Video: How to clean silver at home - 3 ways

14 best folk remedies for cleaning silver

Every owner of silver jewelry, silverware, or even antique silver coins is once faced with the need to clean these items. Silver darkens for a variety of reasons: improper care and storage, additives in silver, a chemical reaction to the characteristics of the body, etc.

Whatever the reason for the darkening of the metal, “home” methods for cleaning silver remain unchanged …

Video: How to clean silver at home - 3 ways

Ammonia. One of the most popular and well-known methods. Pour 10 percent ammonia into a small glass container (1:10 with water), put the decorations in the container and wait 15-20 minutes. Next, simply rinse the jewelry under warm water and dry. The method is suitable for mild cases of darkening and for prevention. You can simply wipe the silver item with a woolen cloth soaked in ammonia.

Ammonia + toothpaste. Method for “advanced cases”. We apply regular toothpaste to an old toothbrush and clean each piece of jewelry from all sides. After cleaning, rinse the products under warm water and immerse them in a container with ammonia (10%) for 15 minutes. Wash and dry again. It is not advisable to use this method for jewelry with stones.

Soda. Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of soda in 0.5 liters of water and heat over heat. After boiling, throw a small piece of food foil into the water (the size of a chocolate wrapper) and put in the decorations themselves. Remove after 15 minutes and rinse with water.

Salt. Pour 0.2 liters of water into a container, add a teaspoon of salt, mix, add silver jewelry and “soak” for 4-5 hours (the method is suitable for cleaning silver jewelry and cutlery). For a more thorough cleaning, you can boil your jewelry in this solution for 15 minutes (silverware and jewelry with stones should not be boiled).

Ammonia + hydrogen peroxide + liquid baby soap. Mix in equal parts and dilute in a glass of water. Place decorations in the solution for 15 minutes. Then rinse with water and polish with a woolen cloth.

Potato. Remove the boiled potatoes from the pan, drain the water into a separate container, and place a piece of food foil and decorations there for 5-7 minutes. Afterwards we wash, dry and polish.

Vinegar. Heat 9% vinegar in a container, dip jewelry (without stones) into it for 10 minutes, remove, rinse, and wipe with suede.

Dentifrice. Wet the product in warm water, dip it in a jar of tooth powder, rub with a wool or suede cloth, rinse, and dry. The method is suitable for jewelry without stones and silverware.

Soda (1 tbsp) + salt (similar) + dishwashing detergent (spoon). Stir the components in a liter of water in an aluminum container, put it on low heat, put the decorations in the solution and boil for about 20 minutes (according to the result). Wash, dry, polish with suede.

Water from boiling eggs. We take the boiled eggs out of the container, cool the water from under them until warm, put the decorations in this “broth” for 15-20 minutes. Next, rinse and wipe dry. The method is not suitable for jewelry with stones (like any other method of boiling silver).

Lemon acid. We dilute a bag (100 g) of citric acid in 0.7 liters of water, place it in a water bath, lower a piece of wire (made of copper) and the jewelry itself to the bottom for half an hour. We wash, dry, polish.

Coca Cola. Pour the soda into a container, add the decorations, and place on low heat for 7 minutes. Afterwards we wash and dry.

Tooth powder + ammonia (10%). This mixture is suitable for cleaning products with stones and enamel. Mix the components, apply the mixture to a suede (woolen) cloth and clean the product. Next, rinse, dry, polish.

For stones such as amber, moonstone, turquoise and malachite, it is better to use an easier method - using a soft cloth and soapy water (1/2 glass of water + ammonia 3-4 drops + spoon of liquid soap). No strong abrasives. Then wash and polish with flannel.

To prevent tarnishing of silver do not forget to dry the products with a flannel after use or contact with wet skin. Do not allow silver items to come into contact with chemicals (remove jewelry when cleaning and washing hands, as well as before using creams and other cosmetic care products).

Silver items you don't use store separately from each other, pre-wrapping them in foil to avoid oxidation and darkening.

What recipes for cleaning silver products do you know? Share your experience in the comments below!