How to clean silver at home: cleaning products

Jewelery made of silver may eventually be covered by a dark bloom. Due to environmental influences, they lose their original appearance and darken. However, you can return the jewelery and silver utensils from the previous form. This does not necessarily apply to a professional metal cleaning. It is possible to clean silver at home.

Causes of dark flight

Silver is a metal that is capable of reacting with different substances from the environment. As a result of such a reaction product surface formed plaque. There are several reasons for the change of color of silver items:

1. Silver reacts with air, because of this, on the products formed with dark plaque over time - silver sulfide.
2. Silver jewelry can be coated with a touch of dark, if it is in constant contact with sweat. Human sweat contains sulfur compounds that interact with the metal, which leads to browning.
3. Silver articles can change color from contact with water and because of the increased moisture in the air. Therefore, before swimming should be removed such ornaments.
4. Contact with cosmetics can also cause darkening.
5. Plaque may form on the storage of products next to some drugs.
6. By the formation of plaque can result storage product together with food (salt, egg yolks, onion), and the impact of domestic gas. Do not store the silver, and together with rubber.

We can say that the ornaments and utensils of silver require proper storage and care. It is therefore important properly care for silver.

Self cleaning silver jewelry

Purification of silver at home can be implemented in different ways. The choice of cleaning method depends on the following factors:

• degree of browning;
• the size of the product;
• try;
• presence of other metals in the alloy (if the product is manufactured from the alloy);
• the presence of stones in the decoration, as well as the presence of a layer of gilding, enamels.

Shoe silverware requires preconditioning subject. Before cleaning jewelry or utensils are washed to remove impurities. Should be diluted in warm water and soap (shampoo or soap) and rinse the silver. Then the product is to rinse and wipe dry. Then proceed directly to cleaning. To do this, use different home remedies:

1. A solution of baking soda. To dissolve in a glass of boiled water one teaspoon of baking soda and put on the bottom piece of foil. 15 minutes to put the product in the solution. You can also use another method of cleaning. Soda mixed with a small amount of water to form a pasty mass, and apply the composition for 10-15 minutes. Wipe with a dry cloth.
2. Tooth powder or paste. This is a quick way to clean. However, this method is rather rough, because the dentifrice may contain solid abrasive particles. Therefore should be diluted before use with a dentifrice water. If you use a toothpaste, the paste should be chosen white. The composition is applied to the surface by a piece of fabric and gently rubbed.
3. Lemon acid. 0.5 liters of water take 100 grams of citric acid. Heat the composition steamed, omitting it from the copper wire. Bring to a boil and put silver in boiling water for 15-20 minutes.
4. Vinegar. Moisten cotton 5% vinegar solution and thoroughly wiped with a ring or earring.
5. Formic acid. silver can be cleaned with formic acid. It is necessary to prepare a 5% solution of the acid, and its boil for a few minutes to put coins in boiling water.
6. Ammonia. If browning is small, it is possible to wipe the product sal ammoniac. If a strong raid the subject should be placed in the ammonia solution for 10-15 minutes. After processing, the product should be rinsed. One can use a solution of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide are mixed in equal proportions. But it must comply with a condition: the product must be made of pure silver. Hydrogen peroxide can react with the alloys. Ammonia can be mixed with the powder to the teeth or with chalk and rub this lineup silver.
7. Salt. The product can be cleaned of plaque via salt. This can be done in two ways. Dissolve the salt and tartrate (cream of tartar) in warm water. Need to 0.5 liters of water and 25 grams salt 10 grams tartrate. Lower back silver object for 20 minutes. Boil in a saucepan 0.5 liters of water, dissolved in boiling water for 10 grams of salt and soda dishwashing detergent. Placed in the silver solution and boil for half an hour.
8. aeration. The capacity to pour carbonated water and put to silverware. It is necessary to select the water with orthophosphoric acid (e.g., Coca-Cola, Sprite). Liquid put on fire and boil for 10 minutes.
9. Means for glass. processed products means for cleaning glassThen wipe with a soft cloth.
10. washing powder. The product is boiled for 10 minutes in water with detergent.
11. Eraser. If earring or ring has openwork elements, it can be cleaned using the eraser.

Products with stones and gold ornaments

Articles, decorated with stones or gilding layer, require careful handling. A thin layer of gold deposited on silver, is very fragile. Shoe silver rings with a jewel has its own characteristics. Slight darkening can be removed cologne or alcohol. If the darkening strong, you can use the following cleaning methods:

1. In a glass of water add a spoonful of vinegar or ammonia, lower the decoration in the solution for half an hour. Then wash, dry and wipe with a cloth chamois. If the product is gilded, the wipe should be careful not to damage the gold layer.
2. Dissolve in warm water and soap, it pre-chopped grated. Should get a foam solution. Add a few drops of ammonia. Putting earrings or ring in the solution for half an hour. Next, wash, wipe and polish suede.
3. Lubricate the product of lipstick, and then wipe with a piece of flannel fabric.
4. The ring or rings with pearls can be processed in this way: In the small bag flax putting decorations with salt (approximately 1 spoonful of salt). Then wash in warm water pouch.

Purification of silver with black (oxidized silver) has its own characteristics. gilding silver can be purified by the following methods:

• Mark some raw potatoes, cut them into pieces and dipped in water, with the silver on the 3 hour.
• Half a liter of water to take a spoonful of baking soda and a quarter of bars of soap, for 15-20 minutes to put the silver.

For high grade silver (925) it is better not to use folk remedies treatment. It needs to be cleaned only by professional means.

Any silver should be cleaned with a soft brush or cloth. You can not use hard brushes and abrasives. This may scratch the surface. After cleaning, decoration should not be worn for several days. During this time, on the product forms a special film to protect the product from browning.

Rules silver storage

To jewelry for a long time retain their original appearance, it is important abide by the rules of their storage:

1. Products should be kept in a closed case (boxes, boxes).
2. The air should be dry.
3. If the jewelry is not used for a long time, it should be stored wrapped in parchment, foil or a piece of cloth.
4. Before cleaning or washing is better to remove jewelry. Contact with household chemicals harmful to the metal.
5. Jewelry should be removed before the water and cosmetic procedures.
6. Do not store the decorations along with food, medicine, rubber, household chemicals.
7. If the product is dirty, it is necessary as the contamination can be removed quickly.

Compliance with these simple rules promotes product safety. If silverware still covered with bloom, they can be cleaned with home remedies. In more complex cases, if the product is complicated and expensive (e.g., silver high sample), the cleaning best left to the professionals.