How to clean silver at home: 7 ways

 Lipstick, toothpaste, baking soda and salt will all help you get your silver earrings and bracelets in order. Here's how to do it.

Over time, silver items lose their former beauty and attractiveness without proper care. However, this is not a reason to give up your favorite silver ring or stop using table silver. 

You can literally correct the situation once or twice. We have collected 7 of the most effective, and most importantly, simple ways to clean silver at home. 

Be sure to take them into service on the eve of the New Year in order to shine in every sense on the most important winter holiday. By the way, the symbol of the coming year - the White Metal Bull - is very fond of all light and silver shades. Therefore, if you want to attract good luck on New Year's Eve, then we advise you to stick to this color scheme. 

1: Why does silver tarnish

Before we tell you how to clean silver at home, let's remember why it loses its shine and darkens. This happens mainly with the products with which we contact the most. This is because our beloved rings and earrings are exposed to hydrogen sulfide, a constant component of the air, every time we walk them.

As a result of the interaction of metal with hydrogen sulfide, the very dark coating appears on the surface of silver jewelry or table silver - silver sulfite . At first, it is not very striking, but the longer you do not pay attention to it, the stronger the oxidation will be. 

Additional factors that negatively affect silver are water and high humidity . That is why it is not recommended to wash your hands without removing jewelry. With table silver, this happens even faster, even a little green bloom may appear on it. This is because forks, spoons and knives are not made of pure silver, but of its alloy with copper. And copper, under the influence of water, forms a greenish acetate, hence the plaque. 

Such oxidation occurs with absolutely all silver items, so you shouldn't believe those who say that only low-quality silver turns dark or green. The test only affects the reaction rate.

Sweat is another oxidizing agent (which makes sense), so if you want to keep your rings and chains shiny for as long as possible, take them off before exercising and in hot weather. High temperatures also accelerate oxidation. 

Now that we have conducted a short excursion into the reasons for the appearance of blackness and other deposits on silver items, we can proceed to listing those very effective methods for cleaning silver at home.  

2: Cleaning methods

Ammonia

Ammonia (ammonia solution) is one of the most gentle ways to renew silver. It can help restore shine even in shallow depressions. 

For the ammonia cleaning procedure you will need: 

• ammonia
• water
• container with lid
• the cloth

How to clean 

We advise you to carry out such manipulations in a well-ventilated room or on a balcony. 

First mix the ammonia and water in a 1:10 ratio, respectively. Then immerse silver jewelry in the resulting solution for 30-60 minutes. Focus on the degree of their pollution. If the products are very dark, then hold them longer, if slightly, then you can get them earlier. 

Important! It is necessary to remove silver from the solution only with gloves. 

Wipe the garments immediately with a prepared cloth. If there is still plaque, dampen a paper napkin with ammonia and rub the jewelry again. 

Hydrogen peroxide can enhance the effect of ammonia. It is added in the same amount as ammonia. You can also use dish detergent instead of peroxide. 

Foil and soda

This method is perfect for cleaning silverware - trays, teapots, forks, spoons, knives and other utensils. 

For work you will need: 

• saucepan for 2-3 liters of water
• 200 grams of soda
• a piece of foil
• the cloth

How to clean

There are two ways to clean silver at home with foil and soda: 

Method one

Place the crumpled foil in boiling water. Immediately after, send a glass of baking soda to the pan and dip the necessary products into the resulting solution. In most cases, this method works pretty quickly. After a few seconds, the silver brightens. But sometimes it takes 5 to 7 minutes to clean. 

Method two

Cover the bottom of a saucepan with foil and pour boiling water into it. Then add baking soda and wait until it dissolves. Then put the items down. The result will appear in 3-5 minutes. After removing all things, wipe dry with a cloth. 

Both of these methods are recommended to be used extremely rarely, as such cleaning can deform products.

Vinegar

Vinegar is perfect for minor stains and mildew. It will not remove stubborn stains. 

Always wear gloves before starting work. Take care of your hands.

What you need:

• 10% vinegar
• 100 grams of citric acid
• half a liter of water
• cloth or cotton wool

How to clean

Mix citric acid, water, and vinegar. Soak a cloth or cotton pad in the solution, and then start processing the product. If the stain persists, you can soak it for a while in the resulting essence. 

Toothpaste

Well, everything is elementary here.

For work you will need:

• toothpaste or tooth powder
• an old toothbrush or the soft side of a dishwashing sponge
• cloth napkin

How to clean

Apply toothpaste to the brush and polish the silver item with light circular motions. If necessary, dilute the paste or powder with water, and then rinse off the remaining foam and wipe the decoration dry.

This method should also be used as little as possible, as the toothpaste scratches the surface of the silver item a lot. Overuse of this recipe can tarnish the item, even if it is clean. We'll have to give the jewelry for professional polishing. 

Pomade

Yes, yes, it didn't seem to you. Lipstick can really cleanse a little silver jewelry. This is because lipstick contains titanium dioxide, which helps to remove impurities. 

What you need for this:

• lipstick
• the cloth

How to clean

Apply lipstick to the item, and then wipe and polish with a rag. 

Soda

Soda can be used if you want to clean ornaments with patterns and various shallow grooves. 

What you need: 

• 200 grams of soda
• half a liter of water
• shallow container
• the cloth
• Toothbrush

How to clean

Combine water and baking soda in a bowl until thick sour cream. Apply this gruel to the brush and rub the selected item. Polish until plaque disappears, then rinse and wipe with a dry soft cloth.

Salt and soda

This solution, like vinegar, is only suitable for mild browning. 

What you need: 

• salt - 1 tablespoon
• soda - a tablespoon
• water - 400-500 milliliters

How to clean

Salt and soda should be dissolved in boiling water, and then the necessary silver objects should be immersed in the resulting solution for 30 minutes. After the time has elapsed, remove the items and wipe them dry with a soft cloth.