How to clean silver from salt. Professional silver cleaning

Silver is noble and, compared to gold and platinum, a relatively affordable metal. Every family has silver jewelry, silverware, as well as various souvenirs. But over time, silver oxidizes, and a black coating appears on the surface of the product, which spoils and reduces the cost appearance even the most exquisite jewelry creation. However, do not be upset, because silver can be easily cleaned at home. Exist various methods and means that depend on the purpose of the item and its size.

Useful properties of silver

Silver or in Latin Argentum is a ductile malleable metal of discreet gray- white, reflects light well. Even in ancient times, people learned to mine it, and used it not only for making jewelry. Silver does not dissolve in hydrochloric acid, does not undergo oxidation in water, and silver ions have excellent bactericidal and antiseptic properties. The fact is that silver nanoparticles destroy the cell membrane of microbes and viruses, after which they die. This metal also eliminates the action of enzymes secreted by staphylococci and streptococci in the human body. Silver is known to kill about 650 types of pathogenic bacteria, microbes, viruses and fungi. When in contact with protein cells, silver ions form albuminates that can heal wounds and accelerate tissue regeneration. In the old days, a silver coin was applied to a wound or cut for speedy healing and disinfection. Silver ions have a tremor frequency equal to the frequency of healthy body cells, thereby stimulating human immunity.

Having a silver spoon or cup at home, you can do silver water and use it as an additional prophylactic against skin problems. Egyptian warriors also noticed that water in silver vessels remained fresh for a long time. This is due to the fact that silver ions block the absorption of phosphates, the main food, by microbes and bacteria. In magic, silver is also endowed with mass positive properties. Silver earrings improve brain function, silver pectoral crosses take over all negative energy, and with the help of a ring through which a thread is threaded, you can determine favorable and unfavorable zones in your home. In the church, utensils are also made of silver, and the ringing of silver bells scares away evil forces.

Features of silverware

The alloys used to make silverware differ in composition from those used for jewelry and figurines. Copper is added to dishes, which makes them more durable (do not forget about the flexibility and softness of silver) and less expensive. Forks, mugs, glasses and plates contain 80% silver, the rest is copper and other impurities. 800 sterling silver alloy has a large admixture of copper, which is why the cutlery has yellowish tint and high strength.

In the jewelry industry, the requirements for silver jewelry are higher than for tableware. Lowest standard used in production jewelry, 830, i.e. silver itself is 83%, and the remaining metals are of base origin. The most common standard is 925, but 800, 830, 875, 960 and 999 are also found.

875 jewelry is most often confused with white gold. They are gilded and the items are sold at a higher price. These jewelry are rarely sold without inserts; they often contain semi-precious stones such as cubic zirconia, turquoise, rose quartz, rock crystal.

925 silver items contain 92.5% silver, the remaining impurities are copper. This alloy is also called sterling because in England pounds sterling were made from it. Copper gives jewelry strength, and the high silver content maintains the ductility of the alloy.

960 standard indicates a high silver content. But solid jewelry made from such an alloy will be deformed when worn, so 960 standard is used for fine filigree work, creating cobwebs, thin threads, openwork and lace.

999 standard is pure silver. It is incredibly ductile, and from 1 gram of metal you can get a wire 1.6 km long. Pure silver is not suitable for making jewelry and cutlery, otherwise forks will bend and rings and earrings will become deformed. That's why .999 silver is found in bullion.

Why does silver darken?

There are many versions of why silver becomes covered with a black coating and becomes dull.

1. The chains on the neck and décolleté area darken the fastest and most intensely. The fact is that the copper contained in the alloy is oxidized under the influence of sulfur, which is part of human sweat. The lower the silver standard, the more copper it contains, and the faster the product will darken.
2. Pectoral crosses turn black. There is a belief that the darkening of the cross means the evil eye and damage to its owner. You can believe this, or you can approach the statement critically. But the cross turns black due to excessive sweating, which occurs when hormonal disorders and other disorders. Sometimes the owner of the cross himself does not even realize that there is something wrong with his body, but the composition of sweat changes, and silver oxidizes faster and more intensely. Indeed, after some time the disease is discovered, and the cross pointed to it much earlier than the doctors. This is where the belief came from that the cross turns black from the evil eye and damage.
3. Cutlery turns black. Even those that are not used, and they sit quietly in the sideboard. This indicates that the room has poor ventilation, high humidity and stale air. The presence of hydrogen sulfide provokes the darkening of silver, so do not be surprised if you take a blackened one out of the box. silver chain.
4. Silver jewelry will darken if you leave it in the shower, when washing your hair, or when swimming in the pool. Even purified water in city apartments has tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and radon gas is also released from water pipes. All this contributes to rapid darkening.
5. Silver turns black on contact with skin if you use moisturizers or protective creams, as well as cleaning and washing household products. They contain various impurities that enhance the oxidation process. If you cannot imagine life without a cross, choose gold or even tin. These materials are not as sensitive to environment. When washing dishes and wet cleaning in the apartment, remove rings and bracelets. This way you will extend their life.

What homemade recipes exist for cleaning silver jewelry?

There are improvised means available in every home with which you can add shine to silver products and remove darkening and dullness.

1. Toothpaste. It is in every bathroom. Squeeze a little mint toothpaste onto an old, unused toothbrush (it is advisable to choose a white paste without crystals, not a gel). Apply with smooth movements to the surface of the product, lather. You will see the foam darken. Leave for 3-5 minutes. Then rub again and you can rinse off. The only negative: the higher the silver standard, the higher the likelihood of bristle marks appearing on the surface. It is better to clean jewelry in other ways. But the tableware will shine like new.
2. Ammonia. It is also suitable for cleaning cutlery. Dissolve 2 tablespoons ammonia in a liter of water, stir and dip the dishes into the solution. After 15 minutes, remove and wipe the surface soft cloth, fleece, flannel. But not everyone can withstand the cleaning procedure, given the specific smell of ammonia.
3. Baking soda. There are two ways to clean products. The first one is suitable for cutlery. Dilute 2 tablespoons of soda into half a liter of water, bring the solution to a boil and place the silver item in it. Or make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the decoration. But this method spoils the stones, if any. They become cloudy and covered with plaque.
4. Drink "Coca Cola". Yes, in fact, this drink is so rich in alkali that it can remove dirt and black deposits from jewelry. Pour Coca-Cola into a glass and place earrings, rings and chains in it. After 15 minutes they will shine and shimmer.
5. 6% table vinegar. Heat vinegar in a spoon and soak in it cotton pad and wipe the silver item. Rub the surface well with a soft cloth.
6. Eraser or eraser. With its help, smooth silver rings are polished to a shine. Just rub the rubber band against the surface of the ring and it will become smooth and shiny without any traces of scratches.
7. Water after boiling eggs. Boil the eggs as usual, let them cool without removing them from the pan. Then pour the water into a glass and place silver trinkets there for 15-20 minutes. Surprisingly, there will be no trace left of the black coating and dullness if you wipe them with a soft cloth.

Darkening of a silver item does not indicate its deterioration. Rather, it indicates unfavorable external conditions: high humidity, excessive sweating, the presence of sulfur, etc. You can clean silver using improvised means that are available in every home. It could be toothpaste, soda, ammonia. The main thing is not to expose silver mechanical cleaning. This metal is soft and elastic, and therefore susceptible to deformation. Do not use abrasives or hard brushes. It is enough to hold the jewelry in the solution and then wipe it with a dry cloth.

Video: how to quickly clean silver

Silver is popular for a reason. This noble metal is much cheaper than gold, but no less durable; in addition, it has antiseptic properties, harmonizes with all skin colors and different clothes, perfectly complemented by precious stones.

Its only drawback is that, under the influence of high humidity and hydrogen sulfide in the air, silver loses its shine and darkens over time. At the same time, you can return the metal to its original appearance yourself at home without much effort.

Toolkit

Let's look at how to clean silver at home. There are several means used to clean silver:

• toothpaste or powder;
• a mixture of salt and soda;
• ammonia solution;
• table vinegar;
• citric acid;
• potato water and foil;
• special cleaning products.

The choice of one or another cleaning method depends on a number of factors:

1. inlay with precious or semiprecious stones;
2. sample number and presence of impurities;
3. degree of darkening of the metal.

Paste or powder

Already long time The most popular method is to clean products with toothpaste or powder. So, how to clean silver from blackness with their help?

To do this, you will need a soft woolen or just a thick fleecy napkin, as well as toothpaste or tooth powder diluted to a paste-like consistency.

A small amount of paste or powder is applied to a napkin, after which the product is rubbed in a circular motion. Often a toothbrush is used for cleaning, but despite its higher efficiency, it is better to use a napkin.

Since silver is a soft metal, you should not clean it with hard, hard objects that could deform it or simply erase the silver plating. In addition, hard objects can scratch the stones or remove them altogether.

This method is suitable regardless of the metal grade and stone inlay. Previously, there was no doubt about the effectiveness of this method, but now, due to a significant deterioration in the quality of toothpaste and powder, it is increasingly losing its popularity.

Salt and soda

An equally effective and affordable cleaning method is using salt and soda. These tools can be used in two ways.

A mixture of salt and soda is diluted a small amount water until it becomes a liquid paste. After which the product is immersed in this composition and wiped with a soft cloth or a bandage rolled up in several layers until it regains its original shine and color.

50 grams of soda and the same amount of salt dissolve in a liter of water. Bring the solution to a boil, then immerse the metal in it for 15–30 seconds. Then we take it out and wipe it with a soft cloth.

This method can only be used for homogeneous products, without impurities and precious stones, for example, a silver chain.

The obvious advantage of the method is its simplicity, speed and low labor intensity. You can place a piece of baking foil at the bottom of the vessel with the solution.

You can also simply use a warm solution of salt and soda, into which the silver object is immersed for 5–10 minutes. After this, the product becomes white again and regains its shine. You can polish the metal surface separately with salt or soda.

Ammonia solution

Cleaning silver with an ammonia solution or ammonia is also often used. There are three cleaning methods depending on the degree of contamination.

Wipe the silver with a wool cloth onto which an aqueous solution of ammonia is applied. Then wipe the item again with a clean, dry cloth.

This way you can clean products with precious or semi-precious stones. Then, you should polish the stone with a clean suede cloth.

In case of severe blackening, use a pure ammonia solution.

Immerse the decoration or cutlery for a few minutes in a solution of water and ammonia (in a ratio of 1:10), then wipe them with flannel. It is not recommended to leave silver in the solution for more than an hour; it is advisable to observe the process, and when the product is cleaned, immediately remove it and wipe it.

If the item is excessively dirty, you can keep it in a clean ammonia solution, but no more than 15 minutes. Next, remove, rinse and dry.

Now you know how to clean silver with ammonia. The disadvantage of this method is the sharp and repulsive odor of the ammonia solution.

Vinegar solution

Silver items are immersed in a warm 9% vinegar solution for about ten minutes.

Having taken them out, you need to wipe them with a soft cloth. Products with minor stains or encrusted with stones can simply be wiped with a napkin or cotton wool soaked in a vinegar solution.

Vinegar also removes plaque, which often forms on the surface noble metal.

Lemon acid

In a liter of water standing in a water bath, you need to dissolve 100 grams of citric acid and immerse it inside copper wire. Then put the metal product and boil for no more than half an hour. Wash the recovered silver in clean water and dry.

This method only applies to simple products, without inlay with stones.

Still don’t know how to clean silver at home with foil? To do this, you need to boil the potatoes and drain the water from them, into which you place a piece of foil about 30 square meters in size. cm. When the water has cooled, place silver items in it for a few minutes. After this procedure they will shine like new.

Special means

Can be purchased at jewelry salons special means for polishing and cleaning silver. They can even be used to clean jewelry with precious stones.

If you constantly clean jewelry with stones using the methods listed above, they may fade and become covered with a smoky coating, and the metal surface itself may crack.

The effectiveness of such products is quite controversial, but they will definitely not cause harm. Some manufacturers claim that they form a special film that protects the metal surface from further blackening.

To increase the effectiveness of polishing, a combination of the above products can be used. For example, a mixture of tooth powder, ammonia solution and soda.

Also, in some cases, sulfuric acid, yogurt, lipstick, eraser, ash, hydrogen peroxide and other means.

Silver items can be seen in every home. Jewelry and utensils are made from this metal.

Silver, like any other material, requires special care. Over time, the products become dirty, begin to darken and lose their shine. Return to the previous one attractive appearance A cleaning procedure that can be easily performed at home will help.

If you have tarnished gold jewelry, find out what you can use to clean it from.

What kind of silver can be cleaned at home?

Products made from silver are varied. They can be decorated with precious and semi-precious stones, openwork carvings, and other metals. Each type of product has its own cleaning characteristics.

With rocks

Silver jewelry with stones should be cleaned carefully. It is best to purchase a cleaning solution from a jewelry store. As a handy tool, you can use tooth powder and a soft toothbrush or brush. You can restore the shine of stones using cotton wool soaked in cologne, and then polish with a soft cloth.

Products with topaz, ruby, garnet cannot be cleaned when exposed to high temperature, as the stone may darken. It is better to entrust the cleaning of jewelry with pearls, amber, ivory, and coral to professionals.

Silver plate

The easiest way is to use regular dishwashing detergent. However, in order to restore shine and perform the best cleaning, it is also better to use special solutions for silver.

You can clean tarnished silverware with chalk and ammonia. A slurry is prepared from a crushed piece of chalk and 5 ml of an alcohol solution of ammonia. Moisten a clean cloth with the mixture and rub well silver spoons, forks and knives. Clean utensils are rinsed warm water and dry with a towel.

Another way to clean silverware at home is to use potato broth. Pour the potato broth into a container, for example a plate, and put a piece of foil there. When the water reaches room temperature, lower the dishes into it.

Jewelry and costume jewelry

To clean jewelry you can use egg yolks. To do this, you need to soak a cotton pad in the yolk, wipe the product and set it aside for a while. Wash the dried yolk with warm water.

A solution prepared from 150 ml of milk mixed with 2 tbsp will quickly and thoroughly clean silver rings, chains, earrings and jewelry. l. vinegar. The jewelry should be immersed in this mixture for 8-10 hours, then rinsed in hot clean water and wiped dry.

Another interesting way for girls - cleaning with lipstick. However, it is only effective for smooth surface. Wipe the product with a cotton pad coated with lipstick. The blackness will disappear instantly.

With gilding

Caring for gold-plated silver should be especially delicate, as it is easily damaged. Chemicals and other improvised means are not suitable for cleaning such products. In this case, a cloth is used, preferably a piece of suede, with which the product is wiped until it shines.

Soft gold plating is easily scratched by abrasives. Therefore, you can use it at home simple recipe. For one liter warm water take 1 tsp. dishwashing liquid. It can be replaced with grated laundry soap. 6 drops of an alcohol solution of ammonia are added to the solution. Gold-plated jewelry should be in the mixture for no more than half an hour. After this, the products are washed with running water and rubbed until shiny with a soft piece of suede.

Blackened

A solution of soap and soda will help remove dirt from such jewelry. It is necessary to immerse the products in it for 20 minutes, and then rinse with water. If blackening remains, a regular eraser will help remove it.

The following recipe will quickly get rid of metal blackening.

1. For a 0.5-liter saucepan of water, take 3 tablespoons. regular table soda.
2. The composition is mixed until the powder is completely dissolved. Use the resulting mixture to wash rings, earrings or cutlery.
3. The metal should be rinsed and dried with a soft towel.

Soda solution is effective means– it relieves silver from darkening.

Matte

Acids and abrasive materials are not suitable for such products. The best way– use soapy water. Grate a bar of soap and pour in. Keep the metal in this mixture for a short time and rinse with water.

You can try to use citric acid and copper wire.

1. Take 100 grams of water for a 0.5-liter enamel pan. lemons. Jewelry is strung on copper wire, and a chain can be wound around it.
2. Rings and earrings on a wire are placed in a pan, which is placed on water bath. Cleaning time – up to 20 minutes.

Periodically, the wire must be removed and the cleaning process checked. Important role The contact between copper and silver plays a role in the recipe.

How else can you clean silver?

There are many methods for cleaning silver items that have lost their shine. You can find interesting recipes and watch videos on the Internet. Recommendations include: traditional ways cleaning, and unusual.

Soda

This component is suggested for cleaning silver more often than others.

1. A thick paste is prepared from baking soda and water. Products are rubbed with this composition. This can be done with a sponge or toothbrush.
2. Decorations or cutlery are washed with running warm water. This helps avoid streaks.
3. Clean items are dried with a towel.

This method is not suitable for gold-plated silver. The soft gold plating may be scratched.

Foil

A piece of foil measuring 20x20 cm and 2 tbsp will help restore the shine to silver items. regular soda.

1. The powder must be diluted in a 0.5 liter cup of water.
2. When boiling, add foil and decorations to the solution. Keep on fire for no longer than 1 minute.
3. Remove metal products, rinse and dry.

Soda and water can be replaced with a decoction of 2 potato tubers. In this case, the cleaning time will increase to 5 minutes.

Ammonia

Well-tarnished silver items are cleaned with a mixture of an alcohol solution of ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and laundry soap. You need to take 5 ml of liquids and 20 g of grated soap. Mix all ingredients in a liter of water. Place metal products in the composition for half an hour, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

Ammonia

To clean silver with ammonia, you need to wear gloves. This substance is aggressive. This method cannot be used to clean jewelry with stones.

1. Products must be immersed in ammonia water for about an hour. The ratio of ammonia and water is 1:10.
2. After an hour, wash the jewelry from the solution and dry it.

Toothpaste

One common tip for cleaning silver is to use toothpaste or powder. The powder has larger particles; they can scratch the surfaces of rings, spoons or knives.

Toothpaste is more mild remedy. To avoid damaging the jewelry when cleaning, it is better to apply the paste on a napkin rather than on toothbrush. Gently rub the products in a circular motion and rinse with water. You don’t have to rub for a long time, the blackness is removed immediately. You can add one dropper of ammonia to the paste. This will enhance the shine of the products.

Salt

A mixture of baking soda and regular salt works well to remove tarnish and dirt from silver jewelry. Add both components to a 0.5 liter saucepan with boiling water and add decorations. Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes. Remove, rinse, dry with a napkin.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide does an excellent job of removing tarnish on silver. Its effect can be enhanced with ammonia. Take equal parts of both liquids and grated soap and add them to the water. The composition must be brought to a boil, then the product is placed in it for about half an hour. Washed and dried items will shine again.

If there is a lot of blackness

To remove strong blackening from jewelry, you can use tooth powder, ammonia and plain soda, taken in equal parts. You need to apply the paste to a toothbrush and rub the products in a circular motion until the darkening disappears completely. Rinse the earrings and rings thoroughly with water to prevent streaks from forming on them, and dry with a soft cloth.

What not to clean silver

Cleaning silver jewelry and cutlery should be done with care. Lack of knowledge and inept actions can lead to scratches. Hard toothbrushes and abrasive sponges can damage metal. Do not use aggressive detergents for cleaning. Such “chemistry” will harm the jewelry.

Particular care must be taken when cleaning blackened metal. Excessive zeal will cause the blackening to disappear. Ammonia is not used to clean them.

To prevent silver rings, bracelets, earrings, and cutlery from becoming dark and having to be cleaned, you need to follow simple rules:

• while cleaning Jewelry better to take it off;
• wet items need to be dried quickly;
• To store silver you need a dark, dry place.

Silver jewelry will not darken if stored wrapped in foil.

How to clean silver.

Everything ingenious is simple.

Every woman has silver items in her home. This could be jewelry, cutlery, interior items and something else. Some time after purchase, the metal darkens and becomes covered with a black coating.

The decorations already look unattractive, and in general the products give the impression of untidiness.

What to do? In this article, we will look in detail at all the simplest and effective ways, HOW TO CLEAN SILVER.

First, let's figure out why silver darkens?

There are several reasons for the darkening of silver:

1. Moisture. When exposed to humid air or in contact with damp skin, silver items are sure to quickly darken.
2. Features of the human body. U different people, different speed of darkening silver products.
3. Impact cosmetics, especially those containing sulfur. When silver comes into contact with sulfur, compounds are quickly formed, which are black in color.

Now let's look directly at the ways how to clean darkened and dirty silver.

1. The first thing to do is remove dirt and grease from the product— soap (solid, liquid), or shampoo, or dish soap + water.

To do this, hold the items in soapy water or use an old soft toothbrush to remove dirt (it will clean everything even in the most difficult places).

Rinse the items thoroughly in clean water.

2.1. Method of cleaning silver - with tooth powder

Dip a wet chain (bracelet, cross) into tooth powder. Rub with a thick fleecy cloth.

2.2. Method for cleaning silver items: tooth powder + ammonia (ammonia solution)

Ammonia (aka ammonia solution, sold at the pharmacy) mix with tooth powder (crushed chalk) to obtain a liquid paste.

Using a piece of cotton wool, apply the mixture to the product and let it dry. Wipe with a dry cloth.

2.3. Method for cleaning silver - ammonia and water

Leave silver items to soak and clean in:

a) in solution - ammonia + water, proportion 1:10 (for 1 tbsp of ammonia 10 tbsp of water). For medium-heavy dirt. Exposure time is 15-60 minutes, monitor the degree of cleaning during the process. Extra time It's better not to keep it.

If the jewelry is slightly darkened, there is no need to leave it in the solution. Take a cloth, soak it in the prepared solution and wipe off the dirt.

b) in pure ammonia. For heavily soiled products. Exposure time is 10-15 minutes.

Rinse with water and dry with a cloth.

2.4. The method of cleaning silver is with soda (or tooth powder)

Prepare a liquid paste from baking soda (you can use tooth powder) and water. Take a small amount of the paste with your fingers and gently rub the product. You can take a soft cloth or a piece of bandage folded several times. Brush gently until it shines. For hard to reach areas, you can use a soft used toothbrush.

2.5. Very effective way cleaning silver - salt + baking soda + dishwashing detergent

We make the following cleaning solution:

Add 1 tbsp to 1 liter of water detergent for dishes + 1 tbsp salt + 1 tbsp soda.

Place the cleaning products in an aluminum bowl and boil over low heat for 20-30 minutes. Monitor the result from time to time, it may take less time.

2.6. Professional way cleaning silver items

Special impregnated wipes or liquids sold in jewelry stores. An additional advantage of such cleaning is that they cover the product being cleaned with a special protective film, which allows the product not to darken longer.

This cleaning method is also suitable for silver items with semi-precious and precious stones.

2.7. Method for cleaning silver items with stones - ammonia + and water

For silver items with stones (but not pearls!), this method of cleaning at home is suitable:

a solution of water and ammonia of low concentration (5-6 drops per glass of water). Clean with a cloth or brush.

2.8. Folk remedy for cleaning silver - water from boiled eggs

After boiling the eggs (any quantity), let the water cool until warm. Put silver items in water. You will be surprised, but they will be cleansed. Wipe dry.

1. Wipe jewelry with a dry cloth (preferably flannel) after contact with damp or wet skin.
2. When doing housework (washing dishes, floors, laundry, etc.), remove rings and bracelets. They will remain clean and undamaged.
3. When using caring cosmetics (creams or ointments), remove silver jewelry. Especially if they are sulfur based.
4. Store your silver in special boxes in a dry place. If it works, the products are separated from each other.
5. If you have silver items that are rarely used, store them wrapped in foil. They will not oxidize and will not darken for a long time.

Let silver items delight you with their impeccable appearance!

Do you have any recipes for cleaning silver? Write - everyone is interested.

Any silver turns black over time - be it jewelry or tableware. This is such a special feature of this noble metal. And therefore, the question of how to clean silver at home sooner or later arises before all fans of various silver “things”.

Nowadays silver jewelry is incredibly popular again - from earrings and brooches to wedding rings and pectoral crosses. And silver cutlery is still considered a sign of wealth, prosperity and good taste– it is not surprising that they are universally treated as family heirlooms. The need to clean jewelry silver arises more often when compared to table silver. Silver jewelry that is constantly in contact with human skin, quickly turn black. If you regularly wear silver ring, earrings or silver chain, then you will have to clean them at least once every two to three months. Silverware at home does not darken at such a rapid rate - after all, it is exposed to influences environment to a lesser extent, and we don’t use silver spoons and forks very often.

For everyone who is going to clean silver

First, let's explain the main reasons for the darkening of silver. You yourself have probably noticed that black spots can appear on it at different speeds. For some, silver jewelry darkens quite quickly, for others it darkens slowly. The same silver jewelry “behaves” differently if, for example, it is worn alternately by mother and daughter.

There is a popular belief that darkening jewelry silver indicates health problems of the person wearing it. So, in particular, it is believed that a blackened silver chain or ring is a sign that there are serious problems with the stomach, intestines or liver. But doctors do not trust such “folk signs”.

The main reason why silver jewelry tarnishes is that all jewelry is not actually made from pure silver, but from its alloy with copper. Copper easily oxidizes and darkens even from a small amount of human sweat. In some people, sweating is not very intense, in others it is much more pronounced. Moreover, over time, each of us chemical composition sweat changes. This explains that identical silver jewelry belonging to different owners turns black at different rates.

The cosmetics you use can also spoil the appearance of silver. It often contains sulfur, a substance that quickly reacts with silver and forms dark-colored compounds.

High humidity is another of the main reasons for the darkening of silver. If silver spoons or forks are stored in a damp place, they will again and again lose their attractive appearance. It will be possible to clean such silver ad infinitum, but until the microclimate changes, the problem of its darkening will not be solved once and for all.

All these nuances must be taken into account when caring for silver. Influence negative factors needs to be kept to a minimum. Otherwise, you will spend a lot of time trying to return your silver items to their original shine and shine, and they will darken again.

How to clean silver from blackness

At home, you can clean silver from blackness using simple and available funds, the price of which is pennies.

1. Tooth powder or toothpaste. Ordinary tooth powder has good abrasive properties, thanks to which it perfectly removes stains not only from tooth enamel, but also from various other surfaces, including silver. Decoration or silver cutlery you just need to moisten it with water and sprinkle it with powder. Then wipe the contaminated areas with a fleecy cloth, or you can also use a brush with soft bristles. This method is even suitable for cleaning silver jewelry with stones. At the end of the process, silver items are rinsed with cool water and wiped dry with a cotton cloth.

Toothpaste is used according to the same algorithm. It can be applied to very darkened areas and left for a while (30-40 minutes), and then proceed directly to cleaning. It is important that the toothpaste is “classic” - white, without color additives. Transparent and colored gels will not help remove blackness from silver.

2. Baking soda. It is found in almost every home. Baking soda works great on grease-based stains because it has fat-dissolving properties. On the silver jewelry that we wear, a light grease deposit may appear upon contact with the body, and on silver tableware - during use. Soda is indispensable in cases where you need to clean a large woven silver chain or other jewelry with noticeable raised protrusions. A viscous slurry is prepared from soda by mixing it with a small amount of water (3-5 drops of water per 1 teaspoon of soda will be enough). This paste is applied to a gauze swab or cotton pad and the silver is wiped with it until it shines. The chain links can be gently cleaned with a toothbrush.

3. Table salt. It is necessary to make a reservation that salt is not used in pure form, and mixed with soda and any dishwashing detergent. The grinding of salt does not play a special role - both fine and coarse will do. In order to clean silver at home according to this recipe, dilute 1 tablespoon of gel-like dishwashing detergent in a liter of water, add one tablespoon each of salt and soda, stir until completely dissolved. Silver objects are dipped into a soda-salt solution, the contents of the pan are heated over a fire and boiled for 20-30 minutes until the silver brightens. At the end of the process, do not forget to rinse it in clean water. This method can be used to clean a silver chain, ring, cross, earrings, bracelets, coins and spoons. But the recipe is not suitable for cleaning silver jewelry with stones or pearls.

How to clean silver with stones or pearls

It is usually recommended to clean silver with stones at home using ammonia. It is diluted with water to such a state that a weak concentration solution is obtained: 5 drops of ammonia per 200 ml of water. Soak a soft cloth (preferably cotton) with the prepared liquid and wipe the silver items with it. Even if this solution gets on the surface of the stones, nothing bad will happen to them. But pearls are very vulnerable to the effects of ammonia, so you cannot clean silver jewelry with pearls using ammonia.

If you need to tidy up a silver ring with pearls or any other jewelry made of this metal inlaid with pearls, contact folk remedies It’s better not to resort to them - they are all too aggressive for this purpose. It's better to spend money on buying special liquid for cleaning silver – in jewelry stores They often sell Silver Quick preparations from the Johnson and Leuchtturm brands (German production), as well as special soft wipes. For delicate cleaning you can't think of anything better.

By the way, if we talk about German preparations for cleaning silver from blackness and dirt, then we cannot fail to mention the legendary composition called “silbertauschbader” - this professional product, he is highly respected by numismatists. It has proven itself well as a cleaner for high-grade silver (625 and above). But it is contraindicated for cleaning jewelry with pearls; it is more often used when restoring ancient coins.

At home, silver jewelry with pearls is cleaned of dirt with salt and water. This method differs from the one described above (where salt is included in the soda solution). Ring or earrings with natural or artificial pearls needs to be broken down into pieces linen fabric, sprinkle with fine salt and wrap the piece of fabric in a tight package. Then water is taken into a small basin or deep bowl ( room temperature) and rinse the salt package with silver decoration in it until all the salt has dissolved. In this case, not only the blackness from the silver will disappear, but also the yellow coating from the pearls.

How to clean silver with ammonia

Ammonia or ammonia is considered perhaps the most effective means for cleaning silver - it is what is most often used at home. He has a sharp and unpleasant smell– this is perhaps one of its main shortcomings. Therefore, if your choice falls on ammonia, work with it for outdoors or at least open the windows wide in the room where you will be cleaning silver.

Naturally, silver is not treated with pure ammonia. Ammonia is diluted with water. There are two current recipes:

Soaking silver items in a water-ammonia solution. Ammonia or ammonia is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Darkened silver is lowered into a container with such a solution and taken out back after about 15-30 minutes (you need to watch external changes), not forgetting to wipe dry with a napkin.

Cleaning silver with ammonia paste. At home, such a paste is prepared from 1 teaspoon of tooth powder, 2 teaspoons of ammonia and 5 teaspoons of water. The consistency is quite liquid, so the name “paste” is quite arbitrary. Apply the prepared product to a soft cloth or brush and gently wipe the darkened areas on the silver. When finished, rinse silver jewelry or spoons with clean water.

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