. A low sample indicates that copper has been added to the alloy, and it easily oxidizes and quickly darkens.
- Various salts and substances in sweat secretions cause oxidative processes in silver, so the surface of jewelry darkens from constant wear. This is especially noticeable if there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis with high acidity - the composition of sweat changes, which affects the condition of the metal.
- Cosmetics contain sulfur, which interacts with silver molecules, and chains and rings should be removed when applying cosmetics.
- Keeping silver in a humid or high sulfur environment will also cause tarnish.
Advantages of using ammonia
Ammonia, as a cleaner, has been used in ordinary household conditions for a long time, and not only for cleaning silver. Ammonia interacts only with oxidizing agents, forming ammonium salts and does not come into contact with metal, glass, fabric, so if used correctly it will not harm.
Important!
You cannot clean silver and gold-plated objects with ammonia at the same time, that is, in the same container - they become unevenly colored. Yellow stains may appear on silver, and silvery stains on gold. For the same reason, silver with gilding is not cleaned with ammonia.
Rules for using ammonia
Ammonia (ammonia) is a chemical and should be used in accordance with the rules.
What not to do:
- use hard cloths and sponges - the abrasive may scratch the metal surface;
- clean jewelry with pearls - pearls darken from ammonia, losing their quality;
- use a solution with a high concentration of ammonia if the jewelry contains a gemstone (use a weak solution of 250 ml of water and 5 drops of ammonia).
To achieve the desired result when cleaning silver with ammonia, you need to follow instructions that take into account the degree of contamination, exposure time and safety precautions.
Safety precautions
Ammonia has a strong and pungent odor, so if you work with it in a small enclosed space, you can inhale its fumes. You also do not need to tilt your head too much over the solution, so as not to inhale the fumes in case of prolonged use.
The substance is considered aggressive, affecting the skin, and work with it should be carried out with gloves or tweezers.
Information!
If handled carelessly, ammonia can get on the mucous membranes or skin - it must be quickly washed off with water.
How to use ammonia
Before cleaning silver with ammonia, you should first become familiar with the technique of the procedure and find out whether or not the product can be cleaned using the method you have chosen.
Recommendations for use:
- clean the surface from dust and greasy deposits with a sponge moistened with alcohol or vodka;
- prepare a solution of water (10 tbsp.) and ammonia (1 tbsp.);
- place the item in it for 30-60 minutes (time depends on the degree of contamination);
- then wipe with a dry cloth;
- darkening in a small area can be cleaned with a soft flannel cloth moistened with undiluted ammonia, then wiped;
- If there is old contamination, place the item in undiluted ammonia for a quarter of an hour, rinse and wipe.
Ammonia, tooth powder or toothpaste
In cases where the product has not been cleaned for a long time or consists of curls or small parts, it is recommended to clean silver with ammonia with the addition of other products.
Tooth powder enhances the effect of the main product, so it is in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. add to a solution of warm water (5 tbsp) and ammonia (2 tbsp). Moisten a sponge with the mixture, wipe the surface thoroughly, rinse with water and wipe dry.
On a note!
The method suggested above is not suitable for cleaning jewelry with stones and enamel. In this case, you should mix ammonia with tooth powder, taking them in equal parts, and carefully clean the dirt with a thick mixture, trying to avoid dangerous areas.
The combined use of ammonia and toothpaste cleans heavily oxidized surfaces well. First, use a soft toothbrush to clean the plaque with paste, rinse, then soak for a quarter of an hour in a solution of ammonia (10%), rinse again, and wipe dry.
Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and baby soap
Cleaning with a mixture of ammonia, peroxide and baby soap is suitable when other cleaning methods cannot be used. To do this, you need to mix all the ingredients in equal proportions (25 ml each), add one glass of warm water, place the silver item in the solution for a third of an hour.
After the procedure, rinse and polish with a piece of woolen cloth until shiny.
Tips for owners of silver products
The surface of silver remains clean longer and you will have to clean it less often if you follow simple recommendations:
- Be sure to wipe the dishes and cutlery dry after washing; paper prevents the appearance of darkening; wrap it in it without tying it with an elastic band;
- when taking a shower, bathing, when visiting a sauna, bathhouse, when doing housework and applying cosmetics, remove jewelry;
- the juice of vegetables and fruits (onions, carrots, beets, red and black currants) oxidizes silver, so it is recommended to remove the rings when cooking;
- regular hair conditioner will prevent oxidation - apply it with a cotton pad or napkin, leave for three minutes, rinse and wipe dry;
- the best place to store silver is a closed box (casket) lined with fabric, a bag, and rarely used items are recommended to be stored wrapped in foil;
- silver coins are stored separately from each other in special albums and boxes;
- Do not use aggressive cleaning agents, hard sponges or brushes.
A silver product will serve you for a long time if you take care of it and follow the operating rules, taking into account the characteristics of the metal.
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Source: https://hozsekretiki.ru/sovety/chistka-serebra-ammiakom.html
How to clean silver at home - Household Tips
Today we will tell you how to clean silver at home. Moreover, we are not talking about silverware, but about jewelry. We will, so to speak, continue the precious topic, because... We have already written about how to clean gold at home using folk methods.
Unfortunately, sooner or later your favorite silver ring or chain will turn black, so the question is: “How to clean silver at home?” becomes more relevant than ever. You have a choice - turn to professional cleaners for help, clean your silver yourself using “grandmother’s” methods, or, at worst, turn to a jeweler.
We are interested in traditional methods of cleaning silver at home, because... they are affordable and don't bite your pocket. Let's look at each of them.
How to clean silver with ammonia
You should clean silver with ammonia very carefully, because... its vapors can have a negative effect on mucous membranes, skin and respiratory organs.
Therefore, if you choose ammonia for cleaning silver, then prepare everything well in advance and think it over - put on gloves, glasses, wet a cotton-gauze bandage with water and put it on your face, covering your mouth and nose.
If you don’t have all this “ammunition,” then put on gloves and take your silver and ammonia outside or into a very well-ventilated area.
So, you have prepared everything, what is the essence of this method? Take a glass of water and add 5 drops of ammonia (the amount can be increased depending on the degree of contamination of the silver), then immerse the silver jewelry in water for an hour. After the allotted time, we take out the silver, let it dry, and wipe it. Voila! There are no black spots.
How to clean silver with ammonia
Ammonia not only perfectly cleans silver, it can also be used to wash plastic windows!
However, let's return to the silver and clean it with ammonia. Take some container (an ordinary porcelain plate or cup is perfect), put all the silver that needs to be cleaned there and fill it with 10% ammonia. Leave to ferment for 15-20 minutes, remove, rinse thoroughly in running water, dry and enjoy the result achieved.
How to clean silver with hydrogen peroxide
If you know for sure that your silver ring or pendant is 960 or 925 standard, i.e. made from high quality silver with a minimum of any impurities, then you can safely clean tarnished silver using hydrogen peroxide. However, if you are not sure of the quality of your jewelry, then it is better to give preference to the two methods described above. The thing is that low-quality silver, when interacting with peroxide, turns black even more.
If you decide, place the silver in a container and fill it with peroxide for 20 minutes, rinse and dry.
How to clean silver with toothpaste
You will be surprised, but toothpaste is needed not only for oral care, but also for cleaning both tableware and jewelry.
Take a soft-bristled toothbrush (! this is very important, otherwise you may scratch the silver), silver jewelry and toothpaste. We follow the old and proven scheme - we clean jewelry as if it were our teeth.
How to clean silver with vinegar
Here is another very accessible and cheap method for cleaning tarnished silver. Take a bottle of 6% vinegar, dampen a rag with it and start wiping the item, alternately wetting the rag in the vinegar. Rub until you achieve the desired shine. The time depends on the degree of darkening of the silver.
Vinegar will also be irreplaceable if your cat shits in the wrong place and you want to discourage her from such a bad habit.
How to clean silver with citric acid
Let's continue to look at methods for cleaning silver using products that are found in any kitchen. We're talking about citric acid! By the way, citric acid is also useful in the fight against scale.
Take a glass of water, pour it into a saucepan, dissolve 2-3 packs of citric acid, immerse the blackened decorations in this saturated solution and boil them over the fire. Blackening and dullness will go away!
Helpful advice: if you do this whole procedure in the microwave, then in this way you will kill two (even three) birds with one stone: clean the silver from blackening, wash the microwave from the most frozen droplets of fat and fill the kitchen with a pleasant smell.
How to clean silver with soda
We never tire of repeating that baking soda is a lifesaver in the kitchen of any housewife! With its help, you can descale an iron, a kettle, wash away blood stains from clothes, wash a microwave, household appliances and dishes, clean tiles and bathroom fixtures until they shine, get rid of an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, in general, wash the whole house!
Soda also removes blackening from silver. True, first you need to rinse it in warm soapy water to wash off the primary dirt and grease. Then make a soda paste: add a couple of drops of water to the powder (fortunately, soda is cheap and you don’t have to save money) and with light movements begin to wipe the silver jewelry with this paste. This must be done only with a soft sponge or rag and always with soda slurry, and not just soda, otherwise you may scratch the silver.
How to clean gold-plated silver at home
It is necessary to approach the care of these jewelry more carefully and carefully. The whole point is that the gilding peels off and breaks off over time, in general, it wears off. That is why, to clean these jewelry, choose liquid products, but not those that contain even the smallest solid particles. So pay attention to vinegar!
Take a soft cloth, soak it in vinegar and wipe it several times, rinse and let dry. If you just need to add shine, then wipe gold-plated jewelry with a dry suede cloth.
In addition, gilding can be wiped with cotton wool and a solution of turpentine and ethyl alcohol.
We have looked at traditional methods of cleaning silver, let's now learn a little about professional cleaning products that know the answer to the question - how to quickly clean silver at home.
All cleaning products are divided into pastes (here we can distinguish such representatives as: “GOI paste”, “Prism Metal Polish”), solutions (“Connoisseurs” and, of course, the well-known “Aladdin”), foams (“Silbo”, “Hagerty Silver” Foam"). Jewelry cleaning wipes are also becoming increasingly popular; Here you can highlight such samples as “Town Talk” and “Thurman”.
It is worth noting that the use of napkins is a gentle cleaning method. Surprisingly, they not only perfectly remove small darkening of silver, but also add shine to metal and stones. If your jewelry has not just darkened, but turned black, then opt for solutions, pastes or foams, because... they are considered radical means of cleaning silver.
Of course, professional cleaning products are not cheap and can be found either in specialized stores or in jewelry stores or workshops, but they cope with the problem in a matter of seconds.
Remember one piece of wisdom - it’s not clean where they clean, but where they don’t litter. In the case of silver jewelry, as indeed in any situation, it is necessary not only to be able to deal with the consequences, but also to prevent the problem from occurring. You can clean silver a hundred times, but it’s better to know and understand why it turns black? What needs to be changed so as not to fight this problem, but to eradicate it at the root.
Why does silver turn black? Causes:
- Improper storage and wearing.
- Interaction with sulfur particles (contained in various cosmetic creams).
- Individual characteristics of a person, i.e. For some, silver jewelry darkens in almost a couple of weeks, while for others it can take a whole year, and only then notice that the silver has begun to darken.
Source: http://SovetypoDomu.ru/sovety-khozyayki/chem-mozhno-pochistit-serebro-v-domashni.html
Cleaning silver with ammonia
Ammonia is one of the most famous, effective and inexpensive ways to quickly and effectively rid silver and gold of black, tarnished plaque. Although ammonia as a cleaning method has been known for a long time, cleaning silver with ammonia has not lost its relevance to this day, even despite the presence of special products designed for silver and gold (some argue that ammonia cleans precious metal much better).
Why does silver darken?
Unlike gold, silver turns black faster: if it is enough to clean gold once a year or even less often, in order for silver items to be shiny and sparkling, they must be cleaned of plaque at least once every two months (the less often this is done, the thicker the plaque will be and darker color).
The lower the quality of the silver, the more effort is required to clean it, so when purchasing, it is advisable to give preference to 925 sterling silver (the purest silver is 999 sterling silver, but it is not used in manufacturing because it is very fragile and brittle).
The main reason that affects the darkening of silver and gold is the presence of various impurities in the metal, primarily copper, which oxidize when interacting with other substances, which manifests itself in the form of a black coating. For example, if we talk about silver jewelry, then when worn, copper reacts with sulfur, which is part of sweat, as a result of which silver sulfide appears in the form of black crystals on the surface of the silver.
Silver jewelry also often darkens in people who have problems with stomach acidity. For this reason, jewelry with a smooth surface is most often darkened, since it comes into close contact with the skin, providing maximum contact.
Another reason why silver darkens is the high sulfur content in the environment: the higher its concentration, the faster the product darkens. Can cause darkening of silver and its storage in conditions of high humidity.
Ammonia and silver
Ammonia effectively removes blackness from silver and gold due to its ability to react with any chemical oxidizing agent, converting it into ammonium salts, which allows it to be a very good solvent. At the same time, its peculiarity is that ammonia does not affect gold and silver when removing plaque, which allows it to be used without the risk of damaging the precious metal.
The only point that needs to be taken into account when cleaning is that you cannot soak silver and gold in the same solution, as they will react, resulting in yellow silver and white gold. It is not recommended to use ammonia to clean gold-plated silver, as well as items with pearls. For products that contain other precious stones, when preparing the solution, you need to reduce the amount of ammonia.
Preparing the product for cleaning
To clean silver or gold with ammonia, you may need:
- Toothbrush;
- sponge, wool or flannel fabric (under no circumstances should you use abrasive substances or hard brushes to clean silver: they can scratch it and ruin the appearance of the product);
- a container for the solution (it should be borne in mind that it cannot subsequently be used for cooking);
- paper napkins;
- rubber gloves and tweezers.
The cleaning method largely depends on the product: if you need to clean, for example, a chain, you should take into account that it consists of many links, which are not easy to get to from all sides, so the best option would be to soak the product. Before you start cleaning the product with ammonia, it is advisable to soak it in a soap solution for a while: most of the blackness will come off and it will be easier to clean the precious metal.
Correct technique
When starting to clean silver with ammonia, you need to prepare a solution by diluting 1 tbsp. l. alcohol in 10 tbsp. l. water. After this, put silver items in the liquid and leave for at least half an hour (soaking time depends on how firmly the blackness is ingrained into the precious metal, but no more than an hour). When the time is up, wear gloves, remove the product from the solution and wipe with dry wipes.
If the coating is not strong, to get rid of the blackness, you can moisten a woolen or flannel cloth with ammonia (it is advisable not to bend over the bottle because of the pungent odor). After this, rub the blackened surface well.
You can rid silver items of blackness by mixing ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, baby liquid soap and water in equal proportions. After this, put the silver in the solution and wait the time necessary for the blackness to pass. Dry the cleaned product with napkins and polish with a woolen cloth.
In case of very severe contamination, you can use a pure ammonia solution. To do this, put the silver in the product for fifteen minutes, then remove it, rinse and dry. When cleaning silver using this method, you must act carefully and do not lean over the product, so as not to be poisoned by the smell of ammonia.
Ammonia and tooth powder
To make cleaning silver with ammonia more effective, you can prepare a solution with tooth powder. At the same time, you need to act carefully here, since there are recipes that cannot be used for products with stones, but there are also those that clean both silver and the elements decorating them well.
To prepare a solution for cleaning silver items with stones, you need to mix ammonia and tooth powder in equal quantities. After this, moisten flannel or woolen material in the mixture and clean the product. When the silver is cleared of blackness, rinse the product under running water, dry and polish.
There is another effective method that allows you to remove old plaque, however, this method is not suitable for cleaning products with stones:
- 5 tbsp. l. warm water;
- 1 tbsp. l. tooth powder (sold at the pharmacy);
- 2 tbsp. l. ammonia.
After mixing the components, moisten the sponge into the mixture and clean the product. When the silver is clean, rinse with water and wipe dry. If it is not possible to get tooth powder, you can replace it with toothpaste.
To clean heavily soiled items, you need to apply toothpaste to a toothbrush, thoroughly clean the jewelry on all sides, and then place the silver in a ten percent ammonia solution for several minutes. Rinse the cleaned product under running water, dry well with paper towels and polish with wool, suede or flannel cloth.
Source: https://ochistote.ru/chistka/metall/chistka-serebra-ammiakom.html
Cleaning silver with ammonia
For many centuries, silver has been used to produce jewelry and tableware. The metal is easy to process and looks stylish and expensive. Jewelry goes perfectly with any outfit, emphasizing the refined taste of the owner. And silverware can tell about a person’s aristocratic roots.
Over time, the metal loses its natural color. This is due to chemical processes and the breakdown of silver. Products made from pure metal are less susceptible to oxidation. But very often copper is added to silver, which easily undergoes an oxidation reaction. And every woman faces the question: how to clean silver at home?
Why does silver darken?
Constantly wearing jewelry or frequent use of dishes leads to darkening of the metal. Detergents, alkaline soaps, perfumes, and deodorants negatively affect the color of silver. Sweat released during physical activity or illness, reacting with the metal, attracts silver atoms. To “protect” it, it is covered with an oxide film, which leads to its darkening. The same thing happens after frequent contact of a silver spoon with water.
Method 1
How to clean silver with ammonia without harming the product? The most important thing is to observe the proportions: you need to mix one tablespoon of ammonia with ten tablespoons of clean water. After this, place the silver items in the container and pour in the resulting liquid, leaving for thirty minutes. Then, wearing gloves, wipe the silver with a paper towel.
If blackness remains after soaking, carefully soak the sponge with ammonia and clean the silver from plaque. After this, rinse with cold water and wipe with a napkin.
Method 2
Mix five tablespoons of warm water, 1 tablespoon of tooth powder or toothpaste, 2 tablespoons of ammonia. You need to soak the sponge in the solution and rub the products. After this, rinse with water and dry.
Method 3
If there has been a black coating on the silver for a long time, then you can use a stronger product. Mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide 1:1, place the silver item in the solution and wait a couple of minutes. There will be a hiss during the reaction - don't be alarmed.
These cleaning methods are suitable if there is heavy plaque. For weekly care, you can use any cleaning products with the addition of a few drops of ammonia.
How to properly clean silver items
Cleaning silver at home can cause irreparable damage to the product, so you should adhere to several rules:
- You should only use sponge, wool or soft fabrics that cannot scratch the product.
- To prevent black deposits, silver items must be cleaned regularly.
- Particular attention should be paid to jewelry with natural stones or antique collectibles. It is best to give them to professionals, because ammonia in small overdoses can harm silver.
- After cleaning, the products must be dried at room temperature or with a hair dryer.
- Storing silver items requires separate boxes or cabinets.
- When going to the bathhouse or shower, remove chains and rings.
You need to take care of silver items regularly and carefully, then they will last a long time, maintaining their original appearance. If decorations or cutlery are not used for a long time, they should be wrapped in foil and stored in a dry place. This storage method prevents the appearance of oxides on the surface of the silver.
Cleaning silver with ammonia - how to do it correctly.
Source: http://HozInfo.ru/hozyajke-na-zametku/chistka-serebra-nashatyrnym-spirtom
Cleaning silver with ammonia and peroxide - recommendations from professionals and experts
Silver is a valuable material that is used for the production of dishes and cutlery, jewelry, and coins. It stands out for its accessibility and beautiful appearance, attractive shine and moonlight.
But over time, this shine fades and darkens. This occurs due to the influence of moisture and unsaturated air, prolonged use or improper storage, in contact with cosmetics and chemicals.
To prevent silver from tarnishing, it is important to use and store your items correctly, regularly clean items, and take good care of the metal. In this publication we will look at how to clean silver with ammonia and other permitted means.
Rules for cleaning silver products with ammonia
Cleaning silver with ammonia is considered safer and more effective. This product dissolves well in water, after which the molecules evaporate into the air. This does not harm metals, plus silver and gold. But you cannot clean these metals at the same time, otherwise the ionization process will begin. This can cause silver to turn yellow and gold to turn white.
It is necessary to consider how to properly clean silver with ammonia at home. To do this, mix water and ammonia in a ratio of 10 to 1 in a tiled or enamel container. Do not inhale the vapors!
Dip the silver item into the prepared solution, close the container and then leave it for a specific period. To clean silver from blackness, soak the items for 30-60 minutes. This product is suitable for cleaning both ordinary silver items and jewelry with stones.
If the products have only faded a little, it is enough to hold them for five to ten minutes; you can even not hold them at all, but just dip them. When the silver turns white, remove the item with tweezers and rinse well in clean running water. Then wipe with a soft cloth.
By the way, using ammonia you can clean gold, glass and mirrors. To clean silverware and regular silver jewelry, you can use window or mirror cleaners and sprays. How to wash mirrors without streaks, what products are best to choose for this, you will know from this article.
Effect of ammonia with tooth powder
To enhance the effect, you can take tooth powder or crushed chalk along with alcohol. Both chalk and powder work gently, clean metal perfectly and leave no marks. But this product is best used exclusively for products without stones.
To prepare the solution, take water, ammonia and mix with chalk or tooth powder in a ratio of 10:4:4. Stir the elements until you obtain a mushy mixture. Then, using a cotton pad, blend the product onto the surface of the product and let it dry. After drying, wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
Moreover, before cleaning, it is best to wash silver items with a soap-based solution or liquid soap (take neutral, unscented or baby soap) with warm water. This method is also suitable for regular cleaning of silver as a precaution.
Cleaning and caring for silver
- When performing maintenance cleaning, remove dirt and grease from metal using a soap-based solution, mild shampoo, or a solution of dishwashing detergent and water;
Other silver cleaning options
Baking soda has the same effect as tooth powder or chalk. But it is harsher and can scratch the metal, so cleaning must be done with extreme caution. Mix a minimal amount of baking soda and water until a paste forms. The composition is applied with a cotton pad or soft cloth to the surface of the object and rubbed. Hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with a soft toothbrush.
A solution of salt, soda and dishwashing detergent is considered an effective and good method. To prepare the composition, take a tablespoon of any ingredient and add to a liter of water. Pour the resulting mixture into a ceramic, aluminum or enamel bowl. Place the product there and set it on fire. Boil the mixture for twenty minutes over low heat.
Another effective grandmother’s remedy is water from boiled eggs. Boil the eggs and wait until the water cools to a warm, optimal temperature. Place the items in water and wait until the metal turns white. Items can be cleaned in advance with a soap-based solution. After the procedure, wipe the products with a dry cloth.
Don't forget about specialized cleaning products for silver, which can be found in jewelry stores, workshops, and other special departments. Today, they produce specialized sprays or impregnated wipes that are used to constantly wipe products. They are suitable for jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones, they work softly and safely.
Special products not only clean silver , but also form a protective film on the surface of objects. As a result, the metal does not become darker for a long time and maintains a beautiful appearance. It is protected from the negative influence of moisture and other external factors.
How to restore shine to silver
To clean regular silver jewelry and cutlery, you can use acetic acid. But this method is not suitable for jewelry with semi-precious and expensive stones! It is contraindicated to use vinegar to clean coral and pearls. It will damage the appearance of the stones or deform the decorative inserts.
To prepare a vinegar solution, take 6% table vinegar and pour it into a metal container. Heat slightly and place the products in the warm solution. Leave for twenty minutes and wipe with a soft flannel or real wool rag.
peroxide will help remove darkening and blackness and restore shine to silver items . This product is also used for jewelry without stones and decorative inserts. To clean silver with peroxide, mix alcohol and hydrogen in half. You can also add a couple of drops of liquid soap for children. Soak the metal for twenty minutes and wipe with a dry, clean lint cloth.
To restore shine, food foil and baking soda are also used. To do this, pour warm water into a ceramic, aluminum or enamel container and dissolve a minimal amount of soda. Then tear a small sheet of foil into small pieces and roll into balls. Dip the balls in soda water, place the products and then leave for 15 minutes. Rinse items in clean running water and dry with a dry cloth.
To make silver items sparkle, use a solution of lemon juice and milk. Mix a glass of water and the juice of half a lemon, add half a cup of powdered milk. Place food foil on the bottom of the container and pour out the prepared mixture. Place items so that they do not touch each other. Leave for 6-10 hours and then rinse in clean cool water.
Source: http://versace-promo.ru/babushkiny-sovety/chistka-serebra-nashatyrnym-spirtom-i-perekisju/
Cleaning silver at home using folk remedies
Silver is a noble alloy from which jewelry, interior items, dishes, cutlery and other products are made. It has the special property of killing bacteria. But when it becomes covered with a dark coating, it loses its appearance and ability to be disinfected.
To correct the situation, you need to know how to clean silver. To do this, use ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, soda, citric acid, salt, vinegar and other means. You can see that it is not necessary to buy expensive drugs or take the jewelry to a workshop.
You just need to have recipes and know how to clean silver at home.
How to clean silver with ammonia
Traditional methods are several times, or even tens of times, cheaper than those bought in a store. Cleaning silver with ammonia is popular. If you don't have it in your house, you can buy it at the nearest pharmacy for mere pennies.
Ammonia is poured into a glass and the necessary things are immersed in it. Leave for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the alcohol will corrode the blackness and dirt, which will go away on their own or with a little help from you. Take it out, wipe the residue with a cloth, wash it in water and be sure to dry it.
For one glass of water, add a tablespoon of ammonia, a little baby or laundry soap and hydrogen peroxide. Stir and immerse silver items for 15-20 minutes. Remove and wash with a soft damp cloth. If the surface is clean, dry it; if not, repeat the procedure.
The third recipe for cleaning silver with ammonia. Choose the most suitable one and get started. The next method is tough and not recommended for fine jewelry. Ammonia is mixed with crushed chalk or tooth powder. Stir until a paste forms. Using a cotton swab, apply a thin, even layer to the surface and leave until dry. Use a soft cloth to remove any excess product and you’re done. Congratulations on mastering a new skill, cleaning silver with ammonia.
Effective Methods for Cleaning Silver Items
At home, there are many substances that can be used to clean silver. For the methods to work as they should, follow the instructions carefully. Below we will describe the most effective and common recipes for cleaning silver.
Lemon acid
Cleaning silver with citric acid is as follows. 100 grams of acid are diluted with half a liter of water. Find a piece of copper wire and add it to the solution. Place the container in a water bath and heat to a boil. Now begin cleaning your silver jewelry, slowly immerse it in boiling water and leave for 10-20 minutes depending on the severity of the dirt. Wipe with a cloth and rinse with clean water, then dry completely.
It is important that there is no sudden temperature change during immersion, otherwise the jewelry may become deformed. The most dangerous bottom of the pan, cover it with a cloth or do not let the silver reach the bottom. It would be optimal to hang the product on one end of the copper wire, and hook the other to the top of the vessel.
Baking soda and tooth powder
The products are very aggressive, since the alloy cannot be cleaned with abrasives. Be extremely careful not to damage the surface. If the risk doesn't stop you, let's get started. So, how to clean silver with soda?
Pour a little into the vessel and add water while gently stirring the solution. You need to make a liquid slurry, this is an approximate ratio of soda to water 3:1. Wipe the product with the resulting mixture until it shines. Just be careful and don’t use too much force, as you can easily damage the surface of the product. The procedure can be done conveniently and safely if the paste is applied to a soft cloth and the plaque is washed off with it.
Using Coca-Cola
Let's move on to the original method, pure silver at home using Coca-Cola. Almost everyone already knows about the wonderful cleansing capabilities of the drink. They say it can even dissolve teeth. Let's use this property to our advantage.
Let us warn you right away that the process is not quick and will take a lot of time. Pour the drink into a convenient container and immerse the silver jewelry. Depending on the amount of contamination, it will take from one day to several weeks.
Only the most patient can clean using this method.
Using salt
How to clean silver at home? Using the most common means - salt. The most common one that everyone has in their kitchen. Pour half a liter of warm water into a small saucepan and add 5 teaspoons of salt. Stir, immerse contaminated items and leave for 2-3 hours.
To enhance the effect of the brine solution, bring the water to a boil before immersing the items. Place a cloth underneath so that the jewelry does not come into contact with the hot bottom. You need to boil for 10 to 30 minutes.
Using Vinegar
Table vinegar is often misused due to its cleaning properties. Housewives wash various things with it. It is not uncommon to clean silver with vinegar. Therefore, we will also reveal a method that will help remove plaque, patina, rust, iodine and other dirt. This method allows you to clean silver with stones.
First, let's enhance the cleansing properties by raising the temperature. Heat the vinegar on the stove to 40-60 degrees. Turn off the heat source. Now you can clean the products by immersing them in hot vinegar for 15 minutes. Remove, wash off the residue with a damp cloth and dry. Repeat the process if necessary.
Baking soda and dishwashing detergent
The next way is how to quickly clean silver at home. First, let's make the following solution in an aluminum bowl: take a liter of warm water and add a tablespoon each of soda, salt and dishwashing detergent. Stir until all ingredients are dissolved.
Line the bottom with a cloth and submerge the silver jewelry. Put everything on the fire and boil for 10-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and wipe dry. As can be seen from the above, no special products are required to clean silver at home.
There are many products at home that can help.
Boiled egg water
An interesting way to clean silver with plain water. Take a few eggs and boil them. Leave the cooking water until it cools. When the water becomes warm, place the contaminated items there and leave for an hour. After swimming, it will be much easier to wash off dirt. To enhance the effect, boil egg shells in water.
Cigarette ash
Oddly enough, you can clean silver using cigarette ashes. There are two recipes for this. Add ashes to a pan of water and bring to a boil. Then the products are immersed and left to cook for 10 minutes. Another method involves diluting the ashes in lemon juice, after which the surface is treated with a soft cloth. At the end of both methods, be sure to rinse well with warm water and dry.
Curdled milk
Thanks to lactic acid, curdled milk can be used to clean silver jewelry. Place the item in it for 5-10 minutes, then wash it with a cloth in warm water. That's all, this is how you can clean silverware and items with stones.
Hydrogen peroxide
Cleaning silver with hydrogen peroxide has a good whitening effect. Soak for 5 minutes in a 3% solution, rinse with warm water and dry. You can go the other way, add a little peroxide to the ammonia. Place the silver inside and stir every 5 minutes. The whole procedure takes half an hour. An excess of peroxide may cause the surface to turn light yellow, but the color will quickly return.
Ammonia and soap solution
Cleaning silver with ammonia follows the following recipe. Make a soap solution using laundry soap. Heat to a temperature of 40-50 degrees. Add to ammonia at the rate of 5 drops per glass of water. Soak the silver for 15 minutes, rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
Mechanical cleaning of silver
How else can you clean silver at home? Not all methods involve chemical reactions and boiling. It is not necessary to use a silver cleaning solution. You can influence black plaque mechanically. But they are more suitable for cleaning silverware and inexpensive jewelry. Be careful, careless movement may damage the surface.
Using lipstick
You can polish jewelry with lipstick. It is better to take one that is no longer used for its intended purpose. It should be applied with a toothbrush. Keep in mind that silver alloy is delicate and soft, especially 925 and 999. Therefore, do not put any effort into the process, do everything gently and carefully. Then wash in warm water and dry. Suitable for products with stones.
Using the eraser
If the design allows, you can clean it with an eraser. Will not fit most earrings and chains. But the method makes cleaning quick and easy. Using a soft eraser, lightly polish the surface of the product until it acquires a natural color. Then you don’t even have to wash it, the main thing is to wipe it off with a cloth to remove any eraser residue.
Toothpaste
How else can you clean silver at home? Regular toothpaste and brush. Please make sure that there are no abrasive particles in it. The method is considered unsafe because it can scratch the surface. Apply a little paste to the brush and lightly polish the product. Let us warn you right away that it may take a lot of time.
The nuances of cleaning products with stones, gilding and other features
You need to know how to clean silver with stones at home, because a different approach is needed here. The same can be said about gilding. Smaller stains can be removed with regular alcohol applied to a cotton pad or ear swab.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0li5ikZtpc
The vinegar and lipstick method has already been mentioned above, and it works great. Finally, a recipe for the most delicate product to clean gilded silver. Baby or laundry soap is grated and you get small shavings that quickly dissolve.
Add to warm water and stir until dissolved. Something like liquid jelly is formed. The gilding is immersed there for several hours, after which the surface is carefully wiped with a soft cloth. Wash in warm water, wipe and leave until completely dry.
Source: https://kakchistit.ru/sovety/serebro.html
Cleaning silver with ammonia and peroxide
Silver is a precious material that is used to make dishes and cutlery, jewelry, and coins. It is distinguished by its availability and aesthetic appearance, beautiful shine and moonlight.
However, over time, this shine fades and darkens. This occurs due to exposure to moisture and humid air, prolonged use or improper storage, and contact with cosmetics and chemicals.
To avoid tarnishing of silver, it is important to use and store items correctly, regularly clean items and take proper care of the metal. In this article we will look at how to clean silver with ammonia and other approved means.
Rules for cleaning silver items with ammonia
Cleaning silver with ammonia is considered the safest and most effective. This product dissolves well in water, after which the molecules evaporate into the air. It does not harm metals, including silver and gold. However, you cannot clean these metals at the same time, otherwise the ionization process will begin. As a result, silver may turn yellow and gold may turn white.
Let's look at how to properly clean silver with ammonia at home. To do this, mix water and ammonia in a ratio of 10 to 1 in a ceramic or enamel container. Do not inhale the vapors!
Dip the silver item into the prepared solution, close the container and leave for a certain period. To clean silver from blackness, soak the items for 30-60 minutes. This product is suitable for cleaning both simple silver items and jewelry with stones.
If the products are only slightly tarnished, it is enough to hold them for five to ten minutes, or you don’t have to hold them at all, but just dip them. When the silver turns white, remove the item with tweezers and rinse thoroughly in clean running water. Then wipe with a soft cloth.
By the way, using ammonia you can clean gold, glass and mirrors. You can use window or mirror cleaners and sprays to clean silverware and simple silver jewelry. How to wash mirrors without streaks, what products are best to choose for this, you will learn from this article.
Effect of ammonia with tooth powder
To enhance the effect, you can take tooth powder or crushed chalk along with alcohol. Both chalk and powder are gentle, clean metal well and leave no marks. But it is better to use this product only for products without stones.
To prepare the solution, take water, ammonia and mix with chalk or tooth powder in a ratio of 10:4:4. Stir the ingredients until you obtain a mushy mixture. Then, using a cotton pad, apply the product to the surface of the product and let it dry. After drying, wipe with a clean dry cloth.
In addition, before cleaning, it is advisable to wash silver items with soapy water or liquid soap (take neutral, unscented or baby soap) with warm water. This method is also suitable for regular cleaning of silver as a preventative measure.
Cleaning and caring for silver
- When performing preventive cleaning, remove dirt and grease from metal using a soap solution, mild shampoo, or a solution of dishwashing detergent and water;
- To clean, rinse the product with the selected composition and warm water; difficult and dirty areas can be cleaned with a soft toothbrush.
Then rinse the item in clean running water and wipe dry with a soft fleecy cloth or napkin;
- Do not clean silver with abrasives or detergent powder to avoid scratching the items. Do not use onions or cosmetics for cleaning!;
- After contact with moisture, wipe the jewelry with a dry flannel cloth.
Be sure to wipe silverware and cutlery dry after washing. Read how to clean silver spoons here;
- Do not wear jewelry after applying cream or moisturizer to your skin. When cleaning and washing dishes, taking a shower and bathing, be sure to remove silver jewelry;
- Do not wear silver jewelry in the pool, bathhouse or sauna.
Do not swim with them in bodies of water;
- To prevent your silver from tarnishing, use hair conditioner for preventative cleaning. Apply the product to a soft cloth or cotton wool, rub the products and leave for three minutes. Then rinse in clean water, wipe dry and store;
- You need to store silver in a wooden box with fabric upholstery or in a special bag in a dry place, preferably separately from each other.
If you rarely use items, wrap the items in foil. This way they do not oxidize or darken;
- Silverware for storage is thoroughly washed, wiped and dried, then wrapped in special paper, which prevents corrosion and blackening of the metal.
Do not tie or overtighten cutlery, otherwise marks will remain on the items;
- Silver coins should be kept separate from each other so that they do not come into contact with each other. It is irrational to put each coin in a separate bag.
A suitable solution in this case would be special albums, cases, tubes or cardboard holders for storing coins, where each item has a separate pocket, cell or sector. However, it is important to clean the products regularly. Do not put wet or damp coins in the album! After cleaning, thoroughly dry and dry the products;
- Ammonia and other available products are suitable for cleaning silverware, household and household items, and inexpensive jewelry. Expensive jewelry, including those with precious stones, is best cleaned with specialized cleaning products.
Other ways to clean silver
Baking soda has the same effect as tooth powder or chalk. However, it is harsher and can scratch the metal, so cleaning must be done very carefully. Mix a small amount of baking soda and water until a paste forms. The composition is applied with a cotton pad or soft cloth to the surface of the object and rubbed. Hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with a soft toothbrush.
An effective and efficient method is a solution of salt, soda and dishwashing detergent. To prepare the composition, take a tablespoon of each ingredient and add to a liter of water. Pour the resulting mixture into a ceramic, aluminum or enamel bowl. Place the product there and put it on fire. Boil the mixture for twenty minutes over low heat.
Another effective folk remedy is water from boiled eggs. Boil the eggs and wait until the water cools to a warm, comfortable temperature. Place the items in water and wait until the metal turns white. Items can be cleaned with soapy water first. After the procedure, wipe the products with a dry cloth.
Don’t forget about special cleaning products for silver, which can be purchased in jewelry stores, workshops, and other specialized departments. Today they produce special sprays or impregnated wipes that are used to regularly wipe products. They are suitable for jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones, they are gentle and safe.
Special products not only clean silver, but also form a protective film on the surface of objects. As a result, the metal does not darken for a long time and retains a presentable appearance. It is protected from the negative effects of moisture and other external factors.
How to restore shine to silver
To clean simple silver jewelry and cutlery, you can use acetic acid. But this method is not suitable for jewelry with semi-precious and precious stones! Under no circumstances should vinegar be used to clean coral and pearls. It will spoil the appearance of the stones or deform the decorative inserts.
To prepare a vinegar solution, take 6% table vinegar and pour it into a metal container. Heat slightly and place the products in the warm solution. Leave for twenty minutes and wipe with a soft flannel or natural wool cloth.
Hydrogen peroxide will help eliminate darkening and blackness and restore shine to silver items. This product is also used for jewelry without stones and decorative inserts. To clean silver with peroxide, mix half and half alcohol and hydrogen. You can also add a few drops of liquid baby soap to the composition. Soak the metal for twenty minutes and wipe with a dry, clean lint cloth.
Food foil and baking soda are also used to restore shine. To do this, pour warm water into a ceramic, aluminum or enamel container and dissolve a small amount of soda. Then tear a small sheet of foil into small pieces and roll into balls. Dip the balls in soda water, place the products and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse items in clean running water and dry with a dry cloth.
To make silver items sparkle, use a solution of lemon juice and milk. Mix a glass of water and the juice of half a lemon, add half a cup of powdered milk. Place food foil on the bottom of the container and pour the prepared mixture. Place items so that they do not touch each other. Leave for 6-10 hours and then rinse in clean, cool water.
Source: https://uborkadoma.guru/komnata/chistka-serebra-nashatyrnym-spirtom-i-perekisyu.html