At all times, women loved to wear jewelry made of expensive metal. The most accessible of these metals is silver. In ancient times, people attached symbolic meaning to it. They believed that this metal had magical powers and protected against evil forces. Therefore, it is especially popular. Unfortunately, when you constantly wear your favorite rings or earrings, they fade. Having lost their shine, they no longer look as attractive as new ones. The same fate applies to cutlery, which is the pride of housewives.
A change in color or loss of shine of a product occurs especially quickly when it comes into contact with sulfur compounds contained in some cosmetics oh and detergents
How to prolong the shine of such things? You can clean expensive metal efficiently using improvised means without any special financial costs. Regular baking soda and foil will help with this. Sodium bicarbonate has alkaline properties, thanks to which it can easily remove fatty components, traces of corrosion and dirt deposits, and it also has antibacterial properties. Soda can always be found in the kitchen or at the nearest store.
Causes of the problem
Over time, silver items become tarnished and black spots appear on them. There are several reasons for the loss of original attractiveness:
- increased environmental humidity;
- cosmetics containing sulfur;
- sweat secretion by a person.
Although silver is resistant to acids, it is very sensitive to hydrogen sulfide in the air. If sulfur-containing cosmetics get on the surface, black spots appear. Human sweat secretions have the same effect on this metal, and an excess of nitrogen in the body causes its darkening. This information was proven by scientists during experiments.
Preparatory stage
Before cleaning silver, a number of preparatory procedures are required. It needs to be removed from the top layer of contamination and the surfaces degreased. Regular detergent is perfect for this. To achieve the best effect, use brushes or hard sponges.
When the jewelry contains any additions other than metal, for example, coral, amber inserts or pearls, it is not recommended to clean it yourself.
A well-washed metal surface reacts better with soda solution. Since silver is a very soft metal, cleaning it too aggressively can damage its surface, leaving scratches. Do not forget that when cleaning a sprayed surface you need to be extremely careful. If you overdo it, the coating can be completely removed.
Silver will be completely restored due to the ability of aluminum foil to react with silver sulfide Cleaning things with sharp objects, even in hard-to-reach places, is strictly prohibited. This method can ruin your favorite thing.
Getting rid of dark spots and dirt
Specialized products will help you update your silver jewelry. You can purchase such substances at jewelry salons, hardware departments of supermarkets. But they are adequately replaced by folk methods.
One of the effective folk recipes– cleaning silver with soda and foil. The method is quite fast, simple and does not require any special financial costs, because all the components can be found in the house.
To prepare the product, you need to dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in half a liter of water. Bring the resulting mixture to a boil. Add a small piece of foil to the boiling water. Then place the product in the solution. Keep them for several minutes, stirring gently with a wooden stick. At the final stage, remove the jewelry with a fork and rinse well under running water. If desired, you can polish them with a soft cloth. After this procedure, the cleaned products will be as good as new – clean and sparkling.
The second method differs slightly. In an aluminum bowl with water, add baking soda and salt in equal parts, as well as a small amount of detergent with liquid soap. It is necessary to boil the products in this mixture for half an hour.
When silver cutlery turns black, you can save it with the help of improvised means. Take a deep bowl, spread foil on its bottom, arrange forks and spoons evenly. Sprinkle three tablespoons of baking soda on top and cover with foil. Next, pour enough boiled water into the bowl to cover the entire structure. After twenty minutes, the devices must be removed and rinsed with cold water. This procedure will clean their surfaces from plaque and stubborn dirt.
Don't forget to thoroughly dry and wipe your silver after cleaning. There is another method for cleaning silver; it is considered one of the most effective. It requires sodium bicarbonate and tooth powder. To prepare the solution, mix these components and add ammonia. It is recommended to clean jewelry with this mixture using a soft brush; you can use an old toothbrush. After the procedure, rinse everything under running water.
Don't forget that not every piece of jewelry can be cleaned. Black and filigree items will be damaged in the process. Since blackness gives the product a special sophistication, it is not the best solution to get rid of it.
Mortar for products with stone
To update the appearance of products with inserts, it is necessary to use more gentle methods. There are special solutions on sale that do not harm the decoration. In addition, such substances create a protective shell. But their price will not greatly please thrifty housewives. Moreover, in the archive of folk methods there are analogues to such means that clean silver using soda.
- grated laundry soap;
- a glass of plain water;
- a few drops of ammonia.
Mix all ingredients together and bring to a boil. After the mixture has cooled, clean the rings or earrings with it using a soft brush. Black plaque around the stone can be easily removed with a cotton swab dipped in this solution. At the end of the process, rinse the products with water.
Prevention and protection
To avoid having to often resort to harsh methods of saving jewelry, they need to be stored correctly. To do this, you can use boxes or plastic bags with a sealed clasp. To protect products from moisture, it is recommended to use special bags, such as those used for shoe boxes.
It is recommended to store those jewelry that is worn only on special occasions in a dry place, having previously wrapped each of them in a piece of foil. This simple method will protect the item from oxidation and extend its service life.
Silver is the second-ranked jewelry metal after gold, but in the hearts of many fashionistas it takes an honorable first place. Graceful, stylish jewelry, with semi-precious and precious stones, go with any outfit and perfectly emphasize both the radiant youth and the splendor of maturity. But unfortunately, silver has one unpleasant drawback - over time it loses its shine and darkens.
Pure silver without impurities has properties similar to gold and does not change color. However, such metal is used only in industry. The jewelry alloy contains copper, which darkens when in contact with sulfur. Sulfur gets onto jewelry from the surrounding air and from human sweat. Therefore, for example, chains and pendants darken faster than earrings or rings.
Clean silver as needed
The rate at which dark deposits appear on jewelry also depends on the sample. Budget silver 875 and 925 are produced with a significant percentage of impurities, so they are guaranteed to darken. The more expensive 999 standard will retain its shine much longer. But silver jewelry coated with rhodium is not in danger. And in 10 years they will shine like new.
And yet we prefer to buy silver jewelry without a protective layer. Because the characteristic color and even slight blackening are a distinctive feature of noble metal. Such rings, bracelets, and earrings can never be confused with jewelry. And excess blackness can be easily removed using several time-tested methods. And soda is the first assistant here.
Methods for cleaning silver
There are three main ways to restore the original shine of silver:
- soak,
- boiling,
- mechanical cleaning with a brush or cloth with a cleaning mixture.
The following substances are used: ammonia, soda, tooth powder, salt, foil. Soda is most suitable for large items: dishes, cigarette cases, business card holders, candlesticks. It is also good to use for jewelry that has darkened in hard-to-reach places that cannot be cleaned with a brush or is dangerous. Clean your silver in the following order:
- Remove simple stains by washing the product in a cleaning solution. The solution can be prepared from shampoo, dishwashing liquid, liquid or plain soap.
- Clean using any recommended method.
- Wash thoroughly again.
- Wipe with a soft cloth.
- Let the item “rest” for 2-3 days. During this time, a protective layer will form on it, and dirt will stick to the surface less.
Soak
The method is well suited for small and not very dirty products.
- A solution of salt and soda
Baking soda perfectly cleans silver, so why is it recommended to add salt? The fact is that some experts believe that if you only use baking soda, there will be less shine. Salt helps to obtain a shiny surface for cleaned products.
Bring two glasses of water to a boil and dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt. Place silver in the solution for 20 minutes.
- Ammonia, soda, tooth powder
Prepare a solution from a glass of water, a tablespoon of soda and 5-10 drops of ammonia. Stir well and place the decorations there for several hours. To enhance the effect, you can clean objects with a mixture of tooth powder, water and ammonia before soaking. But this must be done extremely carefully to avoid scratches.
- Foil and baking soda for cleaning silver
Method 1
Mix the paste from two ingredients. Take a little water to slightly dissolve the soda. Cover the bottom of the container with foil and place it on it. silver products. We try to ensure maximum contact with the foil. Pour in the slurry and leave for 10–15 minutes.
There are several ways to clean silver with foil.
Method 2
Pour 0.5 liters into a saucepan. water, pour a couple of tablespoons of soda. Bring to a boil, lower the product and a small piece of foil into the solution. After 10-15 minutes, take out the sparkling silver. Don't forget to wash and dry your jewelry.
Dissolve baking soda and salt in cold water. Roll the foil into balls and throw them in there. We place the silver in the container, wait 15 minutes and get almost new jewelry: clean and with pristine shine.
After the procedure, rinse the products thoroughly under the tap. This way you will prevent the formation of a sulfate film. Do not use any of these methods on blackened items. It may disappear forever, and the artistry of the subject will be lost.
Soda boiling
If you need to clean silver cutlery at home, use boiling soda.
- Proportion for solution: 3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water.
- Place foil on the bottom of the pan (it will prevent the metal from oxidizing), place the items to be cleaned, fill with the solution and boil.
- Average boiling time kitchen utensils- about half an hour. It all depends on the size of the item and the degree of contamination.
- After boiling, you need to rinse the equipment thoroughly, rub it until shiny with a soft cloth and hide it in a dry place.
Boiling soda for objects wrapped in foil has proven itself to be excellent. This way you can put dishes, cups, and cigarette cases in order. The whitening effect will be more noticeable, and you will not have to worry that the foil will move and the devices will oxidize.
Mechanical cleaning
There is a ban on cleaning products with stones and other elements using aggressive agents. Silver will return to its original appearance, but the stones may be damaged irrevocably. It is also not recommended to bleach jewelry with fine filigree, enamel, or engraving yourself. Moreover, the artistic essence of filigree and engraving lies in the contrast of blackened silver with light areas.
For products with stones, especially natural ones, there are special cleaning rules
It is better to entrust the restoration of the original beauty of jewelry with stones to professionals. However, there are special ready-made solutions, sprays and even cleaning wipes for such exceptional cases. They remove natural stains well and remove dark spots. It is only important to follow the instructions.
But not all stones are susceptible to cleaning. You definitely shouldn’t take risks with amber or expensive first-line precious stones: sapphires, rubies, diamonds. Amber will fade, diamonds deserve more gentle care. But artificial zircons of any color will not be damaged by cleaning procedures in soda-ammonia solution. A few drops of ammonia and half a teaspoon of baking soda per glass of water are acceptable for a gentle whitening regimen.
Mother-of-pearl, pearls, opal, amber inserts are afraid of any detergents. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully wipe the products with a cloth soaked in soda-ammonia solution, and use cotton swabs in areas near stones.
Cleaning gold-plated items
Unfortunately, gilding on silver items is not durable anyway. She comes off over time without any outside help. But such decorations need to be put in order. It is recommended to wipe them with weak soap solutions with the addition of ammonia.
You can use regular beer. If you put gold-plated rings or earrings in beer for 30 minutes, the darkening will be significantly reduced.
Recently, silver items with thin gold plates soldered onto the base have appeared on sale. This kind of gilding, if you can call it that, lasts almost forever and is not afraid of abrasion. For these decorations, soaking in a soda-ammonia solution is suitable. There is no need to boil them.
Silver items will stay clean and shiny longer if stored properly. Basic Rules:
- Use separate boxes, cases, and soft bags for storage.
- Maintain moderate humidity in the room. You should not leave rings, earrings, chains or bracelets on bathroom shelves.
- Beware of contact with medicinal ointments, sprays, plastics, detergents, cleaning products, products, rubber.
- Silver has no place, either in the gym or in a hospital bed. In both cases it is superfluous and is subject to the aggressive effects of skin secretions.
- Remove jewelry before showering, swimming in the pool, visiting the sauna, or applying cosmetics.
Video: three ways to clean silver
The love of silver is a long-standing weakness of humanity. In ancient times, this metal was valued more than gold and special properties were attributed to it. magical properties. People noticed that silver could disinfect water, so they concluded that it could deal with evil spirits just as easily and naturally. The darkening of the noble metal was associated solely with the illness of the owner, and not with natural causes: the damage turned out to be stronger than the protective aura of the silver amulet and the person was overtaken by illness. Soda steps on the throat of an ancient myth. She returns the original beauty to silver jewelry, despite the tricks of all the magicians and wizards of the Earth and its immediate surroundings.
Silver is a widespread metal that is used not only in the manufacture jewelry, but also in the production of cutlery and other household items. Outwardly, it looks no worse than gold, but is much cheaper. But silver has one drawback - it quickly darkens, so we will look at how to clean silver with soda and foil separately and together.
The main reason why silver darkens is considered to be exposure to the environment, namely moisture, cosmetics, and human sweat, because they contain sulfur or hydrogen sulfide, which has a detrimental effect on silver items. In addition, excess nitrogen in the human body and released through the sweat glands also contributes to rapid darkening.
Thus, at some point, any silver jewelry can deteriorate. That's why it's important to know how to properly store and clean such items so as not to damage valuables.
Cleaning with soda
Pour a liter of water into an aluminum bowl, add 20 grams each. soda and salt, as well as a little dishwashing detergent. As soon as the solution boils, lower the silver items into it and leave them there for 30 minutes.
You can wrap the inside of any container with foil, pour a tablespoon of salt and soda into it and pour a glass of boiling water. Dip silver jewelry into the mixture and wait until the solution cools. After this, the original shine will return.
The method of soda, toothpaste and liquid dishwashing detergent (all ingredients must be taken in equal parts) also copes with the task perfectly. The resulting paste is rubbed onto silver utensils. At the end of the procedure, all that remains is to rinse them with water and wipe dry.
If there are precious stones on the products, then try a composition of water, soap shavings and a few drops of ammonia. After bringing everything to a boil and letting it cool, treat the silver with cloth napkin. Hard-to-reach places can be rubbed cotton swab, soaked in the same solution.
Cleaning with foil
Foil and potato broth will help to clear dark spots on silver at home: pour the liquid that remains after boiling the potatoes into a container, and put a piece of foil in there. Immerse a silver chain or any other item in the composition for 10-15 minutes. Then remove the jewelry, rinse under water and dry.
Place several sheets of foil in a solution of vinegar and water (1:1), and then immerse the silver in it. Leave it for several hours, then wipe the metal with a cloth.
You can clean silver jewelry or cutlery citric acid with foil - the composition is also prepared as in the recipe with vinegar. After storing the products, be sure to rinse them and dry them with a soft cloth.
Cleaning with baking soda and foil
Now let's combine soda and foil to clean silver: take 2 tablespoons of soda for half a liter of water, put the container on the fire and bring to a boil. Next, place several pieces of foil in the boiling solution and place all the silver objects there. Just a few minutes of being in such a non-standard boiling composition, and the products will be like new.
You can clean silver using foil and soda with the addition of vinegar or citric acid. In this case, you don’t have to boil anything; just make a remedy from a liter of water, a tablespoon of soda and 0.5 liters of vinegar or 1 tbsp. spoons of acid. We add pieces of foil there, and then add all the silver items. After 5-6 hours, objects will shine again, attracting attention.
Silver care
Purification of silver using foil occurs due to the reaction between silver and aluminum sulfite. Moreover, in a cold aqueous solution the processes take longer than in a warm one. But in order to carry out such procedures less often, you should learn how to properly care for silver items:
- ensure storage in special boxes or places protected from light and dust;
- remove silver jewelry before applying cosmetics, showering and sleeping;
- It is also important to clean the house without wearing silver rings, chains, etc.;
- Silver cutlery should be washed and wiped dry immediately;
- If such items are to be stored for a long time, wrap them in foil; it will provide protection from external influences.
Over time, silver objects become covered with a thin film and a plaque forms. Under the influence of external factors, the metal may darken and lose its shine. To clean silver at home, different methods are used. The most effective is using foil, soda and hydrogen peroxide.
Preparing silver items for cleaning
Silver jewelry develops a black coating over time
Silver is a popular and inexpensive metal that is used in jewelry workshops and for making cutlery. Items made from a pure component are difficult to find; an alloy with copper is usually found. 925 purity means 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper were used.
Silver and added impurities easily enter into chemical reactions with sulfur, which is found in the air and human sweat. The speed of blackening of products is also affected by:
- the presence of strong oxidizing agents;
- high humidity;
- high ambient temperature.
The more impurities a product contains, the more susceptible it is to oxidation. Therefore, cutlery needs more frequent and thorough cleaning than jewelry.
If you are cleaning silver at home for the first time, follow these tips:
- Find out the sample. The choice of products suitable for cleaning the product will depend on the percentage of silver and impurities. Possible types of samples: 720, 800, 875, 916, 925, 960, 999.
- Degrease the item. Over time, a transparent film forms on jewelry. To remove it, you need to soak the products in a soapy solution. You can use shampoo or dishwashing gel.
To carry out the procedure for cleaning jewelry or dishes, you can use soft-bristled brushes, sponges, and cotton napkins. If you clean silver with dry powders or metal brushes, you can leave microcracks and scratches.
If the decoration has gem– pearls, coral, amber – such products cannot be dipped in boiling water. Inserts may fade or crack. Sapphire, emerald, and aquamarine are not afraid of heat treatments.
How to Use Foil, Baking Soda, and Peroxide to Clean Silver
Foil and soda solution - effective remedy for cleaning silver
Common means for giving silver items a pristine shine are foil, soda and peroxide. They are used separately or solutions are prepared. They are suitable for cleaning silver cutlery or items without precious stones.
Before starting work, be sure to check the reaction of the product with the prepared mixture. Try to remove black deposits from a small area. If the silver becomes lighter and is not damaged, you can continue working. When the stain becomes more distinct, this method cannot be used to clean the item.
The main condition when working with foil is that it touches the surface of the object. During the reaction, an electric current of minimal charge appears, which cleans the metal of silver sulfide.
To speed up the process and improve the appearance of the item, use soda and foil. The method requires the tightest possible contact of the metal with the foil.
You can clean silver using hydrogen peroxide yourself at home. The solution is used to brighten heavily soiled products. The method is effective, but if the decoration or cutlery low quality, you can ruin it.
Peroxide is suitable for restoring high-grade metal. The result is a brightened, shiny product. If the admixture of components included in the jewelry is high, the item will turn black and it will be difficult to clean it.
Recipes for effective cleaning methods
The easiest recipe for cleaning silver
You can care for your silver yourself, without turning to professionals. Proven home methods for cleaning plaque and blackness are suitable for this:
- Soda and foil. Mix 1 tbsp in a metal bowl. l. soda in 0.5 liters of water. Place the dishes on the stove and bring the solution to a boil. Cover the bottom with foil and pour the soda mixture from the bowl onto it. Place silver items for 5-7 minutes. When the products become lighter, rinse them in clean water and then sand them with a soft cloth.
- Soda and salt. Add 25 g of salt to 1 liter of water and mix. Place the bowl on the stove and bring to a boil. Place decorations or cutlery in the solution for 20 minutes. Afterwards, rinse everything under running water and rub with a soft flannel cloth. The method is quick and restores the shine of silver.
- Soda, foil, salt, liquid soap. Wrap a flat container with sides in foil. Place silver items on the bottom. Mix 1 tbsp. l. salt and soda. Sprinkle the resulting powder onto the products. Add 4 drops of liquid soap to 0.5 liters of water and stir until foam forms. Pour the silver solution. Wait 20 minutes, drain the soapy water, remove clean items, and rinse under the tap.
- Hydrogen peroxide. You can clean silver with hydrogen peroxide at home by following simple rules. Wash items in soapy water. Dilute 20 ml of peroxide in 1 liter of warm water. Lower the silver for 15 minutes. Then rinse and place on a cotton napkin. Earrings, pendants, chain will be like new.
- Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Add 20 ml of ammonia and 20 ml of peroxide to 1 liter of water. Mix the solution. Place the contaminated items in the bowl and wait 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, rinse everything and rub with a napkin.
If one method doesn't work, try another. But it’s better not to experiment with it for a long time traditional methods and leave the cleaning to professionals.
Caring for jewelry with stones
Silver with stones should be polished with a soft cloth after cleaning.
Chains, pendants, rings with stones should be treated by professional means, bought in a store. Traditional methods are not suitable for washing such jewelry. Using industrial solutions, you don’t have to worry about the stone becoming dull or losing its shine.
If it is not possible to purchase the product, ammonia will do. Add 5-6 drops of alcohol to 200 ml of water. Dip the decoration into the solution, leave for 3-5 minutes, rinse with clean water.
After washing, the jewelry must be polished with a piece of flannel or suede.
Traditional methods for cleaning silver
Toothpaste removes plaque from silver well
To restore the gloss and shine of silver yourself, you can try alternative methods that cope with blackening of the metal.
Contaminated items can be cleaned citric acid. It must be diluted in warm water in a ratio of 1:4 (50 g per 200 ml). Heat the bowl with the solution in a water bath. Place all products into the composition and boil for 15-30 minutes. The duration depends on how dirty the jewelry is. For better results, you can put a small piece of copper wire.
Potato broth Useful for cleaning silver items. Place foil and decorations in a saucepan with the broth. Leave for 10 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly under cold water, dry, and polish.
Toothpaste contains abrasive microparticles that clean and polish metal well. Copes with plaque and slight blackening. Apply the paste to a damp soft bristle brush and clean the product. Then use a brush to rinse it in clean water and rub with a microfiber cloth. If the decoration is very dirty, you can add a few drops of ammonia to the paste.
Also used for cleaning vinegar, dishwashing detergent, salt, egg broth and Coca-Cola. To thoroughly clean items from dirt, you can brush them with a toothbrush. For polishing silver products will fit suede fabric.
Before using any of folk ways To clean silver from blackening, it is important to test the effect of the substance on a small area of the item. If the reaction is positive, the metal is cleaned, then the procedure can be continued.
Prevention of blackness on silver
Earrings, rings, and chains made of silver can retain their aesthetic appearance longer and not turn black if you follow the rules of caring for them.
Prevention of metal blackness:
- store silver jewelry in a place separate from other items;
- the room should be dry;
- do not keep objects in the sun;
- Do not use rough sponges for cleaning;
- select boxes and storage boxes that do not contain sulfur; cardboard and viscose silk are also not suitable;
- remove jewelry before cleaning, bathing or showering;
- the hair dyeing procedure can negatively affect the metal, so it is advisable to remove the earrings and chain;
- can be used for regular jewelry care soap solution and a toothbrush;
- For long-term storage, silver is wrapped in foil.
Self-cleaning silver from blackness at home is possible if you know the main points and characteristics of the metal. After cleaning jewelry It is recommended to observe storage conditions so that they do not lose their shine.
Silver that has become tarnished or covered with a black coating can easily be restored to purity and shine using the simplest materials at hand: soda and foil. Once you know how to clean silver with foil and baking soda, you can do it in minutes.
Please note that these ingredients are suitable for processing both silverware and jewelry, provided that the jewelry does not contain natural gemstones.
A prerequisite for cleaning silver using foil is that all objects must touch its surface.
During the reaction, a weak electric current is generated, which helps clean the metal from dirt and silver sulfide, which causes darkening of the surface.
Method No. 1
Take a small deep bowl and line its entire surface with foil. Place the silver jewelry in this bowl and add baking soda until the powder completely covers it. Pour boiling water over the soda and wait for the reaction to complete. When the baking soda stops fizzing (after 10 minutes), remove the cleaned jewelry, rinse it with clean water and dry it.
Method No. 2
Pour 500 ml of water into a saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of soda. Wait until it boils and place a piece of aluminum foil at the bottom of the same container. Turn off the heat. Now put your silver items in the water and keep them there for about 5 minutes. During this time, silver sulfide will react with aluminum and the silver will be purified. Carefully remove items from the solution and rinse with cold water. Dry the items thoroughly before storing them in the box.
Method No. 3
Line the bottom of the container with foil and place the silver jewelry in a single layer. Fill them with a mixture of soda and salt (1:1 ratio) and drop a little dishwashing liquid. Fill the container with boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. Once your silver items are clean, rinse them under running water to remove any remaining cleaner and dry them.
Method No. 4
Severely tarnished silver can be cleaned as follows. Cover the pan with foil and lay out the silver so that it lies in one layer and each item is in contact with the foil, but does not touch the areas of the container that are not protected by it. Take baking soda and salt in a 2:1 ratio and dissolve this mixture in hot but not boiling water. Fill the pan with the solution (the water should completely cover the items) and wait 10 minutes.
Remove silver items one at a time and scrub them well with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Dirt accumulated in hard-to-reach corners will easily peel off the metal. Rinse cleaned items with clean water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
