How to clean silver at home

Useful tips

In almost every home you can find silver items, be it dishes or jewelry. Sooner or later the time will come when they will need cleaning. can you clean silver at home effectively and without harm to health or the item itself?

It is worth noting that cleaning silver is not a very complicated process, and everyone can choose the appropriate method for themselves. Naturally, to clean silver antiques you should contact a specialist.

, but in other cases you can do it yourself using available tools.

Despite the fact that every family knows its own “best way” to clean silver, there are several universal methods

, which can be used even by those who have never cleaned such products before.

Let's look at several well-known universal methods with which you can clean silver at home.

How can you clean silver from blackness?

Blackness is perhaps the only drawback of silver. Over time, silver objects become covered with an unpleasant black coating.

It is worth noting that before cleaning silver, you need to determine the degree of contamination of the item and its sample.

.
This is because low-grade products include impurities of other metals
, which means that it is advisable to use special products when cleaning them.

It happens that the alloy from which the product is made includes copper

.
You can find out about this by contamination - the product does not turn black, but turns green
. For cleaning you will need a solution of Trilon B (10%). It will dissolve the green layer, after which you can use one of the methods listed below.

Lipstick

Do you think this has anything to do with lipstick and silver? And we are ready to surprise you, because this is one of the most effective cleaning methods. The secret is simple: fats and titanium dioxide in the composition, which perfectly dissolve, clean and polish metal. Simply coat your silver jewelry with lipstick and rub it with a cotton pad or woolen cloth until it squeaks.

Special liquid for cleaning silver

You can buy it in the store in the household chemicals department. However, this liquid cannot be found in every store. Try looking for it in a specialized store that sells household chemicals.

Follow the instructions when using this liquid, although we can say that this method is very simple - you need to wipe the silver items with a regular cloth dipped in this special liquid.

If you visit a jewelry salon, they will be able to offer you a set that contains a special liquid and several soft cloths. Some liquids not only allow you to clean silver, but also protect it from re-contamination by covering the product with a protective layer.

How to care for silver so that it does not darken?

You won’t have to think from time to time about how to clean a silver spoon and how, if you take good care of your things, take care of them in a timely manner, thereby preventing their damage and contamination.

Silver is a soft material that can be scratched if not handled correctly. To prevent this from happening, you should remember and follow the recommendations for caring for silver items:

The use of hard brushes, sponges and metal scourers is not allowed.
Storing and cleaning silver items is done away from other kitchen utensils made of metal.
Clean large utensils, such as a jug, using a special detergent spray.
For silver forks, spoons, saucers, use paste-like cleaners.
Do not use a dishwasher.
Products with blackening and enamel inserts should be cleaned with care. Try to do this carefully, avoiding decorative elements.

Important! The above recommendations do not apply to knives made of silver (except for fish), the blades of which are made of stainless steel.

How to store silverware?

Keep items in a dry place, away from salt, which accelerates oxidation processes and causes tarnishing of the metal.
Avoid exposure to sunlight.
Make sure that the devices do not come into contact with other metal objects.
Oxygen causes silver to change color, so its effect should be minimal.
Store accessories in boxes with compartments provided for each device.

Advice. An excellent solution would be to purchase a set of silverware with a storage container.

How to use carefully?

You may be surprised, but there are cases when using utensils made of silver is highly discouraged:

If the food is cold or hot. For example, you should not make jelly or put ice cream in silver bowls. The same restriction applies to hot soups and snacks. Ignoring this advice may result in stubborn dark stains appearing on your dishes.
Serving caviar in silver salad bowls due to oxidative processes that provoke the appearance of black spots.

How to clean silver with lemon juice or citric acid

If you don’t have time to go to a store or pharmacy for a special liquid or ammonia, lemon juice or citric acid will come to your aid. This method will very quickly help you clean silver at home.

Immerse your silver item in a strong citric acid solution. Wait a few minutes and the blackness will disappear on its own. It is important to use enough citric acid to completely submerge the silver.

A universal recipe for heavy soiling

Using this mixture at home, you can clean any silver items, even very dirty ones.

To prepare this miracle solution you need to take the following:

salt - 1 tablespoon;
dishwashing liquid - 1 tablespoon;
soda - 1 tablespoon;
water - 1 liter.

Mix all the listed ingredients in an aluminum bowl, put your silver there and simmer the items over low heat for about half an hour. After this procedure, your jewelry will look like it was taken from a store display!

Tooth powder or toothpaste

This is also effective if the item has been exposed to high levels of oxidation.

Make a mixture of toothpaste, baking soda and ammonia. Coat the silver items evenly using the paste. Do everything carefully so as not to scratch the item. It is better to rub with a soft brush and without applying any effort.

Do not use this method when cleaning items with patterns, as the paste may get stuck between them and thereby ruin the silver.

Care and storage

In order to preserve your favorite silver chain, earrings, rings longer and to make them look shiny and beautiful, follow some care rules:

remove jewelry while washing dishes and doing other housework;
store jewelry in a separate box, away from humidity and high temperatures;
It is best if the products do not come into contact with each other during storage, put them in separate bags;
To protect jewelry from oxidation, use aluminum foil in the box.

Home methods of bleaching silver will help you quickly and easily deal with the problem, returning them to their former appearance, shine, elegance and beauty. Your silver can be preserved for many years, passed down from generation to generation, while maintaining its attractiveness and value.

Reviews

My silverware is in the sideboard, in a closed box, with velvet inside. It's a nice set, but we've never used it. The color of the metal is still white, even though 10 years have passed since I was given this box.

Zhanna R. g, Stavropol

Liliya G., Moscow

According to my observations, silver loses color under the influence of aggressive substances (concentrated vinegar, other acids). I ruined 1 box of beautiful spoons and knives and forks. Since then I’ve been telling everyone so they don’t repeat my mistakes.

I have been cleaning silverware with chalk for several years now. It always helps, although sometimes there are divorces. I advise you to wash items after cleaning in plenty of water.

Maria P. g, Leningrad

Semi-professional cleaning with GOI paste

There are 4 varieties of a product called GOI paste. This is a universal method that allows you to clean the surface and polish it at the same time. All 4 types of paste are similar in composition; they are distinguished by the size of the abrasive particles. The choice is made taking into account the degree of contamination of the cutlery. The principle of using the paste is simple: apply the substance to a rag and rub the product until an excellent result is obtained.

It is possible to increase the sliding of the abrasive, and at the same time increase the efficiency of polishing, if you add a small amount of machine oil to the product.

Ashes and ash

The contents of a smoker's fireplace or ashtray are already an effective cleaner for silver. It is enough to wet a cotton cloth in warm water and then dip it in cigarette ashes, then rub the spoon and other utensils with the resulting paste until clean and shiny.

The cleaning properties are affected by the fact that there is a lot of ammonia in cigarette ash. In addition, ash has the properties of an ultra-fine abrasive, similar to GOI paste, only with less efficiency. The method is old-fashioned and always works, but sometimes it takes a very long time to clean.

What not to do with silverware

When spoons and forks made of precious metal sit for a long time or are used incorrectly, this leads to negative consequences. It will be difficult to use such items. Do not do the following:

wash in the dishwasher: the dishes are exposed to the negative effects of aggressive detergents, in addition, exposure to extreme temperatures and their differences are undesirable;
leave it dirty for a long time: it will not be possible to clean spoons and forks using the standard method; you will have to use aggressive agents, which is not recommended, since silver can be damaged in this way;
abrasives: particles and other hard inclusions damage the surface, in these areas oxidation will occur even faster.

How to clean silverware

Regardless of frequency of use, silver cutlery needs regular cleaning.

Important!
To maintain the attractive appearance of the appliances, they are never washed in the dishwasher. Noble metal requires careful handling and manual cleaning.

The most popular method is to rub the products with tooth powder. It is quite soft, and at the same time penetrates into the recesses. Ammonia is also used:

Combine alcohol and water in a ratio of 1:10.
Place the dishes in the solution for 30-60 minutes (depending on the degree of contamination).
Rinse the devices with running water.

Useful tips

To ensure that the silver chain does not darken longer and is pleasing to the eye, you need to remember the following simple rules:
If the jewelry gets wet, remove the silver chain and wipe it with a dry cloth.
Before starting a sports workout, you should remove the chain from your neck so that sweat does not darken it.
It is also necessary to remove the chain before the bath and shower.
It is best to store silver jewelry in a special box in a dry place.
If you plan not to wear the chain for a long time, it is better to wrap it in aluminum foil.
Thanks to these simple methods, you can preserve the beauty of your silver chain for a long time. And at any time, clean it from darkening, using store-bought and folk remedies.

Washing powder

Washing powder is probably found in every home; it is inexpensive, but effectively cleans silver items.

Take a little product, pour in water and thoroughly dissolve the grains. If the powder is used undissolved, the silver may be scratched.

The paste is applied to a dish sponge or toothbrush. This will allow for better cleaning.

Washing powder can be replaced with laundry soap. Its concentration should be 72%.

Cost of professional cleaning of devices

You can purchase silverware care products that fall into the special category. The average cost is 200 rubles. In particularly difficult cases, you need to take the cutlery to a jeweler. But the price in this case is determined individually, since the degree of contamination is always different.

When using silver care products, you need to take into account that they can provide different results. This is due to the different composition of the silver alloy (the minimum permissible Ag content is 75%).

Preparing for cleaning

To clean a silver ring, you need to carry out preliminary preparation of the product:

Dilute shampoo or liquid soap in warm water.
Leave the decoration in the solution for a few minutes.
After soaking, carefully clean hard-to-reach areas with a soft brush.
Rinse under warm running water.

The procedure is minor, but silver rings cannot be cleaned without soaking. A warm soap solution will not only remove minor dirt and grease, but will also avoid sudden temperature changes, which can cause microcracks in silver.

While the jewelry is soaking, prepare the necessary equipment: a soft sponge, a dry cloth, a brush. They are relevant for both rings with and without stones. Other methods vary depending on the presence of precious inserts.

You cannot clean silver jewelry using aggressive agents or substances containing abrasives. So as not to spoil the appearance of the product.

Ketchup

You will need a lot of this product if you need to clean your entire silver set. First, look how much ketchup or tomato paste is left.

How to clean:

Place the device in a small plastic or glass container and fill it with ketchup.
After a few minutes, go over all surfaces of the spoons with a toothbrush and again place the product in the paste for 10 minutes.
Rinse the spoons and polish with dry cloths.

Cleaning silver spoons with ketchup takes 20-30 minutes. This method is only suitable for products with a smooth surface.

Corn starch

It is necessary to use corn starch, not potato starch. Thanks to him, the silver will shine and shine again.

Corn starch is mixed with water to form a thick sour cream. Apply the mixture onto spoons in a thick layer and let it dry.

Then you need to rub the spoons a little. You can use gauze or a rough towel.