How to Clean Silver at Home: 5 Proven Options

Many men and women choose to wear silver jewelry – this metal is more budget-friendly than gold or platinum and can be a great addition to any style of dress.

Why is the silver on your neck or fingers getting darker – the reasons

Most often, beloved jewelry loses its original appearance due to improper storage or care. The second factor is sulfur or hydrogen sulfide, and when exposed to these substances silver is covered with a thin black film. This cannot be avoided because hydrogen sulfide is present everywhere, even in the air.

Sometimes the reason for the darkening of silver and call low-quality metal jewelry darkens without the impact of aggressive environmental factors. Additionally, sweating a lot, and regular contact with detergents or household chemicals are also affecting the condition of the silver jewelry.

How to whiten silver from blackness – proven methods

If you want to restore the attractive appearance of your favorite earrings, rings, or chains, we recommend you use your grandmother’s advice. These remedies have been tested for years, and therefore definitely will not disappoint you.

How to clean silver with baking soda and foil

Take a saucepan, pour water into it, and put it on the fire. When it boils, toss in 2 tbsp of baking soda and a strip of aluminum foil. Then immediately drop in the silver jewelry that needs to be cleaned. Wait 15 to 20 minutes, then take it out and rinse under running water.

IMPORTANT: Never clean silver with dry baking soda, as the aggressive powder will leave scratches on your items, which will ruin their appearance.

How to clean silver with peroxide and ammonia

Never use peroxide neatly to clean silver, as it may bleach or leave a cloudy residue on the jewelry, especially if the alloy has other impurities.

To make cleaning safer, make a solution: mix equal parts ammonia and peroxide, pour it into a container, and immerse the rings, earrings, or necklace in it for 20 minutes.

How to clean silver with ammonia

This method was actively used by our grandmothers – with ammonia you can clean even silverware. Follow their example – pour water into a container and add 1 tsp. of ammonia. Then place the silverware and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

A handy trick: Ammonia works even on jewelry with stones, especially if they are cloudy. Plus, you can be sure that ammonia won’t ruin your jewelry.

How to clean silver with vinegar

Vinegar is a good alternative to ammonia, so you can safely use it to reanimate silver. Pour 6% or 9% vinegar into a deep container and leave your jewelry in it for two hours. If you want to accelerate the action of the remedy, you can slightly heat it. After that, do not forget to rinse the silver under running water.

How to clean silver with toothpaste

A tip is to clean your silver with regular, unadulterated toothpaste. Use a soft toothbrush, squeeze some toothpaste, and rub the silverware as hard as you can without scratching it.

If you don’t have toothpaste, you can use tooth powder, but this is not the gentlest method. You are better off making a mush out of it and cleaning only items that are not valuable.

 

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Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

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