Cleaning silver jewelry at home: features, effective methods and techniques. Choose a cleaning method. Cleaning silver from blackness with ammonia is very simple.

02.11.2019 Colpitis

Almost every woman has elegant silver jewelry - chains, rings, earrings, bracelets, cuffs, pendants.

Silver is a beautiful metal with a soft, radiant sheen, and is believed by many to have magical properties.

From silver, modern designers create interesting original jewelry both for every day and for exceptional festive occasions.

Silver is a noble metal, which means it is not subject to corrosion and oxidation. However silver jewelry from time to time and exposure to a number of negative factors, they lose their pure luster, becoming dark and dull. How to clean silver at home so as not to spoil the products and restore their beauty?

metal quality

Before you start cleaning a silver item, you need to check the test set on the jewelry. If earrings, chains, rings, pendants and other jewelry are not made of high-quality silver, but of alloys, home cleaning can irreparably damage appearance. In this case, it is better to give the jewelry for cleaning to a jewelry workshop.

Not all products should be cleaned at home, sometimes the best option there will be a jewelry workshop

Attention! It is worth being especially careful and careful if the product is decorated with enamel inserts, rhinestones, there are elements of gold and other metals.

Jewelry decorated with pearls, amber, turquoise, corals can only be cleaned with ammonia or medical alcohol.

Especially carefully you need to clean jewelry with stones.

Cleaning methods

For high-quality silver items, you can purchase special jewelry and cleaning pastes, as well as wipes.

However, in order to effectively refresh the appearance of jewelry, you can use a variety of tools that are always at hand in the household, such as:

vinegar;
beer;
soda;
salt;
milk;
ammonia;
lemon acid;
potato;
eggs.

You can also use toothpaste or powder, hygienic lipstick, eraser. Food foil is indispensable for home processing of silver jewelry.

Important! Do not use any abrasive substances - they will scratch the coating, and the silver jewelry will never have a clear, clean shine.

It is necessary to clean silver carefully, with patience, because haste in this matter is inappropriate.

And now in more detail how to clean silver from blackness at home.

Table vinegar.

This is the easiest and least laborious way. A 3-9% solution of table vinegar is used, but the essence cannot be used so as not to spoil the decoration. Vinegar is suitable for cleaning any silver products, including those with stones. The decoration is placed in vinegar for 20-30 minutes, for the best effect and in case of heavy pollution - for 1-2 hours. After you need to rub the decoration, using suede for this.

Most easy way purification of silver is the use of table vinegar

Beer.

The method above also works effectively if you use beer instead of vinegar. Of course, you can’t drink this beer afterwards!

Soda.

Baking soda is great for getting rid of dirt. However, soda powder is too coarse for a delicate silver surface, so it is imperative to make a solution or gruel out of soda:

1 part water - 3 parts baking soda. With this composition, you can wipe the product or boil it for 5-7 minutes.
In a glass of water - 20 g of soda, bring the solution to a boil, put the decoration there for 15-30 minutes, then dry.

In this case, food foil will come in handy. It must be placed on the bottom of the container, and decorations are already placed on the foil.

Salt.

Edible salt helps to quickly clean silverware. Easiest in soft tissue pour fine salt and wrap silver jewelry there. The bundle is placed in a container and filled with water. After 1-2 hours, the products will be clean.

There is another option that has been helping silver lovers to put their jewelry in order for many years. A slurry of salt and soda mixed with a small amount of water is laid out on a piece of foil. Silver items are placed on top. After half an hour, the composition is washed off with cold water, the jewelry is dried and wiped dry with a napkin.

An effective way to restore your favorite silver jewelry to its original appearance is as follows:

10 g of salt, soda and any dishwashing detergent are mixed, 0.5 l of water is added.
In this solution, the decorations are boiled for half an hour.
Cool, wipe to a shine.

Milk.

The milk method does not require much time, and the risk of spoiling your favorite jewelry is minimized! The chain, pendant, ring or earrings are placed in milk and boiled for several minutes, then allowed to cool and washed with running water, wiped dry - and you're done.

Ammonia.

A wonderful remedy that helps out in many difficult cases is ammonia. How can you process silver products with it:

the simplest thing is to wipe with ammonia with a soft cloth;

grated chalk is mixed with ammonia to the state of gruel, this mixture is applied to the decoration, wiped;
10 drops of ammonia are diluted in a glass of warm soapy solution, chains and rings are lowered there, held for 10-15 minutes;
you can increase the concentration of ammonia by 2 times and hold the jewelry for about half an hour;

heavily blackened silver is dipped in an undiluted solution of ammonia and kept for no more than 10 minutes.

Attention! When working with ammonia or its solution, it is necessary to close the containers with a lid to avoid contact of alcohol vapor with the mucous membrane.

If the product is richly decorated with inserts, it is advisable to use medical alcohol. You can simply hold the jewelry in it for 1-2 hours or rub it with a cotton swab.

Lemon acid.

Citric acid is also a good and simple way to help bring silver items in order.

The most common use of citric acid is as follows:

For 0.5 l of water, 100 g of citric acid is diluted.
Decorations are placed on the foil in a container.
Boil in lemon solution for 5-15 minutes.
Rinse, dry and wipe dry.

Many advise adding a copper product or wire to the solution.

Such a tool perfectly helps to rid silver of blackness.

Potato.

Potato contains a large number of starch, which perfectly removes dirt and blackening from silver jewelry.

How potatoes are used:

Grate 1 potato, add cold water, put decorations for 1-2 hours.
Cleanings can be used, they are also filled with water and silver is lowered there.
Potato broth is cooled, silver items are placed in it for 2-3 hours.

Eggs.

You can clean silver interesting way- with the help of ordinary chicken eggs. How it's done:

The yolks are separated from the proteins and whipped.
To the yolks is added 1 tbsp. l. means for bleaching "Whiteness".
Products moistened in the resulting solution are processed with a napkin.

egg yolks, mixed with "White", will return the original appearance of silver jewelry

Toothpaste.

It has long been customary to use tooth powder to clean metal, including silver items. However, the powder can lead to scratches, so it is better to replace it with white toothpaste. The paste should be the most ordinary, without additives, gels or colored ones will not work.

Silver is laid out on a napkin and polished with a cloth, cotton swab or soft toothbrush. Then the jewelry should be washed, blotted with excess moisture and dried.

Hygienic lipstick.

Old hygienic lipstick will still serve to restore the beauty of silver jewelry. To do this, lipstick is applied to a napkin or directly to a piece of jewelry and rubbed. However, it should be noted that embossed chains or earrings can be difficult to get rid of the remnants of lipstick. Not suitable for these purposes and lip gloss.

Hygienic lipstick copes well with dirt on silver

Eraser.

If the dirt is minor, you can use a regular eraser. They process the entire surface of the decoration. This way, you can quickly put things in order.

How to store silver jewelry

In order not to have to spend a lot of effort and money to restore the original beautiful look of expensive silver jewelry, you must remember that silver also has storage rules. If they are observed, then silver products long time will look new, radiant and clean.

The rules are simple:

Do not store or wear silver in places with high humidity (beach, swimming pool, sauna).
Do not store jewelry near medicines.
After removing silver jewelry, it is worth wiping them with a soft cloth, removing the remnants of sebum, sweat, and moisture.

When storing the product, you should not dump it in one pile, you need to carefully lay out or hang the chains, use cases lined with soft suede for rings, and boxes for earrings. To store jewelry, you can purchase a special chest.
If some kind of jewelry is rarely worn, it can be wrapped in foil, so contact with air will be excluded.

Silver is a very beautiful metal that requires special attention and care. Silver jewelry never makes the image vulgar and defiant, but on the contrary - more refined and refined. In addition, jewelry made of this metal is suitable for any type of skin. But it is worth remembering that the material is very fragile, and if you are faced with the fact that the silver ring has turned black, it means that you made some mistake in cleaning it. Many women wonder what should be the cleaning of silver with stones. On the Internet you can find a lot of different means and methods of cleaning, the main thing is to carry it out correctly and in a timely manner.

What you need to know before cleaning silver?

Before cleaning jewelry from silver, you need to familiarize yourself with the main reasons for its darkening.

People say that if the jewelry darkens, then the person is in poor health. But in fact, this is far from the case. Experienced jewelers and doctors refute such a theory, because the main reason for the darkening of jewelry is a poor-quality metal sample.

Some masters in the manufacture of silver rings, chains use copper:

As you know, copper is a very unstable metal, and when in contact with moisture, it quickly oxidizes.
In addition to a bad sample, various cosmetic products (creams, lotions.) have a bad effect on silver. Therefore, if you wear jewelry made of this metal, you should avoid the frequent use of creams that contain sulfur and other harmful chemicals.

Important! In order for the cleaning of silver with or without stones to be successful, silver products should be stored in dry places away from water.

Features of self-care of silver products

To clean silver ring with a stone, several important nuances should be taken into account:

Do not use abrasive cleaners to avoid damaging the stone and the ring or earrings themselves.
Do not scrub with a hard-bristled brush, as this may loosen the ring mounts. As a result, the gem can be lost.
Use polishing agents so that after cleaning the jewelry shines.

If you take into account all the above features, you can achieve an effective, positive result.

How to clean silver jewelry at home like a pro?

To clean silver jewelry yourself, you need to consider a few mandatory recommendations:

Use soft cloths and sponges for washing so as not to scratch the gem.
Regardless of which detergent you use, pre-soak the ring or chain in soapy water.
Observe the temperature regime, as a sharp jump in temperature can destroy the product.
polish jewelry suede.
After cleaning, wipe the jewelry dry, as silver does not tolerate moisture.

Important! These rules must be observed both for products with stones and without.

What folk methods for cleaning exist?

The safest and effective methods purification of silver are considered folk. Consider a few commonly used folk remedies:

Raw potato mix. We rub raw potatoes on a grater, mix it with a small amount of warm boiled water. Then we lower our earrings, chains or rings into such a gruel for 30 minutes. After all the dirt has disappeared, the jewelry should be thoroughly dried and polished with a piece of woolen cloth.
Ethanol. Pour some alcohol into a glass or cup and soak our jewelry in it. We leave for a few minutes. Next, rinse with running water and dry the jewelry.
Ammonium chloride. In a cup of warm water, dilute one teaspoon of ammonia. Dip the rings into the solution. Then dry them with a paper towel.

These methods are very effective and time-tested.

The use of improvised means

If you do not have special cleaners for precious metals and there is no way to purchase them, then you should use improvised means. They are no less effective than purchased ones.

Consider a few basic improvised tools that are suitable for cleaning silver:

Tooth powder or paste. Apply to a soft toothbrush a small amount of paste and gently remove dirt from earrings or rings.
Lipstick. Smear the ring on all sides with lipstick. Let it sit for a while, then remove the lipstick with a tissue.
Eraser. You should thoroughly rub your eyebrow or earrings with a washing rubber band. It will easily remove darkening on the product.

Important! This method is not effective when cleaning a chain with a fine weave.

Soda. It is necessary to make a gruel from a small amount of water and soda (a state of sour cream). Next, apply the mixture to a soft sponge, carefully clean your favorite jewelry.
Salt. We put all the blackened jewelry in a plastic container and fill it with salt. Add detergent and a teaspoon of baking soda to it. Fill with boiling water, let stand for about an hour. There will be no trace of pollution.

These funds can be found in every home. Therefore, if you are faced with the problem of contamination of silver products, do not rush to the store for expensive special products.

Gemstone cleaning

Before cleaning silver jewelry with a stone at home, it is necessary to determine the density of the jewelry. The cleaning method directly depends on the density of the gem:

Sapphires and aquamarines have a fairly high density, so they are used to clean them. washing powder and warm water.
Moonstone, turquoise and malachite can be cleaned using a soft bristled toothbrush and laundry soap.
The safest cleaner for all kinds of gems is glycerin. You should dip a cotton swab into the product, carefully process the frame and the gem.
Apatites and agates are washed with ordinary alcohol and cotton swab. Then you should polish the jewelry with a soft cloth.
Ivory has a very soft structure, so it is not recommended to use detergents that contain acidic and alkaline substances. It is advisable to hold the product in warm water, and then dry it with a dry towel.

These simple tips help avoid damage to your favorite jewelry.

How to clean silver with cubic zirkonia, pearls and other stones?

most reliable and effective way in the fight against darkening of silver jewelry with pearls and cubic zirkonia - the use of salt and water. In order for the cleaning process to be effective, it is necessary to perform the following algorithm of actions:

Place all silver jewelry in a cotton bag.
Sprinkle them with a little salt.
Prepare a bowl of warm water.
Dip the jewelry bag in warm water.
Keep it until the salt dissolves.

This method has been used for decades, and it has never let down the owners of silver necklaces and rings.

Jewelry with inserts of mineral semi-precious stones

In order to wash rings or earrings with mineral gems well, you need to know the features of each stone. Consider the main methods of cleaning mineral stones:

Emerald, opal and malachite are recommended to be cleaned in slightly warm water with the addition of liquid soap or shampoo.
Topaz, ruby and garnet can only be washed in water at room temperature, since such gems are not resistant to high temperatures.
For all mineral gems, the rubbing alcohol cleaning method is recommended.

Jewelry with inserts made of organic materials

If you love jewelry with organic inserts, there are a few things to consider. important rules when cleaning them:

The surface of gems made from organic materials is processed only with velvet.
Products must dry on their own. It is not recommended to use paper napkins and terry towels.
In order to wash such decorations, a mixture of potato starch and warm water is made. Then the contaminated surface of the material is treated.
When removing contaminants from corals, water and substances based on it should not be used.

When purchasing silver products, many are tempted by the noble grayish-white glossy sheen of the product. However, over time, after the silver has lain in the box for a long time, you notice that it has become dull gray or even almost completely black! There is no limit to your indignation, in some cases you even carry the silver back to the seller or make claims to the manufacturer. Any connoisseur or even a person more or less knowledgeable in metals could only congratulate you: in front of you is not a fake, but genuine silver. On the contrary, you should be wary if your "silver" looks great and perfect for a long time, especially in the process of constant wear or keeping in a humid environment. What does not blacken is definitely not silver.

If the product, while not in the process of being worn or in use, darkens evenly, it means that you have high-quality metal in front of you, its ligature is well and evenly mixed over the alloy (and silver, even 999th test, is still not pure metal, but an alloy, in composition of which is 99.9% silver and 0.1% other metals). If the product is covered with black spots, the black coating is uneven, has "bald spots", then the quality of the original alloy is low, the ligature was poorly distributed throughout the mass of the metal.

How to deal with the blackening of silver? First of all, you need to remember about storage conditions. The best way prevent blackening - pack the item tightly, for example, jewelry can be placed in a zip bag, and silver coin- weak. It must be remembered that before this the product must be cleaned of dirt and dried.

Silver should be stored in zip bags so it doesn't turn black for long enough.

First, you should find out why silver still turns black. This process is affected by a large number of different factors, for example, air humidity affects, for example, a silver necklace from a resident of St. Petersburg will turn black much faster than that of an inhabitant of the dry steppe southern regions, provided that all other factors are the same. However, one should not think that in a dry climate the product will not turn black at all - after a while it will still happen.

The blackening of silver is also called patina.

If blackening has occurred with a coin, this can in some cases increase its value if the patina is uniform or of an unusual natural shade. In no case should a blackened silver coin be cleaned - the patina removed from the coin is considered blasphemous damage to the copy and the value of such a coin can actually fall to the price of the metal.

In some cases, blackening can serve as an exquisite decoration of the product. For example, a frequently worn ring is more likely to turn black in the "hollows" where it does not come into contact with the skin and does not rub against the surface of objects. It looks very interesting and gives a vintage touch of antiquity to the product.

Silver is sometimes intentionally blackened by treating it with special chemicals to give it an "aged" look. After such a procedure, a self-respecting master will surely cover the blackened product with a layer of thin lacquer polymer film in order to protect the rest of the product from discoloration. It is worth remembering that products that have undergone artificial blackening should never be subjected to aggressive cleaning, only wiped with a soft cloth. In order for silver to be better preserved, safety rules should be observed:

Silver is stored exclusively in individual cases, preventing moisture from entering. Foreign substances must not be allowed to enter.

If you still do not like the black color of silver, you can clean it at home, for this you need to learn how to clean silver with precious stones or without. First of all, it is worth remembering that silver is a very soft metal, which means that it is easy to damage it with abrasives, causing ugly scratches to the surface. There can be only two main tools for cleaning silver: a soft cloth and a brush made of natural pile (for example, pony, squirrel). Where jewelry and tools for jewelers are sold, special wipes for silver care can usually be purchased. They are universal and will not damage your product. You can also buy special liquids that can clean it.

To clean silver, it is better to use special wipes - they will not scratch the material.

You can also clean silver with ordinary soap. It cleans dull products well and gives them shine. Just soak a squirrel brush in warm water, then run it over a piece of toilet soap, and then rub the item well. Such cleaning will not damage either silver or cubic zirkonia if the product has inserts.

If the product does not contain stones, enamel, inserts, if it consists entirely of silver, for example, a chain, then you can subject it to more aggressive cleaning, which will help even if the product has become very blackened. Add 1 table. a spoonful of citric acid in 1.5 cups of water, bring to a boil and remove from heat. Place silver in hot water and chat well. Then rinse with running water.

Our ancestors knew how to clean a silver ring. "Grandma's" means in the fight against the blackening of silver is considered toothpaste containing fluorine. Rub the surface well with a cloth or brush with applied paste, then rinse - and the product is like new again. It is worth remembering that electroplating or silver also darkens. However, do not rub them too hard - they can “peel off”, exposing the base metal. Only the master can restore such a product by re-coating, and this is an expensive pleasure.

Toothpaste contains fluoride, which cleans silver well

If you don't want to have the hassle of cleaning silver, it makes sense to turn your attention to rhodium. At a price it is a little more expensive, but this metal does not change its color and pleases the hostess with perfect jewelry for many years. Also, rhodium is much harder and harder to scratch. Another white metal that looks like silver is palladium, but it is the most precious metal in the world and costs more than gold. In tone, it is slightly darker than silver, but over time it does not change color and is practically not subject to patina.

Silver cleaning folk methods

Noble metals are ubiquitous in our lives. The most popular is silver. Due to its relative cheapness compared to gold, silver has occupied its niche in the sales market and its demand. The noble metal got its name due to its silvery-white color. Silver was known to mankind as early as the Eneolithic period, since, like gold, it was found in nuggets and did not require smelting from other iron ores.

AT modern world silver is used as a material with the highest conductivity, for contacts of various electrical appliances, capacitors. In addition to technical applications, the noble metal is melted into canteens. Silver is considered a symbol of purity, and therefore it is not surprising that it is used in jewelry. Any woman loves silver rings and earrings, especially those with a crystal clear stone. This metal attracts with its mystery and mystery. It is very pleasant to receive such a gift from your companion, but over time it may lose its original properties.

Salt removes plaque from silver
Ammonia cleanses even age-old oxides
If you place a silver item in a glass of Coca-Cola, the plaque will disappear

Baking soda with water helps fight plaque
A gruel of water and soap copes with plaque on a silver item
Lemon acid cleans silver well

Like all metals, silver tends to darken, or rather become covered with a patina. Patina is a coating that protects the metal from external influences, it appears from contact with the external environment. This process is quite normal, so do not panic and contact the supplier with complaints.

In order to clean silver, it should be thoroughly prepared. First, clean the product of fat by washing it in a solution of soap and water. Then rinse. Now you can start cleaning. There are several ways to remove plaque, today we will analyze the most popular of them. Let's see how to clean silver earrings and rings:

Salt cleaning. Regular salt will help clean silver at home. To do this, mix water, cream of tartar and salt, release the product for 15 minutes. In order to bring the product to its original form, you can also boil it in a solution with salt. To do this, we need salt, a container and water. One teaspoon of salt is enough for 200 ml of water. Bring the water to a boil and carefully put our silver into it. Within 10 minutes, the plaque will disappear. Next, drain the water and take out the jewelry. Salt can not be dissolved, just wet it a little and wipe the silver product with the resulting gruel. This method will remove the patina but leave a lot of scratches on your piece.
Ammonia. The fastest cleaning method. Ammonia cleanses even age-old oxides. In order to remove plaque, it is necessary to moisten a piece of cotton wool or any cloth with it and wipe the product. The raid should be removed immediately.
Coca Cola. This drink is considered one of the best in the fight against rust and oxides. Due to its composition, cola is able to clean any surface. Silver is no exception. In order to use this method, place the product in a container of cola. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the drink will corrode the relief of the decoration. Check your silver every couple of minutes. You can boil a silver item in drinks such as Cola, 7-Up, Sprite.
Soda. Silver can be cleaned with . Everything is very simple: you should mix soda with water and wipe the product, then everything needs to be washed off. Baking soda is also considered one of the most popular cleaning methods. The procedure is identical to cooking in salt. Dilute 2 tablespoons of soda in 500 ml of water and boil silver in this solution. 10 minutes of boiling and you're done.
Soap bowl. Soap is considered the most gentle way and does not spoil the product in any way. To remove the darkening, we need laundry soap, a knife and dishes. Cut the soap into small pieces, place it in a small container, pour boiling water over it. After 20 minutes, your solution will turn into a soapy porridge. Place all silver items in it. Despite the fact that soap porridge is the most gentle way, cleaning takes a long time. Once a day, you need to take out silver items and wipe them with a soft cloth, then put them back. Thus, after 10 days of procedures, the entire plaque will disappear without a trace.
Lemon acid. The next remedy is citric or any other acid. Mix 500 ml of water and 100 g of acid. Boil, putting a piece of copper into the solution. Now you can release the silver item for cleaning for 20 minutes.

In order for a silver product to retain a decent appearance, one of the above cleaning methods should be used.

So we figured out how to clean silver with stones at home. When choosing a cleaning method, one should be guided by various factors: product size, sample, composition, level of contamination, and others. So, we looked at the most popular ways to clean silver from patina. Each of them is good in its own way, but it is still better to choose more gentle methods so as not to damage the surface of the products. One of the reasons for the discoloration of silver is improper storage of the metal. Also, silver of poor quality darkens rather quickly. As a result of contact with wet skin or sweat, various chemicals, cosmetics, blackness may occur.

Recently I found a stunning silver jewelry in my grandmother's jewelry box. Unfortunately, it has turned black with time and covered with a layer of dust. Without thinking twice, I figured out how to clean silver earrings with stones. I brought my luxury item back to life, now I'll tell you how to act.

Preparation for the procedure

Cleaning silver with stones at home is due to a number of ways to restore gloss and novelty to the product.

So we might need:

soft sponge;
Toothbrush;
dry rag;
eraser;
salt;
soda;
toothpaste or powder;
ammonia alcohol;
lemon acid;
starch;
soap or shampoo.

General rules for cleaning silver jewelry

Instruments. All cleaning tools chosen should not be hard or sharp.
temperature fluctuations. Before cleaning your silver jewelry, soak it in warm water. This will help the stones avoid deformation from a sharp temperature drop.
Detergents. Remove light dirt with shampoo, liquid soap or detergent.
Water. Limit the amount of moisture.

tissue flap. Shine can be achieved by polishing silver with stones with a piece of suede or flannel.

Cleaning silver jewelry: 7 ways

Silver is not as capricious as the stones attached to it. I know seven ways to rid the noble metal of blackness and fat with my own hands.

Image	Instruction
	Method 1. Ammonia Ammonia will remove light dirt and remove grease: Dilute a teaspoon of alcohol in 200 ml of warm water. Soak the jewelry for 30 minutes. Wipe with a damp sponge, then with a dry cloth.
	Method 2. Soda A great way to get rid of old dirt: Mix a slurry of soda and a couple of drops of water. Using your fingers or an old toothbrush, apply the mixture to the product and leave for 5-7 minutes. Rinse with warm water and wipe with a dry cloth.
	Method 3. Citric acid Dissolve 100 g of citric acid in a 500 ml jar. Send the jar to the steam bath, dip the decoration into the mixture. After 30 minutes, rinse off the composition and dry the item.
	Method 4. Chalk Cleaning silver with chalk is considered one of the most effective: Mix chalk powder with water until a thick porridge is formed. With the resulting paste, use a cotton swab to treat the dirt.
	Method 5. Salt For cleaning, you need a container that does not let in light. For reliability, wrap the container with foil: Lower the decoration to the bottom of the container. Sprinkle with a thin layer of salt. Drop some detergent. Pour 100 ml of boiling water over and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off the composition and dry the item.
	Method 6. Toothpaste If your silver ring just needs updating, this method is for you: Apply a little product to the product. Use your fingers or a brush to scrub off the blackness and grease. Rinse off the composition and dry the jewel.
	Method 7. Eraser Light dirt in jewelry with a simple structure can be easily removed using a stationery eraser.

Cleaning jewelry with organic inserts: 4 ways

Stones require special treatment, especially those with an organic composition. In no case should such jewelry be exposed to contact with any preparations.

The porous structure will easily absorb chemicals, after which it will lose its natural beauty.

However, organic stones can be rid of dirt:

Image	Recommendations
	Method 1. For amber Jewelry made of silver with amber is cleaned with a mild soapy solution: Soak the product for 5-10 minutes. Sponge without pressure, treat the dirt. Rinse off the soap with warm water. Do not dry the jewel on a battery or ultraviolet light.
	Method 2. For coral A jewel with a coral stone cannot be washed at all: Wipe the stone and ring with a dry velvet cloth. Restrict the stone from hitting chemicals, and process the metal in any suitable way.
	Method 3. For ivory The porous bone material can be soaked for 3-5 minutes in a weak solution of soapy water. Then: Rinse off the solution with running water. Let the decoration dry on its own.
	Method 4. For pearls Products made of silver with pearls are less whimsical than the rest. They can be cleaned with starch: Mix starch and water in a 1:1 ratio. Using a toothbrush, apply the mixture to the jewelry and brush it. Rinse off with running water. Let the decoration dry on its own.

Cleaning jewelry with mineral inserts: 3 ways

Minerals are more durable than organics, but they are no less capricious. Mechanical effects are generally contraindicated for gems.

For cleaning, you will have to apply maximum diligence and accuracy - jewelry work, you know:

Image	Recommendations
	Method 1. For emerald, sapphire, aquamarine Silver with stones with a density higher than 6 can be processed with washing powder or tooth powder: In a 1:1 ratio, mix water and powder. Apply the mixture to the product with a toothbrush and rub gently. Rinse off with warm water.
	Method 2. For ruby, garnet, topaz These delicate pebbles should not be subjected to any stress: Wash jewelry in cool water. Wipe dirt with a sponge, then with a soft cloth. In especially difficult cases, stones can be treated with a drop of glycerin.
	Method 3. For turquoise, opal, malachite, moonstone Just soak jewelery with matte shades with light dirt for 10 minutes in soapy water, then rinse off the composition. Old and large stains can be treated with alcohol: Soak the dirt with warm water with a cotton swab. With the dry end of the stick, apply a little ammonia to the jewel. Rinse off with cool water. Wipe the product with a dry soft cloth.

We remove dirt on silver with household chemicals: 5 products

For those who do not like to follow "grandmother's instructions", scientists have developed a number of cleaning products. I present the rating the best means household chemicals according to those who experienced:

Image	Product / price for 2017
	Aladdin Price - 230 rubles
	Flurin Price - 350 rubles
	Sano Silver Price - 500 rubles
	Adamas Price - 250 rubles
	Town Talk Price - 220 rubles

Summary

As you can see, cleaning silver with stones is not difficult at all. Choose the method that suits you and save the product. If you have another effective tool in your arsenal, describe it in the comments - I will be glad to read it.

Are you wondering why silver items darken? You can get an expert opinion from the video in this article.

If a silver object or jewelry has lost its radiance over time, darkened, then you need to learn how to clean the product at home with improvised means or using a special solution, and feel free to get down to business. There are a lot of recipes to restore shine to silver, but are they all really effective?

How to clean silver at home

Most silver items turn black after a while, become dull. Superstitious people say that the reason for this is damage to the owner or illness. According to scientists, the composition of human sweat affects silver products: if there is an excess of sulfur in the body, then the metal is more likely to darken, and if there is a lot of nitrogen, then silver will not darken. However, it happens that the products just lie in the box - for example, cutlery, crockery, figurines - and still covered with bloom. This comes from interaction with air containing hydrogen sulfide.

To know how to clean silver jewelry at home correctly, you need to take into account the alloy of silver, impurities, and the presence of stones. An alloy of silver happens:

matte;
coin;
blackened;
filigree;
sterling (925 test).

So, how to clean silver at home? Before you start cleaning silver jewelry, dishes, degrease the product using any detergent. Rub indentations and curls with a soft toothbrush. Let the item lie in soapy water for several minutes, and then rinse the jewelry and proceed to drastic measures. There are many ways to clean silver, including cleaning with:

hydrogen peroxide;
baking soda;
salt;
ammonia (ammonia);
foil;
citric acid;
coca-cola;
toothpaste or powder;
special means (liquids, pastes, napkins);
mechanical method of cleaning with an eraser.

hydrogen peroxide

The use of hydrogen peroxide to clean silver items is very controversial. Cleaning silver with hydrogen peroxide can both remove blackening from a precious metal and start the reverse process. Hydrogen peroxide donates oxygen atoms to reduce or oxidize a substance, depending on its composition, so the reaction to silver can be unpredictable if the silver alloy contains foreign metals. In this case, there is a risk that the surface of the decoration will become mottled or completely black.

It will be difficult to remove such pollution at home. You will have to turn to a jeweler, and his work will result in a solid penny. There are recipes for cleaning silver at home using combined solutions based on hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. However, before putting the whole piece of jewelry into the composition, make a test - check the reaction on the chain clasp or the inside of the ring. If the place of contact has brightened, then boldly apply the solution to the entire surface of the jewelry using a cotton pad.

soda

Housewives have long known the power of soda in the fight against pollution. She may be able to wash silver objects as well, but she must act without fanaticism so as not to scratch the shiny surface. The method is suitable for small items, as scratches on plates and spoons will be too conspicuous. How to clean silver with baking soda:

Mix baking soda and a drop of water until a slurry is formed.
Apply the gruel to the surface of the product with your fingers or a soft cloth, lightly rub until it shines.
Difficult places are best cleaned with a toothbrush.
Rinse the jewelry with water.
Wipe dry.

Salt

Another quick, easy way is to clean silver with salt. You will need ordinary salt, large or small, which is available, it does not matter. In a small bowl or mug, the bottom of which is lined with foil, pour, without sparing, salt, baking soda, pour dishwashing liquid. Jewelry should be placed in this substance and boiled for 10 minutes. Then rinse the products under the tap and dry. This method is suitable for small items such as rings, crosses, earrings, chains, coins. Plates, spoons, candlesticks, other kitchen utensils must be cleaned by other methods.

ammonia

There are several ways to clean silver with ammonia. You can use both pure alcohol and its combination with other substances. Two ways using only ammonia:

Take one part of ammonia and 10 parts of water and prepare a solution. Immerse the product in it to soak. If the silver is of medium contamination, then the treatment lasts from half an hour to an hour. You should not keep silver in ammonia for too long, you need to follow the bleaching process. Slightly cloudy products can simply be wiped with a cotton pad moistened with ammonia.
For too blackened silver items, you will need pure ammonia. Processing time 15 minutes. The silver is then rinsed and dried.

foil

citric acid

Cleaning silver will help brighten antique items and jewelry. citric acid or vinegar:

It is necessary to dilute 100 grams of acid in 0.5 liters and put the solution to heat in a water bath.
Dip a small piece of copper or wire and silver into the container. Boiling time from 15 to 30 minutes.
Then, as usual, rinse and dry the item.

coca cola

The cleaning properties of Coca-Cola are already legendary. What this drink does not clean: tiles, plumbing, dishes! For home life, this is an expensive and irrational way, but cleaning silver with Coca-Cola is quite affordable and will not hit your pocket. It is necessary to pour a small amount of Coca-Cola into a glass and lower silver items there. The process is long, it will take about 12 hours, but the silver will shine like new.

toothpaste

Cleaning silver with toothpaste works well on slightly clouded jewelry. Smooth products can be wiped with a toothpaste cloth, and jewelry with many embossed details can be cleaned with a toothbrush. Choose a paste without additives and dyes so that impurities do not lead to an undesirable reaction with the metal. After cleaning the product, rinse thoroughly so that a white coating does not form, polish with a soft cloth.

Silver cleaners

You can find it in any jewelry store special means for cleaning silverware. Voice the problem to the consultant, but rather bring the jewelry with you - he will recommend the appropriate cleaner: wipes, liquid or paste. Check if a particular cleaning agent can be used for products with stones: some do not tolerate aggressive cleaning, they are easy to damage.

Cleaning liquid

A special solution for cleaning silver consists of organic solvents, phosphates, surfactants, fragrances, water. This is a strong cleaner, so it is not recommended to use it to lighten silver jewelry with pearls, amber, corals. For example, Aladdin liquid is a convenient container with a special basket and a brush: the product is placed in the basket, then it must be immersed directly into the jar, held for 30 seconds. Then rinse the silver with water and polish with a napkin. The effect is visible from the first time, but there is a drawback - an unpleasant smell.

Special liquids can be sold in the form of a spray, such as the Chinese remedy Sunlight. Comes with a small brush for cleaning hard-to-reach places. As stated on the packaging, Sunlight Spray is safe for all types of precious metals and stones. The product is transparent, without a strong odor, easy to use. It is only necessary to sprinkle silver, hold for a few minutes, and then rinse with water.

Napkins

To clean slightly darkened or lost their luster of novelty, it is recommended to use silver cleaning wipes. There are wipes made from microfiber that are chemical free so as not to harm metal and stones. In addition, in stores you can buy disposable wipes with special impregnation for polishing jewelry, separately with impregnation for polishing jewelry with pearls or other organic stones. One such napkin is enough to rub a small table service to a shine.

Cleaning paste

A thick cream or paste for cleaning silver effectively cleans old black deposits on jewelry, cutlery, antiques. The paste has a delicate structure and does not leave scratches on the product. Before cleaning, degrease silver by washing it in warm soapy water or detergent. Then apply a little paste on a napkin, rub the product and leave for a while, then polish the surface with a dry napkin.

How to clean silver from black

Cleaning silver at home is troublesome, you can scratch the product or ruin the stones. Majority known ways how to clean silver at home was discussed above. It remains to figure out which of the considered methods is best used for jewelry, products with stones, and which one for dishes, cutlery, antiques and other items:

Silverware, on which scratches from soda will be visible, it is better to clean with toothpaste. It is just right for items that are not badly affected by blackening. However, you do not need to use the paste too often, it can provoke the formation of microcracks on the metal. Spoons, forks, knives are cleaned with soda, salt and foil. With this method, it is not necessary to rub objects, the dirt leaves when boiled.
With small jewelry or coins, the eraser can easily cope, but you have to work hard. Instead of an eraser, some advise using lipstick by applying a little to a soft cloth and rubbing the silver. The lipstick will not leave scratches and can be easily washed off with soapy water. For small jewelry, a gruel of chalk and ammonia is also suitable, which is applied to the product and then washed off with water.
Blackened silver should not be cleaned to a shine at all, trying to wash off the noble patina, depriving the decoration of charm and sophistication.

silver chain

Many people think that the most difficult thing is cleaning the silver chain, because there are small links or a spiral. However, by applying the knowledge gained about silver purification methods, this problem can be easily dealt with. It will take vinegar and 3 hours of time:

Soak the chain in acid, without diluting it with water, and hold for the indicated time.
Perhaps the process will go faster if the silver is not too run.
Vinegar does a great job with very strong browning.

Silver with stones

If you are afraid to ruin silver jewelry with stones household chemicals, it is better to clean with special liquids for professional cleaning. You can buy them in a jewelry store. They will not only carefully clean the silver, but also cover the surface with a protective film. It is important to know the features of the stones in your jewelry:

Turquoise does not tolerate moisture, it is absolutely impossible to lower it into water.
Pearls do not tolerate ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, they are washed in a soapy water solution.
Amethyst and topaz easily tolerate the effects of alkalis and acids of low concentration, but they will not survive high temperatures - they will fade.
Zirconia, quartz are not capricious, they can be washed in soapy water.