home solutions to make your silver shine like new again
Silver jewellery and cutlery are elegant accessories that can lose their shine over time. Fortunately, there are many home methods to effectively clean silver. Here's a guide to help restore your silver to perfect condition.
22 October 2024 11:51
Anyone who owns silver items will sooner or later encounter the problem of tarnish or blackening. The first step in the cleaning process is to pre-clean the jewellery or cutlery to remove dust and other surface contaminants. Simply use a soft dry cloth to get rid of the outer layer of dirt.
Next, assess the degree of tarnish to choose the appropriate cleaning method. If the silver is lightly tarnished, gentle cleaning methods may suffice. However, for items with more significant tarnish, it's worth considering more intensive cleaning methods.
How and with what to clean silver?
One of the simplest and most accessible products for cleaning silver is toothpaste. A small amount of toothpaste applied to a soft brush can work wonders. Just gently rub the tarnished areas, then rinse the jewellery under running water and dry with a soft cloth. This method can be used on both cutlery and jewellery.
Another effective option is to use baking soda. When mixed with a little water, baking soda creates a paste that should be applied to the tarnished silver. Leaving the paste on for about 30 minutes allows it to dissolve the tarnish. After this time, rinse and dry the silver items. Baking soda is particularly effective for heavy tarnish and safe for silver surfaces.
Another tried-and-true method is cleaning silver with aluminum foil. To use this method, line the bottom of a plastic or glass dish with aluminum foil, then place the tarnished items there. Prepare a solution with table salt—pour 5 tablespoons of salt into about 1 litre of hot water and add it to the dish. After a few hours, rinse the items with running water and polish with a soft cloth. This process causes the foil to attract contaminants from the silver's surface.
A simple method for cleaning silver is to use aspirin tablets. Just dissolve one tablet in warm water and soak the tarnished items in the solution for about 1 hour. After this time, gently clean the jewellery with a soft brush and rinse under running water. Polish the rinsed silver with a dry cloth to restore its shine.
Cola can also be used to clean silver. Simply soak the silver items in a bowl of cola for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft cloth. The phosphoric acid in cola removes tarnish, restoring the silver's original lustre. For the best results, it's recommended to try this trick on less valuable items.
How to keep silver clean?
To prevent silver from becoming tarnished again, apply a few simple tricks. First and foremost, store silver items in a dry and dark place, preferably in closed containers or zip-lock bags, to limit air contact. Additionally, it's worth regularly cleaning the silver to prevent dirt and tarnish from embedding deeply.
Home methods for protecting silver are equally important. Consider applying a protective layer by using special products available in stores or regularly wiping the items with special cloths soaked in an anti-tarnish solution. This way, our silver items will always be ready for use and will look like new.
