Rules for cleaning silver at home

Silver cleaning with mineral semi-precious stones

Silver is an excellent setting, precious and semi-precious stones are common (except for diamonds). Ruby, garnet, sapphire, aquamarine, turquoise, opal, moonstone - the list goes on. Methods for cleaning silver with these stones are different, since they differ in their physical properties - density, that is, resistance to scratches.

Quick cleaning of pomegranate, topaz and ruby

Although these precious stones are highly durable, it is not recommended to expose to excessive stress, especially in hot water. Therefore, they are cleaned in the following way:

A small amount of cool water (15–20 C °) is poured into a glass or other small container.
A ring or earring is tied to a thread.
Rinse in water (5-10 min).
The stone is wiped with a cotton rag or soft sponge.

Gentle care for turquoise, malachite and opal

It is allowed to clean earrings and rings with inserts made of these materials with slightly alkaline solutions. To do this, proceed as follows:

Prepare an aqueous solution with soap or shampoo: 5 ml of detergent per 100 ml of water.
Soak the product in soapy water for about 10 minutes.
Rinse with clean water.

Cleaning with ammonia is also allowed:

A cotton swab is moistened with ammonia.
Rub the pebble.
Rinse with clean water.
Wipe clean with a soft cotton cloth.

Effective fight against dirt on emeralds, aquamarines and sapphires

The Mohs hardness of these stones is more than 7, which means that the use of fine-grain abrasives is allowed for cleaning.

Tooth powder or paste is mixed with water. To reduce the risk of disturbing the polishing of the stones, kerosene is used instead of water.
On a ring, brooch, etc. apply the resulting paste, and rub it with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
The cleaning agent is washed off with warm water.
Wipe with a soft cloth.

How to clean matte silver

The only caveat for those with jewelry made from such metal: do not use abrasive materials or acids. They will ruin the appearance of the product. Soap shavings dissolved in water are ideal mild products.

When cleaning these items, be careful and gentle to avoid damaging the unique top layer. A soap and soda solution will help you: soak the silver in it for 20-30 minutes.

And here's another effective way. Peel a few potatoes, place them in a bowl of water, and add your decorations to it. After 3-4 hours, remove the silver and rinse with water. If the plaque is not completely removed from the metal, wipe it off with a rubber eraser.

Features of cleaning silver

How to cleanse silver and how to clean it depends primarily on the composition of the silver. Modern jewelers use the following compositions and processing methods for making jewelry:

Sterling silver is the most expensive, 95% pure high-grade silver and only 5% additives, usually copper.
Coin - the percentage of silver is much lower, in addition to copper, nickel or other metals can be added.
Matt - in this case, silver items undergo a special treatment, often receive a special sputtering. The cleaning composition for such jewelry should not contain abrasives, they will wear off and spoil the appearance of the product forever.
Filigree is also a special type of product processing, and you also need to take care of it with special care.
Blackened - jewelers use special chemicals and compounds to create a beautiful pattern on jewelry

You need to clean them very carefully.

Even the highest quality and most expensive silver should not be cleaned with caustic chemicals, harsh washcloths and abrasive powders or pastes. Scratches will definitely remain on the surface, which can only be removed by polishing with special tools.

If the silver jewelry gets scratched after careless cleaning, only a professional jeweler can fix the problem.

Regardless of the type of silver, there are general rules on how to clean silver jewelry correctly:

first, the products are soaked in a cleansing composition - which one to choose will be described below;
then the jewelry must be rinsed in clean water;
Finally, they are wiped dry and polished with a soft cloth.

Silver purification

A sheet of ordinary baking foil is laid at the bottom of the container

It is important that there is a lot of it, so ideally, use pans with a wide bottom. If there is only a high capacity, then in this case it is worth laying the foil also on its inner walls.

Next, boiling water is poured into the container and baking soda is poured on top. For 3 liters of water, you will need 1 cup of baking soda.

From time to time, the silver item must be turned over with tongs, since the chemical reaction on its surface is uneven. The most active cleaning is observed from the foil side.

Silver remains in solution until the end of the reaction or clear cleaning of its surface. If a lot of solution is prepared, then as a result of interaction with plaque it will practically not darken, so the product in a transparent liquid will be clearly visible. Next, the silver is removed from the still hot bath, and the remaining stains on it are easily rubbed off with the hard side of the sponge.

This method removes all plaque from a silver item, so it is not suitable for items with artistic blackening. When you need to clean plain silver dishes, even with carvings or engravings, then baking soda and foil are perfect. This method does not harm the silver, it only removes plaque. It can be used to restore shine to dishes, chains, earrings, rings and other jewelry without wasting time or money.

Rules of operation, storage and care

With proper storage, a silver item will need to be cleaned less often, so it is important to adhere to the following rules:

an ideal storage place would be a dark, cool and dry room;
objects should not come into contact with each other, and air admission should be minimized. For these purposes, special bags, cling film or ordinary soft napkins are perfect. Each silverware cutlery is wrapped with a napkin or flannel cloth and well covered with cling film.

During operation, it is important to prevent the ingress of certain substances and products:

cleaning the silverware will be required after contact with fish caviar, salt, onions and eggs;
browning can be caused by food that is too cold or hot;
jewelry will darken after contact with creams, lotions and other chemicals;
it is necessary to remove silver items before going to the shower, sauna, bath, pool or while relaxing on the beach.

It is also important to care for silver competently:

it is not advisable to use a dishwasher to wash cutlery;
in order to avoid oxidative processes, cleaning is carried out separately from other metals;
do not clean with hard brushes, coarse cloth or paper towels, this can lead to scratches on the surface;
in the presence of blackening, enamel inserts or stones, delicate cleaning is required, therefore, it is necessary to avoid the indicated places and it is better to use special cleaning agents, taking into account the requirements;
silver fish knives due to the coating of the stainless steel blade must not be immersed in cleaning solutions, use sprays - it is better to use a special cleaning paste;
for cleaning small cutlery (forks, spoons, etc.), it is better to use a paste;
Sprays are better for cleaning large cutlery (trays, jugs, etc.).

How to clean table silver with citric acid: a recipe

Silver cutlery usually does not contain inlay. Therefore, you can clean them with any suitable product for a soft metal such as silver.

You can clean silver cutlery by placing it in a saucepan with a volume of at least 3 liters.
Previously, all the side walls and the bottom of the dish are lined with foil (you can take the usual one for baking)
Then silverware or jewelry is laid out there.
From above, all items are covered with 4 tablespoons of baking soda (you can find it in any grocery store if you are not at home)
Now fill everything with water, cover with a sheet of foil on top (build a "lid") and set to boil
As soon as the container with silver comes to a boil, turn off
In this form, the mixture should stand for 20 minutes. Then the silver is taken out and washed under running water with a washcloth

Heat table vinegar (9%) until the first bubbles appear
Put the cutlery there
Remove the container from the heat and leave the mixture with the products for 5-10 minutes
Then rinse with water and dry the appliances with a towel

If you do not have any vinegar or soda, then table salt will help you.
To do this, take 3 tablespoons of salt and 3 glasses of water.
Submerge this in the pot along with the cutlery.
Bring to a boil and simmer in a bubbling solution for 15 minutes
Then take out the cutlery and wipe it off with a cotton towel

The toothpaste has miraculous cleansing properties
But when choosing this ingredient, you should take only pasty white pastes.
Gels and colored blotches will not work
Only cutlery and embossed silver surfaces can be cleaned with the paste.
For other objects made of this metal, the paste will not work, as it can scratch the shiny silver surface For the procedure, soak the cutlery in water
Then take them out and rub with a damp cloth with a paste solution
Rinse and rub periodically with toothpaste

You can still cleanse silverware with citric acid.
Half a liter of water is poured into a saucepan. 100 g of citric acid powder is added
Bring to a boil. Turns off
Then you can immerse the cutlery and hold it there for half an hour.
After "cleaning", rinse with water and dry with a waffle towel

One of the most common ways to clean silver jewelry is with an ammonia solution. You can buy such a solution at any pharmacy and use at home according to one of the recipes below.

10% ammonia solution in proportions of 1 tsp. to 100 g of water mix in a cup or glass
Submerge silver jewelry there for 2-3 hours
After that, using tweezers, remove the products and rinse in water

For greater efficiency, you can mix ammonia with tooth powder
Mix 5 tablespoons of warm water, 2 teaspoons of tooth powder, and 2 tablespoons of ammonia
Dip a piece of old cotton T-shirt or other cotton cloth in the prepared solution
Wipe the product with a dampened cloth until it is clean. Then rinse it under water and pat dry with a towel

After rinsing in soapy water, you can place black-coated silverware in a solution of ammonia with chalk
It is done like this: in 5 tablespoons of water, add 2 tablespoons of ammonia solution
Pour a teaspoon of crushed chalk to them
In this mixture, soak a piece of soft cloth
Wipe the product with it until cleansing. Then rinse and dry clean items

How to clean silverware at home: cleaning methods

There are many industrial silver cleaners on the market today, which can be purchased at any jewelry store or workshop. These include: special UltraSoft wipes, Silbo foam, GOI paste, Town Talk spray, Hagerty silver cleaning solution. Each type of cleaning agent is suitable for certain products, therefore, when buying, you need to carefully read the instructions and it is best to consult with specialists. It is necessary to understand that such funds are quite expensive and, in some cases, if used incorrectly, may not help to cope with the problem, but only spoil the thing. But somehow, after all, our ancestors managed to make silver shine even without special chemistry. Now is the time to talk about it. To the rescue, as always, will come folk remedies present in any home.

How to clean silver with baking soda

First you need to prepare everything you need for the procedure: a large flat container, water and soda at the rate of 2 tablespoons for every 0.5 solution. We add all the ingredients to the container and wait for the water to boil. Then put a piece of foil on the bottom and lower the cutlery. Soak for 15 minutes, then take out the silver, rinse thoroughly under running water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

How to clean silverware without blackening using potato broth

A piece of foil is laid out in a container with potato broth on the bottom, products are placed on it and all this is boiled for 10-15 minutes, then we take out the items, cool, rinse and dry with a delicate cloth.

We clean with soap and ammonia

Add alcohol to the soapy solution (per liter, one tablespoon of alcohol). Put silver items in a thoroughly mixed solution and leave them there for 20-30 minutes. Next, they need to be rinsed well in running water and wiped dry with a cloth.

How to clean silver with tooth powder

Moisten a soft cloth a little and dip in tooth powder. Wet the silver object a little and start cleaning the blackening with a cloth with a powder, which will not only remove dirt, but also polish the surface well. If the product has meta, decorated with patterns and hard-to-reach elements, then you can use a soft brush (preferably with natural bristles) to clean them. This method has been used since ancient times, so there is no reason to doubt the quality of the result. The only thing that is a little upsetting is the length of time it will take to refine the silver.

If the silver has turned black, you can still clean it with toothpaste.

This method is improved compared to the previous one, especially since there is toothpaste in every modern family, but there is no tooth powder. The principle of operation is no different from the powder method. The main thing is not to forget to rinse the silver well after cleaning to remove white deposits and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

How to clean silver with ash or ash

If the house has a fireplace, then you can use the waste fuel in the form of ash. A damp soft cloth should be dipped in ash and the device should be wiped clean, then it should be rinsed well and wiped dry. We do the same with cigarette ash.

How to clean cutlery with chalk

This method also requires patience and free time, but it is no less effective than the previous methods. Finely grind the chalk, dip a soft, damp cloth in it and methodically wipe off the dirt. Then the device is rinsed and wiped dry.

So, all of these methods do a good job of darkening silver, so you can choose any of them and use as recommended. In addition, to maintain a longer effect, it is best not to use the silver product for several days after cleaning, then an additional protective film will form on the surface, which will prevent the appearance of stains and blackening for a longer time.

What else can be done

Salt, even very fine salt, is abrasive and can scratch the surface of a silver piece. But meanwhile, this is an excellent cleaning agent, it is simply a sin to bypass it. To tidy up silver items, use regular kitchen salt like this:

first, any heat-resistant container is lined with foil from the inside;
then put dirty silver objects in one layer and sprinkle them with salt. To increase efficiency, you can add a spoonful of baking soda;
after that, pour in a teaspoon of Fairey or other quality dishwashing detergent. If you need to clean only one or two jewelry, then a few drops of gel are enough to clean the dishes;
now boiling water is poured into the container - just enough so that all products are covered;
after ten minutes, the silver can be removed and rinsed - it will be flawlessly clean and shiny after drying and polishing.

For very dirty products, you can use the following remedy: mix half a teaspoon of toothpaste without abrasives and the same amount of baking soda, add 2-3 drops of ammonia. Pour the resulting mixture onto a toothbrush and process the decoration without pressing hard. This paste must be washed off after cleansing, and then sanded the product.

THE BEST WAY… How to clean silver and gold, jewelry and other items, At home!

You cannot use such a tool too often. the product will look perfect, but with frequent use of soda and ammonia, microcracks form on the silver and it will irreparably deteriorate.

And the last tip: after cleaning, the ring or earrings will become so beautiful and sparkling that you will want to put them on right there. But you should not do this, silver is now very vulnerable, it needs time to form a protective layer on the surface. After a few days, the jewelry can be worn with pleasure again.

Features of caring for some species

The rules for the care of silver items directly depend on the characteristics of the material. To achieve good results, it is worth considering the composition of the subject.

Gilding

Care for gilded items should be done carefully. Such items can be easily damaged.

General recommendations

It is strictly forbidden to clean gold-plated jewelry with abrasive products. It is best to use a flannel or suede cloth for cleaning. In case of severe contamination, it is worth wiping the product with special means.

Using vinegar

To begin with, it is recommended to moisten the product with vinegar. After 5 minutes, rinse with water and leave to dry without wiping.

To remove dust, it is worth wiping the gilded items with cotton wool, slightly moistening it with wine alcohol.

Egg whites

If the garment has become dull, egg whites will help restore its shine. The product should be gently rubbed with the product using a flannel napkin.

Application of special wipes for jewelry

An effective way of cleaning jewelry is the use of special wipes. They are made depending on the composition of the metal. These products are sold in jewelry stores.

925 standart

Silver of this test is considered the most common. To provide him with quality care, it is worth systematically wiping the product with a soft cloth. If the object darkens, it is recommended to place it in a warm soapy solution for a quarter of an hour. Then wipe the product with a soft cloth.

If the silver has darkened too much, it is recommended to use baking soda or tooth powder. With a slight change in color, it is sufficient to use a solution based on ammonia and water. They are mixed in proportions of 1:10. The decoration should be placed in the product for 15-40 minutes.

Alloys

Cutlery and other items are often made from special alloys. They can be composed of silver, nickel and copper. Sometimes iron or zinc supplements are included. To clean these items, they must be placed in a zinc container with salt water for several hours.

Rhodium plated silver

Rhodium is a precious metal from the platinum category. It makes the products shinier and prevents them from darkening.

Mechanical cleaning and ammonia should not be used for rhodium-plated silver. These methods will damage the rhodium layer. To clean these items, you should use a dry soft cloth and warm water. Special wipes are also good for cleaning jewelry.

Tips & Tricks

In order for silver to retain its attractive appearance for a long time, it is worth adhering to the following recommendations:

It is not recommended to wear the product for several days after cleaning. This contributes to the formation of a protective film.
Do not use hard brushes or abrasive particles for cleaning. They will damage the metal.
For the appearance of shine on a silver product, it should be wiped with a napkin, moistened with lemon juice. Then you can rinse the accessory with hot water.
After using aluminum for cleaning, it is worth polishing the product well with a soft cloth. This will help to avoid the appearance of aluminum sulfate deposits.

Cleaning silver items helps to restore their original appearance. To do this, you can use folk recipes or special napkins.

At the same time, it is important to strictly follow the rules of the procedure.

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Additional cleaning products

In addition to simple handy cleaning materials, you can use others purchased from a pharmacy or store. They cost, as a rule, a little. So, answering the question of what can be used to clean silver at home, we can name such means as:

ammonia;
table vinegar and citric acid.

Methods for cleaning with ammonia

You can quickly clean silver with ammonia. Moreover, the cleaning method in this case is selected in accordance with the degree of pollution. That is, if the product has slightly darkened, to clean it, it is enough to wipe the surface with cotton wool soaked in alcohol. If the product has turned black, it must be immersed in a 10% alcohol solution for 10 minutes. After that, it is washed and wiped off.

You can also wash off dirt from silver using the following cleaning solutions:

Water, ammonia and toothpaste in a 5: 2: 1 ratio. After preparing the solution, it must be applied to the product. This can be done with a soft cloth soaked in solution. The applied solution must be kept on the silver surface for about 10-15 minutes.
Salmon and hydrogen peroxide mixed in equal amounts. In order to clean contaminated products with this solution, they need to be soaked in it for 10-15 minutes.
Prepare a paste from tooth powder and ammonia and rub the silver with it.

Cleaning with table vinegar and citric acid

Common table vinegar is a good cleaner for light soiling. Moreover, it does not need to be diluted or mixed with other means to obtain a solution. It is enough to moisten a soft cloth in it and rub the product with it. But a special solution is prepared from citric acid for cleaning silver at home. To prepare it, it is enough to dissolve 100 grams of acid in half a liter of water. The solution has a purified effect only when it is heated. Moreover, it is better to do this in a water bath with a piece of copper wire added to the solution. Silver is dipped into an already boiled solution. This procedure lasts 15 minutes, after which the silver must be removed, washed in clean water and wiped off.

Basic rules for the care of silver items

Each piece of jewelry tends to age and lose its original appearance. Any chemical reaction can continue even after the owner takes them off and puts them in a box.

That is why it is important to ensure proper storage. Having taken off the jewel, it must be wiped with a flannel cloth or a piece of suede

During the procedure, oily plaque and other contaminants will be removed from the surface of the product. Next, the jewelry must be put into a box or case.From the inside, the upholstery should be soft, and the products should not come into contact with each other. If the jewelry is expensive or especially valuable to the wearer, then it is recommended to give preference to an individual case.

Choose a cool, dark place to store jewelry with stones. So they will retain their shine and color for a long time.

So that the owner of silver does not have to think about how to clean the silver from black plaque, it is recommended to follow some simple rules not only in storage, but also when wearing:

when cleaning the house, it is recommended to remove the jewelry so that aggressive components of detergents do not fall on the surface of the products. Otherwise, the decoration may tarnish, blacken or oxidize;
the application of cosmetics should also be carried out without a chain, bracelet and rings.

How to clean silver with Amway products?

At home, you can also purchase specialized cleaning products such as Amway.
With their help, your silver jewelry, figurines, cutlery will shine again
To do this, use the Amway HOME L.O.C. series of cleaning products. Dilute 1 cap of the product in a glass of water
Lower your products for 15-20 minutes, and then brush them with an old toothbrush and rinse with water
Amway L.O.C window cleaner is also suitable. Plus
Apply a couple of drops to the silver jewelry. This will be enough to clean it deeply.
After a minute, wipe the jewelry with a microfiber cloth

This article presents methods for cleaning silver and gilded items that can be used at home.

Which method is right for you, everyone decides for themselves. Do not forget to keep your dishes and decorations clean, and then they will delight you with their brilliance!

What can darken silver?

from high air humidity;

underwear silver darkens due to human diseases or the characteristics of his sweat;

- various drugs and chemicals that come into contact with silver products can cause it to darken;

under the influence of cosmetics that a person uses;

Some Tips for Cleaning Blackened Silver

Remember that you can clean very dirty silver, but you will not be able to repair scratches or bumps for misuse, as this is a job that requires professional tools and jewelry experience. In addition to trying home products to clean silver at home, we also need to have some items to make our work easier. For example, a soft cloth should be used to polish large surface items, and if it is a decorated item or a lot of jewelry, you can use a brush with soft bristles similar to those used by children, so you can clean the pieces with watermarks and penetrate into every depression that has jewel.

silver darkens from contact with onions, egg yolks, salt, rubber and household gas.

But silver jewelry is still popular because it is very easy to clean and does not lose its properties if properly cared for.

Cleaning silverware is not too difficult

How and what to clean gilding to shine

Gilded jewelry and cutlery are in no way inferior in appearance to products made of pure gold. However, during use, it often happens that spoons and forks, earrings, bracelets, pendants and chains lose their luster and fade noticeably. But there are ways to clean the gilding and return it to its original appearance at home.

What to do before cleaning

Gilded cutlery and jewelry should be cleaned regularly. To start the product, it is worth preparing:

First, you must clean the surface of dust and other contaminants with a soft cloth (cotton pad) dipped in turpentine or alcohol.
Useful for gilded silver and table vinegar.You will need 2 tablespoons per liter of water. If you leave the products in the solution for 15-20 minutes, it will help cleanse them of darkening and greenery.

Or you can do without soaking and simply wipe the dirt with a sponge soaked in a more concentrated solution (2 tablespoons per glass of water). In both cases, after the procedure, it is necessary to wipe the products dry with a suede cloth.

It is important to remember that when cleaning gold-plated objects, it is absolutely impossible to use such products as: hard sponges and brushes, dry powders, aggressive acids. Otherwise, scratches will form on the gilding or the coating may peel off altogether.

Removing darkening from gilding

There are many different methods for cleaning gilded jewelry and cutlery at home, which are not inferior to each other in efficiency, but different in composition. Therefore, you can not be puzzled by the purchase of components, but use what is at hand.

Method one: wine alcohol

This option is suitable not only for returning the original shine to things and removing darkening, but also for preventing their appearance. To do this, you just need to wipe the surface with a soft cloth dipped in wine alcohol. Then polish with dry suede to a shine.

Method two: beer

Beer removes even the most difficult browning from the surface of spoons, forks, jewelry and, in addition, thanks to its gentle properties that do not bring harm to gilding, it is suitable for regular use. Dark beer works best, but any other beer can be used.

To clean, you just need to lower the product into a drink and leave for half an hour, then rinse with running water and dry well.

Method three: egg white

Egg white will help restore shine to things. To do this, simply wipe the surface with a soft cloth moistened with this natural product.

For too tarnished gilding, you can add a little "Whiteness" to the whipped egg white, no more than 1 hour

l., but then you have to be careful and clean with rubber gloves

Method four: soap solution

Method five: with ammonia

You can also clean the gilded product by placing it for 15-20 minutes in a dish with soapy water and ammonia (1 liter of warm water + 1 tsp. Of any grated or liquid soap + 5-6 drops of ammonia). Thanks to this method, gilding gets rid of the greenish tint. But do not overexpose the products in the solution, otherwise the gilding may peel off.

Rules for the care of gilded items

In order to avoid darkening or abrasion of the gilding layer, you need to carefully look after jewelry and other products.

Gilded jewelry should be removed before showering, starting household chores, and before applying cosmetics (creams, perfumes, scrubs).
It is not recommended to take such items with you on vacation at sea. Salt water has a detrimental effect on gilding, and therefore, if parting with your favorite jewelry seems impossible, then it must be removed before bathing.
Store gilded jewelry, spoons and other cutlery, best of all in a closed box or special box, as far as possible from sunlight and heating appliances. This will protect both the gilding itself and some types of gemstones from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, and will help preserve their original appearance as long as possible.

Cleaning of products should be carried out regularly, without waiting for darkening or plaque to form on the gilding.

We advise you to read: How to clean gold jewelry at home.