I think that almost every person in the house will have at least one silverware. For example, cutlery and dishes made of this metal were not so long ago popular. The question of how to clean silver also worries rare coin collectors. And most often jewelry from this metal needs cleaning. It is not so difficult to clean silver - a variety of means will do for this.
Why is silver getting dark?
Before you figure out how to clean silver, you should think about the reasons for its darkening. The most common contamination of such products is the result of improper storage and care. Remember that silver should not be kept in wet conditions. Another reason for the browning is exposure to sulfur.
Another issue is the contamination of jewelry. After all, some people wear silver for years and he practically does not need cleaning. But for others, on the contrary, the silver ring on the finger darkens after a week. The reason lies in the individual characteristics of the human body. Most often, jewelry is influenced by sweat. If a certain amount of sulfur compounds is released along with it, then silver also darkens much faster. And for those people whose sweat contains nitrogenous substances, jewelry needs to be cleaned much less often. In addition, silver jewelry is regularly in contact with cosmetics and detergents, and this may affect their condition.
How to clean silver?
Of course, it is best to opt for a professional cleaning method. In jewelry stores they sell special wipes and solutions that are designed specifically for cleaning jewelry from this metal. Such tools are easy to use, and the effect of them appears almost instantly and does not require any effort.
How to clean silver at home?
But what if you don’t have a special cleaning agent at your fingertips or you cannot purchase it? How to clean silver? In fact, there are many ways to get rid of darkening and bring a silver product in almost perfect condition.
Of course, the best known method is cleaning with ammonia. 10% solution can be purchased at any pharmacy. Soak the product in it and leave for fifteen minutes. Then rinse the purified silver with water and wipe it with a dry, clean cloth. By the way, this method is perfect even for high-grade silver.
There are simpler and more affordable ways. For example, a rather effective tool is ... toothpaste. Apply enough of this mass to the product and soak in water for twenty minutes. An old toothbrush or a hard sponge is perfect for cleaning. Thoroughly clean the silver from dark spots - after exposure to toothpaste it will be quite easy. Rinse the product with water and wipe with a dry cloth. But remember that mechanical cleaning can leave minor scratches, so be careful.
Another popular remedy is baking soda. In order to clean a silver product, you need to pour half a liter of water into a container, add two tablespoons of soda there, put on fire and bring to a boil. As soon as the water begins to boil, throw a small piece of foil and a silver product into the water. Keep it on low heat for about 15 seconds. Now you can get the shiny silver, rinse it with water and wipe it dry.
How to store products from this metal?
Now you know how to clean silver. But you must admit, it is best to follow the precautions. Remember that any silver jewelry needs proper care. Firstly, they need to be stored in a dry place, but in no case close to medicines, cosmetics or food.
If we are talking about jewelry, then always try to remove rings and bracelets while cooking, wash dishes, wash, etc. After all, food products, as well as household chemicals and some cosmetics, can cause the formation of a dark film on the surface of silver.