Silver jewelry is very beautiful and noble. But, unfortunately, they tend to darken over time. How to deal with this? How can I clean silver at home? It’s worth sorting it out!
Why does silver turn black?
Many believe that silver is getting dark due to the fact that the person wearing it has some kind of disease. In fact, there is no evidence for this fact. But there are other factors affecting such a metal. For example, it is sweat, which contains alkaline substances and sulfur, leading to oxidation. In addition, some people have increased production of sebum, which can also lead to blackening. And the composition of the air, its humidity and other characteristics can also affect this metal. But what if silver goes dark? How to clean it?
How to clean silver: several ways
You can, of course, take the product to the workshop so that it is brightened by a professional. But if you want, you can do everything yourself. So, how can you clean silver at home? We offer several ways.
1. Cleaning with soda. Dilute baking soda in warm water to make slurry. Now apply this paste to a rag or sponge and clean the product. Make not too intense circular movements. Wash the rag as it gets dirty and apply it again. Then wash the item with warm water. Done!
2. If you are interested in how you can clean silver at home yet, then this can be done using hydrogen peroxide. So, you need a 3% solution. Immerse the product in it for 5-10 minutes, and then remove and rinse it. This method is good for small things.
3. Silver can also be cleaned with ammonia. To do this, prepare a special composition. Mix 500 ml of warm water with 1-2 teaspoons of ammonia (depending on the degree of contamination) and with 1-2 tablespoons of grated soap. Place the silver product in this mixture for 15-20 minutes, then rinse. Repeat if necessary. If the decoration has delicate details, then the content of ammonia in the composition is better to reduce.
4. There is one more thing that can be used to clean silver at home. This is a foil. To get started, prepare a fairly deep plate, salt and water. Cover the container with foil, put the product there. Bring the water to a boil, dissolve the salt in it and pour this composition into a plate with the thing. You can brush the product in such a “bathtub” with a toothbrush. After the darkening procedure will be eliminated.
Useful Tips
How to clean silver from black correctly? How to care for this metal? Some useful tips for you.
1. So that the metal does not blacken, regularly (1-2 times a week) wash it in a soap solution.
2. Do not allow silver to be wet. After washing, wipe it well, dry it and polish with a suede or flannel fabric.
3. You can purchase a special composition. But not all such cleaning agents for this metal are actually effective.
4. Clean stone products carefully so as not to damage anything.
And remember that it is better not to go to extremes and not to allow severe silver contamination. Then it will not get dark.