How to clean silver: tips and products
Why clean silver
In our home, there are often precious silver objects such as cutlery, trays and other furnishings. Over time, however, the silverware can blacken and require cleaning.
But why does silver turn black ?
The main cause of this phenomenon is undoubtedly oxidation , caused by the contact of the surfaces with oxygen or sulfur.
Oxidation occurs gradually over time and, when it is still in its initial state, it can give a certain vintage charm to silverware but, once it has reached a rather advanced stage, it makes any object lose its beauty, even the most beautiful and elegant. value.
For this, it is necessary to carry out regular cleaning of the silver and proper prevention of oxidation.
Clean silver: how to prevent oxidation
As mentioned, the blackening of silver is caused by contact with substances that cause oxidation, such as oxygen and sulfur.
To preserve the beauty and splendor of silver, it is first recommended to store it in well-sheltered places.
It is therefore recommended to keep all the silver objects that we do not often use inside special boxes well closed or inside protective bags , also made of fabric, to be placed in the drawers.
If, on the other hand, it is a question of silver objects that we want to exhibit, as in the case of knick-knacks, it will be sufficient to place them in glass cabinets to protect them at best.
Avoid the use of plastic bags that would favor the blackening of the surfaces.
The plaster trick
to favor a good conservation of the silverware it is possible to resort to the trick of colored chalks. The gypsum , in fact, placed inside the container in which you put the silver, it will absorb all the moisture preventing the oxidation. In any case, to prevent the blackening of the silver , it will be necessary to keep it away from water and any source of humidity. For this reason, it is recommended that you never store silver in places in the house near the sink or bathtub and never store it in areas such as the bathroom and kitchen. For the same reason, even after using water to clean oxidized silver , it will be necessary to dry all objects properly.
Clean silver with natural remedies
On the market there are specific products for polishing silver but to obtain excellent results in complete safety it is also possible to resort to completely natural DIY remedies.
Among the most popular natural solutions to clean blackened silver we certainly find sodium bicarbonate , very effective both on lighter oxidations and on rather advanced ones.
To clean small silver objects, it is recommended to dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water, using a simple toothbrush or a cotton swab to gently remove the encrustations on the surface.
As an alternative to this method, to clean silver with bicarbonate , especially for large objects such as trays, it is possible to wipe the surfaces with a soft cloth dipped in a solution of water and a pinch of baking soda.
Also in this case, after cleaning, it is advisable to dry thoroughly.
Clean the silver with salt, lemon and baking soda
To restore cutlery or small silver ornaments to their original splendor, it is instead possible to take a fairly large pot, cover its bottom with a sheet of aluminum foil and fill it with plenty of hot water in which to dissolve a spoonful of salt and bicarbonate and then immerse it. the silverware for a few minutes.
Afterwards, rinse well and finally dry carefully.
Alternatively, you can dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda in a little lemon juice , in order to obtain a creamy mixture to be applied on encrustations and blackening and then rinsed.
Clean the silver with white vinegar
Among the natural remedies to polish oxidized black silver , white vinegar is undoubtedly one of the most effective.
To clean silver with vinegar , the procedure to follow is very easy: just immerse the objects to be cleaned in a solution consisting of water and a tablespoon of vinegar for a few minutes and then rub and dry with a soft cloth.
Clean the silver with toothpaste
It may seem strange, but the common toothpaste for brushing teeth is a great ally for cleaning silver.
The procedure for cleaning blackened silver is quite simple: it is in fact sufficient to gently rub a small amount of toothpaste on the dark spots on the silver surface using a toothbrush or a soft cloth, then rinse and dry.
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