How to clean silver from black at home?

Practically everyone has discreet and aesthetic silver jewelry. In many kitchens, you can also find cutlery made of this noble metal. Like all other materials, it eventually needs to be cleaned - the surface dims, becomes covered with a characteristic black. How to clean silver in this case effectively and safely? We will provide you with the most useful tips.

Method number 1: lipstick

Unexpected, but quite effective method. Lipstick is one of the recognized silver cleansers! The fact is that it contains a lot of fat and titanium dioxide. The first element polishes the metal to a shine, and the second promotes effective cleaning.

How to clean silver from black with this method?

1. Take a lipstick that you don’t use for a long time. Lubricate the surface of the cotton pad liberally with it.
2. Now start treating contaminated silver with cotton and lipstick - try to rub it until it creaks.
3. The surface will be cleaned before our eyes - blackness will remain on the disk.

The only negative is that the method is only good for smooth surfaces.

Method number 2: toothpaste

How to clean silver to make it shiny? Use what every home has - toothpaste! The fact is that it contains all kinds of abrasive microparticles - chalk, sand and so on. Namely, they can remove black plaque without scratching the surface of the jewelry.

We will act like this:

1. Moisten the bristles, squeeze a pea of ​​the paste onto an old toothbrush, preferably with a soft pile. He is more gentle in cleaning, and will also be able to penetrate into inaccessible places on the decoration.
2. Then it remains to rinse the silver under warm running water and rub it to a shine with a microfiber cloth.

If such a method did not remove all the plaque, we proceed to more serious measures. How to clean silver now? Prepare a solution: toothpaste (or tooth powder) + a few drops of ammonia. With this composition, the product is also wiped, and then washed in water.

Another popular composition using these components: toothpaste (tooth powder), ammonia and water in a ratio of 2: 2: 5. Silver is also wiped with a solution, and then rinsed under running water.

Method number 3: egg yolk

This is the answer to the question "How to clean silver?", Which would give our distant ancestors - even those times when this precious metal was valued more than gold.

What will we do:

1. Dampen a cotton swab in egg yolk and wipe it thoroughly with contaminated jewelry.
2. Let the yolk dry, then rinse the silver in water.

The method is good in that it not only cleans the jewelry, but also helps ensure that it does not become dirty for a long time. The yolk protects the surface from oxides, which cause darkening.

Method number 4: hydrogen peroxide + ammonia

How to clean silver from black at home yet? Mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts. Place the decoration in the solution. It is important to dilute the composition in a container with a lockable lid, because ammonia vapors have a pungent unpleasant odor. Keep the product in solution for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it under running water.

If there are stones on the jewelry, be sure to see how they are attached. If the "paws" of the same silver, then everything is fine. But if using glue, then we do not advise you this method - the solution will soak the glue base!

We also recommend that you never clean silver with pure hydrogen peroxide! Yes, the substance perfectly bleaches this precious metal. But at the same time, it enters into active reactions with its elements. And the subsequent result will be the opposite of what is desired. It is possible that silver will become cloudy. Although it is possible to remove this plaque in the future, our goal is to clean the product, and not to pollute it even more.

Method number 5: ammonia solution

Here we will use ammonia (aka ammonia solution). This is the same tool that is 100% suitable for cleaning jewelry with natural stones. In addition, it is very easy to apply. The ammonia will return the shine to the stones, and the precious metal will relieve blackening and turbidity.

How to clean silver at home - a chain, ring, bracelet or cutlery with ammonia solution? Pour the proper amount of ammonia into the resealable container. Put contaminated products there, screw on the lid. Now the container needs to be shaken vigorously until the silver has cleared. Then rinse jewelry and cutlery under running water. That's all!

To enhance the effect of ammonia solution, you can turn to the preparation of the solution. In 1 liter of water, dilute 2 tbsp. tablespoons of ammonia, add a little liquid soap and hydrogen peroxide. Stir well. Put silver in the composition for 15 minutes, and then polish the items with a fleecy cloth.

The method is good in that silver is used to clean it even in hard-to-reach places. And with it - precious stones-inserts.

Method number 6: prepare solutions

How to clean silver when blackening at home is just as effective? We also advise you to prepare these types of solutions - it will take a little time, but cleaning will be more complex:

1. Dilute 1-2 tbsp in 0.5 l of water. tablespoons of soda. Put the solution on the fire, bring to a boil. Then put silver appliances and jewelry, as well as a small piece of aluminum foil. After 10-15 minutes, you will get products that are clean and sparkling, like new!
2. As an option - pour boiling soda water with an added piece of decoration foil. Aluminum and soda will also react with silver sulfide, which will dissolve the ugly black.
3. There is a light version of the method: soak silver for 10-15 minutes in a soda solution. Then remove and wipe away any dirt with a soft cloth.

4. If you did not find soda at home, then it can easily be replaced with salt. The solution is prepared from a glass of water and 1 teaspoon of table salt mixed in it. However, silver in this composition must be soaked for a couple of hours. Or boil it in saline for about 15 minutes.

But with dry soda, food or soda ash, we will not clean silver at all! If the jewelry has natural stones (turquoise, pearls, corals, etc.), then an abrasive can easily damage their vulnerable porous structure. Gems can lose their amazing natural luster and become completely cloudy.

Method number 7: citric acid

How to clean silver when blacking yet? Use citric acid. Here is a simple sequence of actions:

1. Dilute 100 g of powder in 0.5 l of water.
2. The composition is sent to a water bath.
3. After it boils, put a piece of copper wire and contaminated silver jewelry into the solution.
4. Boil the products for about 15 minutes.
5. Then silver should be washed under running water and dried thoroughly.

Method number 8: vinegar

An effective method, as they say, for the lazy. You will need a 6% vinegar solution. Heat it in a water bath. It is better to do this in a well-ventilated area - the substance emits a characteristic unpleasant odor.

Then, dipping a soft cloth in warm vinegar, just wipe it with a silver product. That’s all science!

Features of cleaning silver with precious stones

In order not to damage the expensive decoration, we recommend that you look at this table before cleaning.

And another important topic.

Features of cleaning brushed and blackened silver

In the case of blackened silver, it is important not to damage the beautiful top coat. Therefore, the "bath" in a soda-soap solution for 20-30 minutes is suitable for decoration. Soaking in water with potato peelings for several hours is also effective. Unwashed plaque is removed with a regular pencil eraser.

With respect to matt silver, abrasives and acids must not be used! The most suitable is a soap solution.

Now you know a little more about the effective and safe cleaning of silver. We hope you find the perfect tip for your case!