What to do if silverware has darkened - how to clean it properly at home?

12/14/2017 1 5,336 views

Each hostess has items made of silver. Unfortunately, they are often oxidized in air and thus darken. Consider how to clean silver from blackness at home so that it shines? Such jewelry should not be thrown away. You can clean it yourself without the help of a jeweler.

There are quite a few ways. They do not require much effort and cost. Ingredients are found in every home. Remember that coarse abrasives can damage the product. The methods must be gentle and gentle.

Why does silver darken?

According to popular beliefs, blackening is associated with the targeting of damage to a person. Another reason has been scientifically proven - oxidation, which occurs when the sulfides of this metal come into contact with sulfur. It is found in sweat, in cosmetics (creams, ointments).

Also, blackening can appear for the following reasons:

1. High humidity.
2. Interaction with dishwashing gel, rubber, etc.
3. Low fineness of a chain or earrings. Rhodium plated silver practically does not darken.

Silver jewelry care rules

• You need to start washing with getting rid of greasy and dirty spots. To do this, the product is immersed in a soapy solution for 60 minutes, then washed with water.
• A thin sheet of aluminum called foil is often used for this purpose. It returns the previous beauty to the accessory and does not spoil its surface.
• Acetic and citric acid are used when plaque has formed in hard-to-reach parts and cannot be removed manually.
• The ammonia will help get rid of blackness even when neglected. It is a very aggressive agent, therefore it is not used to clean jewelry with gilding and gemstones of organic origin.
• Soda is used for accessories without complex patterns and minerals.
• Before choosing a cleaning method, you need to determine the quality. The dishes are usually made of low-grade metal, which allows you to tidy it up with soda and various acids. Jewelers use 925 sterling silver, so it is allowed to use ammonia, foil, tooth powder, and to create filigree - 960, which requires the help of a professional.

How to clean silver when blackening at home?

After leaving the product in a soapy solution, proceed with the main wash. To make your jewelry shine, you can use methods such as:

• Vinegar. It helps with blackening of a non-old character. If you find that the accessory has begun to fade, you need to soak a cotton pad in liquid and gently process it, then take a new one.

• Dentifrice. Women used to clean their silver jewelry using this method. Dip a fleecy cloth in water and in a product, wipe the product. You can use regular paste, as long as it is white.

• Hydrogen peroxide. Pour it into a plate, leave the accessory for a quarter of an hour. Rinse and dry with a cloth.

• Alcohol. The ring or chain should lie in it for about half an hour. Then you need to get them out and dry with a woolen cloth.

• Potato. Pass the vegetable through a coarse grater, pour 250 g of cold water. After five minutes, mix thoroughly and clean through a gauze bandage. Leave the jewelry for a quarter of an hour, rinse.

• Olive oil. Apply to a cotton pad, process the ring. Then put in hot soapy water.

• Pomade. It can only clean smooth silver, otherwise it will be difficult to remove the pieces later. Process the product, leave for ten 10 minutes, rinse.

• Washing gum. The method is quite simple - you just need to go over the silver with an eraser if it turns black.

In the case where the stains are not strong, you can dip the cloth in ammonia and wipe the decoration. Also, the product is left for a quarter of an hour in a soapy solution mixed in six drops of the product.

In case of intense contamination, it is necessary to pour 100 g of water into 10 ml of ammonia and leave for half an hour, immerse the ring or bracelet and close the lid. It is important to shake the jar periodically.

The ammonia can be mixed with chalk and applied to the product. If the stains are very old, it is worth placing the jewelry in undiluted product. It must be closely monitored and not kept for more than ten minutes.

Would need:

• citric acid - 100 g;
• water - 0.5 l;
• copper wire - 1 pc.

Mix the ingredients, put on the stove, wait for a boil. After that, put the accessory on for a quarter of an hour, continuing to heat.

The foil method requires water and citric acid (2 tbsp. L.). Pour liquid into a piece of aluminum, add additive. Boil the product for five minutes.

Soda is the most common and affordable cleaning method. You need to use it with water in such a ratio that you get a mushy mass. This requires a 3: 1 ratio. Do not use pure powder because it is a strong abrasive.

To prepare the solution you need:

1. Water - 1 glass.
2. Soda - 20 g.
3. Foil - 1 pc.

Mix the liquid with the powder, put on the stove until it boils. Then lower a piece of thin aluminum and silver. Leave for a quarter of an hour, dry with a cloth.

You can also wash with baking soda and foil, along with the addition of salt (1: 1). There should be a little water. Keep the product in the mixture for half an hour.

The drink contains orthophosphoric acid, which easily removes scale, rust and various deposits. To apply the method, put the accessory in a bowl, pour in the liquid. Then put cola on the stove and boil for five minutes. Take out the jewelry, rinse with water and dry with a cloth.

How to clean black silver?

The blackened look attracts the most attention. Such jewelry is unique and exquisite. To give it this color at home, you will need:

• egg - 1 pc.;
• fishing line - 1 pc.;
• plastic dishes with a tight lid.

Wipe the product from stains. Boil the product, cut into two parts, put in a container. Tie the rope to the silver, leave it under the lid for half an hour, periodically turning it over. Hydrogen sulfide vapors come out of the food, which makes the accessory dark. The method is allowed to be used for precious minerals, but after that it is necessary to treat them with a dry cloth.

Also, silver will darken from iodine if you apply it with a cotton swab to jewelry and leave it in direct sunlight. After color formation, wipe with a cloth and toothpaste. The method is suitable for embossed items with drawings. It will not add beauty to flat rings.

Apply sulfuric ointment, completely smearing the accessory. Then you need to turn on the hair dryer with hot mode. You can see how slowly the dark shade is formed, which characterizes the success of the method.

Regular cleaning is not necessary. It is important to clean off dirt and dust from time to time. Do not use aggressive agents, including ammonia. Do not boil or polish with abrasives.

To avoid damaging the blackened layer, you can use the following methods:

1. Soapy solution and a pinch of baking soda. Mix the ingredients, leave the accessory for a quarter of an hour. Then rinse and wipe with a cloth.
2. Potato. Peel the vegetable, pour in cold water. Hold the decoration in the bowl together with the tuber for three to four hours.

Refined dishes should not be rubbed with hard sponges and powders should not be used. It must be washed in a soapy solution with the addition of ammonia. Add one tablespoon of the product to a liter of water. Leave the silver for 30 minutes, then dry with a soft cloth.

It is allowed to use all of the above methods, namely:

1. Peroxide.
2. Vinegar.
3. Liquid soap.
4. Soda.

There are many types of household chemicals made specifically for this purpose. You can search the stores for the following names:

• Ultra Soft;
• Town Talk;
• Silbo.

Storage rules for products

In order for the jewelry to serve you for a long time, you should follow certain recommendations:

1. Don't keep all accessories together. Often, due to improper storage, scratches appear on them. It makes sense to buy a special box with compartments for each type. If this is not possible, you need to store them in a polyethylene bag. This will save you from touching when searching for certain earrings or a cross.
2. The place where the jewelry is located must be dry. At high humidity, they lose their shine and begin to darken.
3. Do not leave silver in direct sunlight.
4. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Do not store products near a battery or oven.
5. Wipe periodically with a velvet cloth.
6. Wear it more often. This metal changes for the better over time with constant use. If silver lays idle for a long time, even in the best conditions, it loses its original appearance, it becomes dimmer. This may not seem entirely logical to some, but it is a proven fact.
7. In case of darkening, you can clean the products yourself without the help of professionals. The main thing is to wash immediately, without delaying for a long time.

Video: how to clean silver from blackness at home so that it shines?

Additional questions

How to clean silver with stones at home?

Many minerals are organic and cannot be washed with acidic, alkaline or abrasive products. Certain types of jewelry (topaz, ruby, garnet) can change their color after being immersed in hot liquid. Let's consider which way to choose:

• Coral, mother-of-pearl, amber and pearls are kept in warm water to remove dirt. When plaque appears, a mechanical method of cleaning the jewelry is used, trying not to touch the stones. Organics are treated with a toothbrush with soft bristles, previously dipped in a soapy solution;
• Hard minerals (beryl, diamond, tourmaline, corundum) are cleaned with shampoo or powder.
• Soft stones (turquoise, lapis lazuli, malachite, opal) are washed by mixing water with grated laundry soap.
• If the products are coated with colored enamel or have glass inserts, use ammonia and tooth powder. The product is applied to a cotton swab.

A highly artistic accessory should not be cleaned at home. It is better to entrust this difficult task to a professional.

Can silver be washed in the dishwasher?

Small jewelry or coins are allowed to be cleaned in this way. To do this, you need to place it in a nylon sock and leave it in the instrument section. It is important that there are no steel dishes with them, otherwise there is a risk of dark stains. The detergent should be chosen with extreme care.

Many sources indicate that such items cannot be washed in the dishwasher. But in the passport of some silver spoons and knives it is indicated that this method is allowed. In this case, there is no risk. The main thing is to wipe them dry after processing.

What to do if silverware has darkened - how to clean it properly at home?