How to quickly clean silver at home

Silver is a noble and relatively affordable metal compared to gold and platinum. Each family has silver jewelry, silverware, as well as various souvenirs. But over time, silver oxidizes, and a black coating appears on the surface of the product, which spoils and cheapens the appearance of even the most sophisticated jewelry creation. However, do not be upset, because silver is easy to clean at home. There are various methods and tools that depend on the purpose of the item and its size.

Useful properties of silver

Having a silver spoon or cup at home, you can make silver water and use it as an additional prophylactic against skin problems. Even Egyptian warriors noticed that the water in silver vessels retains freshness for a long time. This is due to the fact that silver ions block the absorption of phosphates, staple foods, microbes and bacteria. In magic, silver is also endowed with a mass of positive properties. Silver earrings improve brain function, silver body crosses take away all negative energy, and using the ring through which the thread is passed, it is possible to determine favorable and unfavorable zones in your home. In the church, utensils are also made of silver, and the ringing of silver bells scares away evil forces.

Table Silver Features

The alloys used to make table silver differ in composition from alloys for jewelry and figurines. Copper is added to the dishes, which makes it more durable (do not forget about the flexibility and softness of silver) and less expensive. Forks, mugs, glasses and plates have 80% silver in the composition, the rest is copper and other impurities. Silver alloy 800 sample has a large admixture of copper, which is why cutlery has a yellowish tint and high strength.

Features of silver jewelry

In the jewelry industry, the requirements for silver jewelry are higher than for tableware. The lowest standard used in jewelry making is 830, i.e. silver itself in the composition of 83%, and the remaining metals are of base origin. The most common breakdown is 925, however, 800, 830, 875, 960 and 999 samples are also found.

Jewelry 875 is often confused with white gold. Gilding is applied to them, and the products are sold at a higher price.These jewelry are rarely sold without inserts; often they contain semiprecious stones such as cubic zirconia, turquoise, rose quartz, and rhinestone.

925 silver products contain 92.5%, the remaining impurities are copper. Such an alloy is called sterling in another way, because in England pounds sterling was made from it. Copper gives strength to jewelry, and a high silver content preserves the ductility of the alloy.

A 960 sample indicates a high silver content. But whole jewelry made of such an alloy will deform when worn, so the 960 sample is used for fine filigree work, creating cobwebs, thin threads, lace and lace.

The 999th test is pure silver. It is incredibly ductile, and from 1 gram of metal you can get a wire length of 1.6 km. Pure silver is unsuitable for the manufacture of jewelry and cutlery, otherwise the forks will bend, and the rings and earrings will be deformed. Therefore, 999 silver is found in bullion.

Why is silver getting dark

There are many versions of why silver is blackened and tarnished.

1. The chains on the neck and in the decollete darken faster and more intensively than anything else. The fact is that the copper contained in the alloy oxidizes under the influence of sulfur, which is part of human sweat. The lower the silver sample, the greater the copper composition, and the faster the product will darken.
2. Crosses blacken. It is believed that the darkening of the cross means the evil eye and damage to its owner. You can believe this, but you can approach the statement critically. But the cross turns black with excessive sweating, which appears with hormonal disorders and other disorders. Sometimes the owner of the cross himself does not even realize that something is wrong with his body, but the composition of the sweat changes, and silver oxidizes faster and more intensively. Indeed, after some time the disease is detected, and the cross indicated it much earlier than the doctors. Hence the belief that the cross turns black from the evil eye and damage.
3. Blacken cutlery. Even those that are not used, and they calmly stand in the sideboard. This indicates that the room has poor ventilation, high humidity and stale air. The presence of hydrogen sulfide provokes a darkening of silver, so do not be surprised if you remove a blackened silver chain from the box.
4. Silver jewelry darkens if you do not remove it in the shower, when washing your hair or swimming in the pool. Even purified water in urban apartments has scanty impurities of hydrogen sulfide, and radon gas is also released from water pipes. All this contributes to rapid darkening.
5. Silver turns black on contact with skin if you use moisturizing or protective creams, as well as cleaning and washing household products. They contain various impurities that enhance the oxidation process. If you can not imagine life without a pectoral cross, choose gold or even tin. These materials are not so sensitive to the environment. When washing dishes and wet cleaning in the apartment, remove rings and bracelets. So you prolong their life.

What are the homemade recipes for cleaning silver jewelry

There are improvised means available in each house, with which silver products can be added to shine and remove darkening and dullness.

1. Toothpaste. It is in every bathroom. Squeeze a little minty toothpaste onto an old unused toothbrush (it is advisable to choose not a gel, but a white paste without crystals). Apply with smooth movements to the surface of the product, foam. You will see the foam darken. Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Then rub it again and you can wash it off. The only negative: the higher the silver sample, the higher the likelihood of traces of bristles on the surface. Jewelry is best cleaned in other ways. But the dishes will shine like new.
2. Ammonia. It is also suitable for cleaning cutlery. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of ammonia in a liter of water, stir and place the dishes in the solution. After 15 minutes, remove and wipe the surface with a soft cloth, fleece, flannel. But not everyone can withstand the cleaning procedure, given the specific smell of ammonia.
3. Baking soda. There are two ways to clean products. The first is suitable for cutlery. Dilute 2 tablespoons of soda in half a liter of water, bring the solution to a boil and put a silver thing in it. Or make a slurry of soda and water and apply it to the decoration. But this way spoils the stones, if any. They become turbid and covered with a coating.
4. Drink Coca Cola. Yes, in fact, this drink is so rich in alkali that it can clean jewelry from dirt and black deposits. Pour in a glass of Coca-Cola and lower the earrings, rings and chains into it. After 15 minutes they will shine and shimmer.
5. 6% table vinegar. Heat vinegar in a spoon, soak a cotton pad in it and wipe the silver thing. Rub the surface well with a soft cloth.
6. Eraser or eraser. With its help, smooth silver rings are polished to a shine. Just rub the rubber on the surface of the ring and it will become smooth and shiny without any scratches.
7. Water after boiling eggs. Cook the eggs in the usual way, let them cool without removing them from the pan. Then pour the water into a glass and put silver trinkets there for 15-20 minutes. Surprisingly, there will be no trace of black coating and dullness if wiped with a soft cloth.

Darkening of a silver product does not indicate its damage. Rather, this indicates unfavorable external conditions: increased humidity, excessive sweating, the presence of sulfur, etc. Silver can be cleaned using improvised tools that are available in every home. It can be toothpaste, soda, ammonia. Above all, do not mechanically clean silver. This metal is soft and flexible, therefore subject to deformation. Do not use abrasives or hard brushes. just hold the jewelry in solution and then wipe it with a dry cloth.

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