How to clean silver at home: proven tips and methods

Many women prefer silver jewelry. And this is understandable. They are not only beautiful and feminine, but also much cheaper than gold or platinum.

There are many advantages of silver. It not only adds zest to your look, but also has a number of health benefits:

Has antimicrobial properties. If you place a silver item in a jug of clean water, it will acquire healing properties.
Has a beneficial effect on blood pressure. If it plays pranks, then you can periodically wear a silver chain on your hand.
Promotes healing and restoration of organs. This fact is proven by the fact that many medicines, as well as doctors’ instruments, contain this metal.

But, unfortunately, silver has one drawback: over time, it can acquire a black coating. This occurs because the metal reacts with components of the air. How to clean silver at home and get rid of unpleasant plaque, as well as how to clean silver jewelry with inserts, will be discussed in this article.

(Pictured: “Mystery of the Ocean” pendant with topaz)

Why does silver darken?

Ancient beliefs said that silver darkens if a person is jinxed or is sick. Fortunately, we live in the modern world, and this kind of prejudice can be thrown aside. The darkening of silver is influenced by very real factors, not related to otherworldly forces.

Blackening is affected by moisture. If you often come into contact with water, or jewelry is stored in the bathroom, then get ready to tidy it up quite often.
To think less about how to quickly clean silver, work in the kitchen with gloves, as detergents and cleaners, starch, salt, and onions affect the tarnish.
It is better to apply cosmetics and hand creams without jewelry; the oil from them lingers on the silver and makes it less shiny over time.
When you are taking medications, it is better not to wear silver jewelry, as some medications contain sulfur, and this, together with sweat, can negatively affect the shine of the item.
Silver can also darken due to its low quality; when the content of third-party substances in the product is exceeded, the jewelry turns black much faster.

Now that you know why silver jewelry loses its beauty, the likelihood of it becoming tarnished will be minimal. You can talk about what ways to clean silver at home exist.

Properties of the mysterious stone

Amethyst is a variety of quartz with a luxurious purple hue. As people say, this stone awakens love for the person who gave it. It is suitable for temperamental people; under the influence of the mineral, a person becomes balanced, and clarity of mind returns to him.

The semi-precious stone also has other amazing qualities. For example, it helps fight alcohol addiction. Few people know that amethyst is translated from ancient Greek as “opposing drunkenness.”

If you wear jewelry with amethyst at least 3 times a week, headaches disappear and immunity increases. A person becomes successful at work, organized, disciplined. Such products are necessary for people who cannot complete the task.

This stone has powerful energy, so it is used to create amulets. However, it tends to accumulate bad energy, for this reason it is forbidden to wear it every day.

Silver perfectly sets off the radiance of amethyst and enhances its magical influence. Amethyst is framed in gold along with other precious and semi-precious stones. White gold jewelry with amethyst, rock crystal, quartz, aquamarine and diamonds looks stunning.

How to choose the right method for cleaning silver

It’s best not to start cleaning silver items thoughtlessly. After all, improper handling of jewelry in pursuit of how to quickly clean silver can lead to disastrous results and, as a result, the jewelry will be damaged.

After all, silver itself is one of the softest metals and scratches can be made on it by using the wrong materials.

Pay attention to the silver sample. The higher it is, the more gentle the cleaning should be. After all, if the sample of a product is high, then it contains very few foreign impurities and the product is quite fragile.
If silver jewelry has inserts, is covered with enamel or gold plated, then they need to be cleaned more carefully to avoid damage to the coating. Choose gentle polishing methods, or better yet, purchase special products to remove dirt.

How to clean a silver chain and other simple jewelry: You can safely clean them at home and restore their former shine. But if you have expensive, designer jewelry with inserts or application, then it is best to entrust cleaning to a jeweler.

Simple daily care rituals

But following the above rules does not eliminate the need to clean jewelry. During wear, dust, sweat and skin particles settle on them, forming an untidy coating. However, getting rid of such contamination is quite easy - you just need to carefully wipe it with a clean, dry cloth each time you remove the accessory. This will remove most stains.

Particular care should be taken for jewelry of natural origin (amber, pearls and corals), as well as turquoise. On these gems, even a tiny drop of moisture, if not removed in time, can turn into an irreversible defect. This process is most noticeable on pearl necklaces - if you do not clean them regularly, within a month the pearls will fade and lose their shine.

Classics of the genre: cleaning silver using proven methods

Before you start cleaning your jewelry, let's prepare it for it. To do this, make a simple solution of liquid soap and water in a ratio of 1:2. Place silver items in it and lightly whip up the foam. Let it all sit for a little while, about ten minutes, then take it out and let it dry. This was done in order to remove grease and dust from the surface.

How to clean silver earrings or any other jewelry without inserts using baking soda.

The first way is to prepare soda porridge; there should be a little less water so that the soda does not dissolve. Take a soft brush and wipe the jewelry with it. Then rinse in running water and wipe with flannel until shiny.

The second method is to prepare a soda solution. Take a glass of water and boil it. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and lower a piece of cooking foil. Then we put the jewelry in this miracle liquid, wait half an hour and wipe it.

How to quickly clean silver using lemon and copper.

Acids are very effective in combating the blackening of silver. We will use the safest one - lemon.

Take half a liter of water, add one hundred grams of acid crystals, it can be found in any kitchen. Now we send the bowl with the solution to a water bath and throw a piece of copper into it (take a copper wire). When it all boils, lower the silver and wait fifteen twenty minutes. Next, we take it out, let the liquid drain and wipe it.

In the photo: “Star Dance” ring with sapphire

Who is suitable for chrysolite according to their zodiac sign?

First on the list of those who must have jewelry with chrysolite in their arsenal are Leo and Sagittarius. Thanks to the gem, these representatives of the fire element will become more successful, but at the same time they will protect themselves from excessive rashness and rash actions.

But water signs, especially Pisces, should use the power of the stone with great caution. On the contrary, it can worsen their life by sending a series of different problems and troubles into it.

Unusual ways to quickly clean silver

Let's start by cleaning simple jewelry without stones or filigree. There are several simple but effective ways. And cleaning ingredients can be found in every home.

Coca Cola is not only a delicious drink, but also an excellent cleaning agent. In order to get rid of dark deposits on jewelry, pour soda into a saucepan, place the jewelry there and boil for ten minutes.
Another method that works is laundry detergent. Mix it with water in a ratio of 1:3, place the silver in the solution and boil for ten minutes.
There are special solutions for cleaning windows, usually they come with a spray bottle. How to remove blackness from a silver chain: spray the liquid on the item, leave for fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on the degree of blackening, then wipe.
And one more bonus method, but this time polishing the product. If your decoration is simple and without curls, then you can polish it using a regular office eraser.

As you can see, these methods are unusual, but at the same time simple and will help cope with minor stains. Now it’s time to figure out how to clean earrings, pendants and rings with stones popular among fashionistas.

Jewelry classification of mineral

Experts classify chrysolite as a 4th row gemstone, that is, actually semi-precious.

Almost all the stones are no larger than three carats; their color resembles watercolors and seems “diluted.” Larger, densely colored specimens are rare and highly prized.

Translated from ancient Greek, “peridot” means “golden stone”. The mineral has other names. In Europe it is known as olivine, among professionals - peridot. Another term is green pomegranate.

Peridot stone

The main feature of peridot is the ability to change shade in different lighting conditions. With candles or dim light, the yellowishness disappears, and the stone becomes like an emerald. For this reason, it is loved by jewelers, designers and people who want to stand out from the crowd. Aesthetes dubbed peridot the “evening emerald.”

How to clean cubic zirconia in silver jewelry

Silver jewelry with cubic zirconia is very popular among women. These stones were produced artificially, but in their beauty and abundance of shades they are not inferior even to diamonds.

We offer several ways to clean cubic zirconias if they are dirty and give them their former shine.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to clean these stones is with a soapy solution of laundry soap. Grate it, about half a teaspoon, add half a glass of water and thoroughly dissolve the shavings. Dip the jewelry with cubic zirconia into it and hold it for a while, you can stir occasionally. Then take it out, let it dry and wipe with a soft cloth.
Use ammonia - this is one of the most popular methods. Dilute it in a ratio of one to six and lower the stones for two to three hours. If the stones are affected by blackening of the silver, this also happens, then hold the jewelry twice as long. After this, polish the jewelry.

Cubic zirconias are close relatives of diamonds; they have inherited their main qualities - strength and amazing shine. And to prevent it from getting lost, remove rings and earrings with cubic zirconia when you take a bath or cook in the kitchen. Then the question of how to clean cubic zirconia will disappear by itself.

Types and causes of gold contamination

Pure gold is a very soft metal that will deform even with slight physical impact. Therefore, when making jewelry, craftsmen add copper, silver and other components to the alloy. This gives the finished product strength and durability. Along with increased wear, the alloy of precious metals can behave unpredictably when in contact with human skin: oxidize, darken, and become stained.

In addition, the unpresentable appearance of your gold jewelry is contributed to by:

use of face and hand creams;
secretion of fat, sweat, and stratum corneum by the skin;
exposure to household chemicals during cleaning;
city smog.

As a result, jewelry becomes dirty and fades. Knowing the reasons, it is easier to get rid of them, clean the jewelry, restoring the beauty and radiance of your favorite gold items.

How to clean topaz and sapphire: new ways

Topaz in jewelry is usually quite large. Agree, a massive stone that has lost its former shine does not look so attractive. How to clean topaz:

Take chalk powder (you can prepare it yourself by crushing white children's chalk with a rolling pin) and tooth powder in equal proportions. Mix it all well.
Add a little water until the mixture resembles the texture of toothpaste.
Take a makeup brush, scoop up the slurry and give it a good go over the stone.
After this, rinse with water and polish.

Sapphires are classified as precious stones. In combination with silver cutting, jewelry with it looks chic. If the stone is dirty, you can use a simple method to clean sapphire:

Take alcohol or an alcohol-containing solution
Dip a cotton swab into it and rub the stone thoroughly
Leave for a few minutes and then rinse with water

You can also use the soap solution mentioned above for this purpose. If the sapphire has become tarnished due to the accumulation of grease and dust, soak a stick in gasoline and carefully walk over the surface.

Special formulations

As an alternative to traditional methods, you can use cleaning pastes designed specifically for different types of gemstones.

"Aladdin"

A product designed specifically for cleaning gold is available in the form of a liquid and wipes. The composition includes ammonia and aromatic fragrances. Jewelry is cleaned with gentle movements and a special brush. The result is visible within 20 minutes.

Isedol

The liquid returns shine not only to mirrors and expensive picture frames, but also to gold and jewelry.

Liquid for lenses

This substance also finds its use in jewelry. Thanks to the right chemical compounds, it has a gentle effect on gold, purifying it. To get the desired result, the decoration must be soaked in liquid overnight.

"GOI"

This product removes dirt, dust, blackness, and returns the diamond shine to the stones. Delicate polishing with paste removes small scratches from gold. After the procedure, a thin fatty coating remains on the stones. Alcohol is used to remove it.

Dentifrice

It removes dirt quickly and efficiently. Just do not use bleaching compounds, they give the precious metal an unwanted dullness. Apply tooth powder to a soft brush or flannel cloth, and then gently work on your favorite piece of jewelry.

How to clean ruby and amethyst: recipes and storage methods

Ruby is one of the hardest stones, second only to diamonds. Therefore, due to its wear resistance, it is most often used to decorate rings and bracelets. But you need to store it separately in a dry place, or in a box with other products, wrapped in a flannel cloth or in a special bag, since it can scratch other, less hard, and especially organic stones, such as pearls or coral. Although it is hard, it absolutely does not tolerate sunlight; it fades and loses color.

How to clean a ruby: take a few drops of detergent, without harsh chemical additives. Dilute it with a quarter glass of water and leave the jewelry in for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then, if you need to clean the framing metal, gently go over it with a baby toothbrush.

Particular attention should be paid to amethyst. The stone is very beautiful and its color range from light lilac to almost black looks very interesting in silver. But this stone is quite whimsical, and more than others does not tolerate sunlight, aggressive alkaline and acidic environments. If a stone has faded, it is unfortunately impossible to return it to its original color. It is best to entrust its cleaning to a professional, since at home it will not be possible to effectively rid the stone of dirt; you risk causing scratches to it. But there is one gentle way to clean amethyst from light plaque. To do this, use a weak solution of baby soap and water. Dip the stone in it for no more than five minutes and polish with a soft cloth.

We store accessories correctly

It is unlikely that cleaning will be effective if after it the jewelry goes into a common box, where it will get mixed up with other items, get lost and become deformed. Here are recommendations that allow you to preserve the beauty of your favorite things for a long time:

keep accessories separately to avoid scratches . The ideal option would be a special box with velvet-lined compartments. However, it can be replaced by several ordinary drawers - you just need to freely arrange the contents;
special bags (they can be purchased at jewelry stores) or miniature cases also suitable for storage
to place products made of precious stones and metals in plastic bags - these materials may darken in them;
avoid direct exposure to sunlight - turquoise fades under it, pearls and corals fade, amethysts, emeralds and topazes change color;
Do not place jewelry boxes or accessories themselves near heat sources. High temperature affects natural stones as destructively as bright light;
Make sure that the humidity in the room where jewelry is stored is as low as possible.