How to quickly clean tarnished silver: holiday jewelry will shine like new

Elegant and sophisticated silver jewelry has one significant drawback: it tarnishes quickly. However, this is not a reason to give up on an inexpensive, effective, and hypoallergenic metal.

You can refresh the look of silver jewelry at a master's or using special factory-made liquids. But you can save time and money and clean silver yourself. The details were revealed by The List.

Why silver turns black

From the point of view of science, the darkening of silver products is a logical and natural process.

Argentum (silver) is a soft metal, so when creating jewelry, other compounds are added to it. For example, copper is always present in the alloy, which reacts to sulfur-containing elements.

Sulfur dioxide is a component of the alloy used in jewelry. When exposed to air, this compound oxidizes, which causes your favorite jewelry to darken.

How to clean silver

First method

Instead of using chemicals, you can try a simple and effective life hack made from improvised ingredients.

You can make the process of cleaning silver jewelry much easier with just three simple ingredients. The method is suitable for cleaning all silver: from a 925 sterling silver serving platter to your favorite rings.

You will need:

• aluminum foil
• baking soda
• a little boiling water

Step 1. Take baking soda (the amount depends on what kind of items you will be cleaning), a roll of aluminum foil, and a small container, such as a glass baking sheet or a bowl. It is important to make sure that the silver can be completely immersed in the solution.

Step 2. After preparing the materials, unroll the aluminum foil to completely cover the container, secure it carefully, and place the jewelry inside. Make sure you have enough boiling water to completely cover the jewelry.

Step 3. The third step is to add baking soda. The amount depends on the items you want to clean and how badly they have tarnished.

Step 4. Wait about 20-30 minutes, remove the silver, rinse and dry it. If you need a little more cleaning power for heavily tarnished items, you can add a little white vinegar and salt to the mixture.

Second method

You will need a cup of boiling water, a tablespoon of salt, a tablespoon of baking soda, and half a cup of white vinegar. Follow the previous instructions for lining a bowl or pan with foil and placing your decorations.

Pour water, add baking soda and salt to the ornaments, and pour white vinegar into the mixture. A chemical reaction will occur.

Leave the jewelry in the solution for ten minutes and then rinse it under running water. If the silver is still dull, let it stand for a little longer for about an hour, and then polish the most difficult elements.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA told how toothpaste can help clean silver.

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