Once silver was valued much higher than gold, and ornaments from it were subject only to aristocrats. Times and priorities changed, silver darkened, while the golden rings continued to shine with sunlight. So, the fashion for this metal began to fade away, because the care of silver products was then still unknown.
Why does darker and dim silver?
Silver in production can have several varieties of samples. As a rule, for jewelry use the highest 925 sample, leaving the rest of the combinations for the manufacture of cutlery or inexpensive accessories. 100% material is not used by jewelers, as it has excessive plasticity. Nevertheless, each silver alloy, despite the proportion of the precious metal in the composition, darkens.
The main causes of darkening of the metal:
- sweat;
- product test;
- air humidity;
- the use of certain creams;
- the use of certain drugs.
The reason for the darkening lies in the silver itself, because, like any metal, it is prone to enter into various chemical reactions. In this case, in direct contact with the body, the silver jewelry begins to interact with sulfur, which can be found in sweat. Depending on the hormonal background of a person, the amount of this substance may vary, and therefore the product may darken faster or slower. It should be noted that not always the side of the pendant, lying on the body, darkens first, because any reaction needs oxygen.
Product sample also plays an important role in the speed of darkening. A small amount of silver in the composition - a clear reason for the rapid tarnishness of the product. It should be noted that even the 925 test is able to darken, because rhodium is used as a coating. This layer provides a beautiful view of the product, but quickly cracks when heated and humidity. Wanting to keep the light look as long as possible, it is important to remove jewelry, undertaking cleaning, while in the bathroom or sauna.
However, even with all the recommendations, it is almost impossible to keep silver intact. Sooner or later it will have to be cleaned, and therefore it is important to learn the most safe and effective methods.
Cleaning methods
The silver product is very capricious, and therefore it is important to prepare it for special house cleaning procedures. So, you need to make a solution of warm soapy water and soak the silver for two hours. After such a procedure with a soft brush or sponge, it is important to remove major impurities. Perhaps only this procedure will be enough.
If the gentle method of using soap is powerless, it is important to go a little further, cleaning the product with 10% ammonia. With it, you can quickly (within 15 minutes) clean any product.
After such a short soak, rinse the silver with water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. It is worth noting here that drying should occur after each procedure, since leaving silver in a wet state is fraught with divorces.
And if the option with clean liquid ammonia requires a well-ventilated room or even a balcony because of the pungent smell, then the next cocktail to clean is more pleasant.
Its components are:
- 250 ml of cold water;
- 1 tablespoon of ammonia;
- a few drops of hydrogen sulfide;
- a little baby shampoo.
All products, whether silver earrings or bracelet, are placed in the prepared mixture and soaked.The residence time of silver in the solution should not exceed 1 hour. With light pollution, the result can be seen after 15 minutes. The home cleaning procedure ends with rinsing the jewelry in water and drying it with a soft cloth.
A silver ring and other jewelry without stones is a high-quality gruel from tooth powder and ammonia.
In the absence of powder for brushing your teeth, you can replace it with powdered chalk. The composition is applied with a cotton pad or swab and wait until the mass is completely dry. Later, the residues are removed with a dry microfiber cloth, rinsed with a piece of jewelry and wiped dry.
These methods of cleaning are simple enough, but not always the ingredients can be found in the house. That is why we shall present several means, by all means being on kitchen shelves.
Effective and simple home cleaning silverware:
- vinegar 6%;
- baking soda;
- Coca Cola;
- tomato ketchup;
- egg yolk;
- salt;
- lipstick for lips
Vinegar for thorough cleansing slightly heated, and then applied to a soft cloth. If 100 ml of vinegar is mixed with 50 g of water, the product will visibly brighten and shine after soaking for two hours in solution.
Especially interesting and original ways with drinks and food. So, if you boil silver for 5 minutes in a saucepan with Coca-Cola, you can be surprised to the depth of the soul by the excellent result. The latter can be achieved and ordinary ketchup. 10-15 minutes of finding products in it will help to return the former shine.
Egg yolk is another excellent remedy, not only cleansing well, but also providing prevention of silver blackening. The yolk is applied to the surface, dried and washed off. The film remaining after such a “mask” well protects against contamination.
Lipstick - a modern way in the fight against black on silver. Cosmetics of any color are applied to the product and are well wiped with a cloth. It is worth remembering that balms and hygienic lipsticks do not possess such properties.
Folk proven cleaning products:
- bring the eggshells from raw eggs to boil in 500 ml of water, put silver into the broth, take out in a couple of minutes and dry well;
- place the faded product in yogurt;
- Citric acid and water in a ratio of 1: 7 is placed in a water bath with the location at the bottom of the copper wire and silver jewelry itself. The procedure lasts half an hour.
There are a lot of procedures for removing plaque and dullness, but the possibility of their use is limited to simple products without the presence of precious and semi-precious stones.
Laundered jewelry with stone
When stones are part of silver jewelry, it always looks luxurious and stately. However, the cleaning of products is significantly complicated.
List of stones that easily carry any type of cleaning:
- aquamarines;
- emeralds;
- sapphires
Having a high density, they are not afraid of various substances, however, if the stones are not fastened with pads, but with glue, then the products should not be soaked or boiled.
List of stones subject to mechanical damage:
- turquoise;
- Moonstone;
- malachite;
- opal.
Cleaning with brushes with the highest softness, powdery textures for such decorations is not recommended. Scratches that appear after such procedures hopelessly ruin the product.
Stones afraid of high temperatures:
- Garnet;
- ruby;
- topaz.
The color of the stones may change, and therefore it is forbidden to remove plaque using boiling.
Stones requiring the most delicate cleaning:
- coral;
- pearls;
- amber.
Such products are contraindicated for home cleaning, and therefore it is better to entrust the solution of the problem to professionals.
A gentle method for experimenters at home can be considered a solution with rubbed soap and a few drops of ammonia. The mixture begins to boil, and then cooled and a soft brush wipe the product, using a cotton swab for the area around the stone.
It should be noted that silver-plated products can be cleaned with a similar method.
Product Care Rules
Knowing a few simple truths, you can extend the life of silver jewelry, always rejoicing in their brilliance.
Situations when silver needs to be removed from the body:
- physical exercise;
- excessive humidity in the room;
- cleaning;
- shower and bath.
Compliance with such simple recommendations will prolong the brilliance of silver and protect it from complex contaminants. These spots cause the use of aggressive agents and damage to products. Surprisingly, while carrying out preventive methods, silver jewelery is almost always effectively cleaned with regular soapy water with three drops of ammonia.
Types of fabric needed to care for silver:
- flannel;
- suede;
- felt;
- microfiber.
By purchasing a few pieces of these materials, you can thoroughly dry the product, avoiding streaks. The flannel known to everyone, modern microfiber or suede will be indispensable helpers in this process. Rubbing jewelry should be a daily procedure for the evening after removing it from yourself.
Ordinary felt will help to polish the product to the same original brilliance.
Please note that in the care of silver absolutely no need for modern and expensive tools, because all the materials will be under the thrifty master's hand.
After thinking seriously about preserving the brilliance, it is important to prepare the right place for storing jewelry. A cramped box with a mass of items here will definitely be superfluous and even harmful.
Comfortable storage environment for silverware:
- dry room;
- sufficient distance of silver from the location of drugs with a sulfur content;
- spacious storage, where each bracelet and ring has its place, and they are not in contact with each other;
- range from any cosmetics;
- the upholstery of the box is soft and textured, preventing any minor scratches.
In addition, some silver lovers use the “passivation” service, produced by specialists and jewelers, to maintain their brilliance. In this case, the thoroughly cleaned product is immersed for a certain time in potassium dichromate. The resulting thin film perfectly protects any product from darkening and scratches.
Knowing all the details of care and prevention of darkening of silver, it is difficult to call it a capricious metal. All cleaning methods are as simple as possible, and the effect is always positive.
What other means can you clean silver jewelry? The tip is in the next video.
