7 ingenious ways to clean silver items

 7 ingenious ways to clean silver items

Does your silver jewelry or cutlery look tarnished, blackened, oxidized? Time and wear blacken silver jewelry, as well as cutlery and other objects made of this material. Fortunately, there is a way to make them shine again, just a few tricks and ingredients are enough: first of all we advise you to have a soft cloth , preferably chamois, and an equally soft toothbrush ; these will facilitate the cleaning of interstices or any stones. There are many specific products on the market for cleaning and polishing silver, but, as often happens, these products can be expensive and harmful to the environment . For this reason it is always better to rely onnatural products found in the home . Here are our favorite methods:

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

1. The lemon
In addition to being an excellent remedy against bad odors and the ideal ally for cleaning the oven , lemon can be used to clean your silver jewelry, or cutlery. Take the lemon juice and pour it directly on the objects to be cleaned, and then rub it with a cotton cloth. For the interstices, soak a toothbrush in lemon juice and gently rub into the hard-to-reach corners: gradually you will see a green color appear, this is the oxidized part that is disappearing. When you are satisfied with the result, rinse under running water and dry with a clean dry cloth .

2. White vinegar
This perfect natural remedy for cleaning windows can also be used for cleaning jewelry and other silver items. This method requires slightly longer times: you can add two teaspoons of vinegar in a container with hot water, immerse the objects you need to clean in it and leave it to act for at least half an hour. Alternatively, you can pour the vinegar directly on a cloth and use it to polish the silver. As always, the toothbrush can be useful for crevices and corners.

3. The beer
Beer, like cola, can be very effective for cleaning silver items that are oxidized. Fill a bowl (or rather, a mug!) With beer and again, leave your silverware to rest overnight. The next morning, rinse everything well, if you don't want to have cutlery that leaves a taste of beer in your mouth. Tiziana also uses beer to give some tone to wooden furniture or to give plants to drink ... here are all the other tips for cleaning with beer !

4. The toothpaste
The toothpaste can be used, as well as for cleaning the teeth, even for some small household measures, including the cleaning of silverware and jewelry . You have to sprinkle the toothpaste all over the affected surface, to do this you can use a cloth or a toothbrush or even your finger to make sure that it completely covers the silver object. Rub gently and you will see the black / green caused by oxidation slowly disappear .

5. Cigarette ash or wood
Strange as it may sound, ash can really be the solution to your oxidized silverware problem. Before starting with the operation, sift the ash to remove small fragments of wood or other material, depending on the origin of the ash. Add some water to obtain a rather soft mixture and use it to rub the affected objects. Alternatively, a cotton swab is also good, to which in addition to the solution with the ash you can add a little lemon juice. At the end, rinse and dry carefully.

6. Playing the little chemist: salt
For the most persistent stains , salt comes in handy once again , and this time we will use a real chemical reaction to clean the silver! First you have to take a container and cover it with aluminum foil. Put water to boil and then sprinkle the inside of the container with coarse salt (a teaspoon for each liter of water), place the objects you want to clean and then fill the container with boiling water: dissolving the salt will trigger the so-called electrolysis phenomenon . The oxide (the black you see on the cutlery) is eliminated thanks to the reaction of the aluminum with the saline solution.

7. Sodium bicarbonate
Obviously, among all these remedies, our dear baking soda could not be missing ! You can use it as in the previous method instead of salt, or create a fairly consistent dough to use for scrubbing your cutlery and your jewelry , using a soft cloth or a toothbrush. 'hours and at the end rinse thoroughly.

And you? How do you clean your jewelry and silver items? If we've forgotten any foolproof remedies, share them with us in the comments below!

How to clean silver: tips and products

 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.

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

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.

How to clean silver with baking soda

 How to clean silver with baking soda

How to clean silver with baking soda : all the instructions for  polishing silver  using a solution based on baking soda.


Many of the detergents for polishing silver that are on the market are based on  sodium bicarbonate , some are marketed under the name of "foams" others are presented as "polishing milk", or as an  active spray .

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

The only drawback is that these products are often very expensive and certainly not ecological; for these reasons we invite you to look for sustainable alternatives such as the use of  sodium bicarbonate.

Sodium bicarbonate
The  sodium bicarbonate  includes a large number of  properties so as to be useful with the housework, cleaning the bathroom, such as limescale, to clean the silver or to neutralize odor of cat litter.

The  sodium bicarbonate  is a chemical salt which can react either as acid or as a base (alkali). Its molecular formula is NaHCO3 and, in reality, the name  sodium bicarbonate  is incorrect: its correct nomenclature sees names such as sodium hydrogen carbonate or monosodium carbonate. Its properties and uses are mainly related to its ability to  neutralize the pH  of a substance whether it is excessively alkaline or excessively acidic.

How to clean silver with baking soda
The silver cleaning  should be performed regularly, many of the products on the market are too aggressive and instead of polish can get to damage our silverware. Polishing silverware is one of the cult  phases  of spring cleaning, so here's how to proceed to  clean silver with  simple but effective  baking soda .

What does it take to clean silver with baking soda ?

• A container large enough to house the silver object to be polished.
• A sheet of aluminum foil large enough to line the container.
• A few tablespoons of baking soda .
• Waterfall.

How to polish silver with bicarbonate and aluminum:

• Take a large enough container and line it with aluminum foil.
• Fill the container with hot water.
• Dissolve a few tablespoons of baking soda and cooking salt in water, one tablespoon per liter of water will suffice. One tablespoon equals about 25 grams.
• Immerse your silver object in the freshly prepared aqueous solution.
• Let the baking soda work for about an hour.
• After 60 minutes, remove the silver from the water and dry it with a soft cloth.

Why is it necessary to line the container with aluminum?

• The answer is simple, without aluminum foil the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate suspended in aqueous solution would be only partial.
• This natural method of polishing silver is effective thanks to the reaction that occurs between aluminum and silver salts. While the aluminum reacts forming salts, the blackened silver present on the surface of the object to be treated is reconverted into metallic silver.

This just described is not the only method for cleaning and polishing silver. If this natural remedy is not enough, you can polish the silver using one of the many polish offered on the market. With the growing popularity of organic cleansing products, there is no shortage of biodegradable silver cleaners, capable of acting in a gentle and safe way. For a complete overview of costs and available products, I refer you to  the Amazon silver cleaners page .

How to clean silver: 7 ideas to do it naturally

 How to clean silver: 7 ideas to do it naturally

What anger when that unbearable black patina forms on the silver objects in your home. Cutlery , bracelets , necklaces , frames : nothing is spared by the passage of time. All it takes is a little good will, however, and your silverware will shine again. Here are some useful tips based on the use of natural products .

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

1. How to clean silver with salt and aluminum
Line a glass container with aluminum , throw a handful of coarse salt inside and fill it with the silver objects to be cleaned . Add boiling water and wait an hour: dry with a cloth, the silver will be as good as new.

2. With lemon juice
On each object to be polished pour lemon juice and two teaspoons of baking soda , then rub with a cloth or a cotton rag: the green of oxidation will fade to the touch.

3. With beer
Fill a mug with beer and let the silver items inside stand overnight . In the morning rinse thoroughly: they will be shiny again.

4. With the cooking water of the potatoes
In a bowl, pour l ' in cqua baking potatoes and a tablespoon of white vinegar . Immerse the silver objects , leave them to soak for an hour, then rinse and dry.

5. How to clean silver with baking soda
In a saucepan, boil some water adding 50 grams of bicarbonate to each liter. Once cooled, dip the silver items into it. Rinse and dry with a cloth.

6. How to clean silver with ash
Sift the ash left in the fireplace and add water until you get a soft dough. With this, scrub the blackened objects with a cloth or cotton swab moistened with lemon.

7. With toothpaste
Cover the item to be removed with toothpaste and rub with a cloth. Rinse carefully and dry.

How can you polish silver?

 How can you polish silver?

You can polish silver with some toothpaste. Then you rub the silver with a woolen cloth. Silver jewelry or cutlery regains their shine.

A great way to remove stains from silverware is a mixture of methylated spirits and talcum powder.

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

A silver cutlery also improves if you put it in sour milk overnight.

When polishing silver, keep the tips below in mind.

Golden Tip 1

Cutlery in silver and stainless steel should never be put together in the same basket of the dishwasher. Place a piece of aluminum foil in one of the compartments. If you put the silver cutlery in there, it will be automatically polished during the washing process. After a few times you renew the foil.

If you don't use a dishwasher, fill a tub with hot water and dissolve a handful of soda in it. Place crumpled aluminum foil on the bottom and place your silverware side by side. Fifteen minutes later, all you have to do is rinse it off and wipe it dry.

Golden Tip 2

Wrap silver or silver-plated cutlery that you don't use every day in aluminum foil or store them in a silver cloth and an airtight plastic bag. This way you don't have to polish it every time you take it out of the closet for a festive occasion.

Golden tip 3

Silver and rubber do not tolerate each other well. So do not wear household gloves when you polish silver and do not put a rubber band around the silver spoons. It makes the silver dark. A piece of chalk or bags of silica gel granules in the silver case prevent deposits on the silver because chalk absorbs the moisture.

Cleaning your discolored silver jewelry yourself

 Cleaning your discolored silver jewelry yourself

Is your silver jewelery turning yellow, brown or even black? Does it lose its shine? Don't panic, your necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings are probably made of real silver... silver discolours due to exposure to oxygen, perfume or even sweat. Fortunately, you can easily do something about it yourself. Preferably without corrosive chemicals, but just with a silver polishing cloth. Or with an old-fashioned trick that involves soda, aluminum foil and some boiling water!

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

Why silver discolours
If silver discolours or becomes dull gray, this is usually due to so-called oxidation. That's a chemical term that, in the case of metals, denotes a reaction between metal and the oxygen you encounter in the air. Just as iron can rust, discoloration of a metal such as silver is also due to oxidation . It's just a very thin layer, so it looks like the silver is discoloring and losing its shine. Often there is not much that can be done about it: by exposure to the air, but also by sweat (and the acidity of your skin), by medicines or by something like perfume and hairspray, the silver reacts and changes color on the surface.

Especially in the summer , when it's hot and stuffy, your silver will discolor very quickly.

Silver discolours yellow, brown or black
When silver discolors, it often turns a little yellow, brown, or black... or a combination of those colors. Often a ready-made piece of jewelry that you buy somewhere is protected against that kind of discoloration. This usually refers to 'rhodium plated silver'; the silver jewelery is then treated with a layer of rhodium (nowadays also called 'rhodium'). This layer ensures that the silver underneath does not come into contact with, for example, oxygen, so that discoloration is postponed or completely prevented. Because a silver pendant is sometimes provided with a protective layer, but the supplied chain does not, it is therefore possible that one of the two discolours and the other does not.

Cleaning silver jewelry
Fortunately, polishing a discolored piece of jewelry is not that difficult, as long as you do it right. There are some horse remedies, but we don't recommend using them. Chemical, corrosive substances (such as toothpaste, or natural remedies such as sour milk) and even silver polish specially developed for the purpose do clean your jewelry, but when polishing the silver, a very thin layer of the jewelry is removed each time. The result is a nice clean piece of jewelry, but in the long run you do more harm than good. So there are better ways to clean your silver jewelry.

Polish silver with a polishing cloth
By far the easiest way to clean your silver jewelry is with a silver polishing cloth . These are often for sale separately at the jeweler, or of course in our webshop. Sometimes you even get one for free with your order. Such a polishing cloth is specially designed for polishing silver, and is generally the easiest and fastest way to keep your jewelry in good condition. With regular brushing you can also prevent discoloration. Cleaning cloths are suitable for all precious metals, so you can also clean your gold jewelry with them.

Cleaning silver with soda
Because silver necklaces , bracelets , rings and even earrings often contain small, hard-to-reach corners, polishing with a silver polishing cloth is not always easy. It is also possible that a protective layer ensures that you cannot polish directly on the silver. Fortunately, grandmother knows what to do! An easy and inexpensive way to clean your jewelry thoroughly (and in an environmentally friendly way) is with some soda and aluminum foil; just remedies that you already have at home! In another article on our weblog we tell you how you can clean silver jewelry in this way , even if it has a protective layer.

Polish necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings
In most cases you can clean your silver necklace, silver bracelet, silver ring or silver earrings with a polishing cloth for silver, gold or other precious metal. And by cleaning them regularly, you also keep your silver jewelry beautiful for a longer period of time. Can't get into every nook or cranny? Then the trick with aluminum foil, soda and boiling water is a good alternative. Your silver jewelry will be beautifully shiny again and you will keep it that way.

Can't figure it out with this information? Are you unable to clean your silver jewelry? Not with cleaning cloth and not even with the soda trick? Then polishing is a final, but always successful solution. With special polishing equipment we can remove even the most stubborn discolouration. Fortunately, experience shows that regular brushing solves and prevents a lot of discoloration!

A silver piece of jewelry that discolours yellow, brown or black is fortunately quite easy to get it shiny again. Here you see a considerable discoloration, and a beautiful shiny silver jewelry after a lot of polishing.

A silver polishing cloth is the best way to polish your silver jewelry. Not always the easiest, because sometimes you have to put in some effort to get into all the tricky nooks and crannies. But the result is there!

Cleaning silver with soda or dreft, do or don't?

 Cleaning silver with soda or dreft, do or don't?

In this article we would like to tell you more about us and what we do exactly. Because besides the fact that you can come to us for memorial jewelry, we can do a lot more for you. Memorie Jewelry is part of Jeweler Jos. Feel free to visit the store, or read on first.

Silver Polish and Cleaner Products

Dirt on your silver jewelry
Silver turns black because it undergoes a chemical reaction with hydrogen sulfide. This is a very normal process and it is also called 'oxidation'. The rate at which your jewelry turns black depends on two things. Namely the humidity of the place where you are and the acidity of your skin. In addition to oxidizing silver, your jewelry also gets dirty from the grease that comes from your skin.

To maintain the quality of your jewelry and maintain the shine, it is wise to clean your jewelry every now and then. Both cleaning with soda and dreft are quick ways to clean your jewelry again. However, keep in mind that this is only a way to patch up your jewelry. It does not remove scratches and not all jewelry can withstand it, especially jewelry with stones. If you really want to keep your jewelry in good condition, it is wise to have your jewelry maintained by the jeweler at least once a year. You can also keep your silver jewelry beautiful for longer by cleaning it regularly with a silver polishing cloth.

Cleaning silver with Soda​
If you only want to remove the black layer from your silver jewelry, you can clean it with soda. Make a bath with hot water and place a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom with the matte side up. Sprinkle some soda on it and stir gently so you don't have any lumps. Place your silver jewelry on the sheet of aluminum foil, make sure they are in contact with the foil, otherwise the process will not work. Turn your jewelry after fifteen minutes. Leave them for a while and rinse very well with water. Dry them with a clean cloth. Be careful not to brush too hard. Then you will damage the silver. Do not be alarmed by the sulfur smell that is released. That's very normal.

Please note that not all jewelry is suitable for cleaning with soda. Especially jewelry with precious stones or jewelry with dark parts are not suitable for a bath with soda. The dark parts can light up and the gemstone can be severely affected by the salt water.
Tip: Before you put your jewelry in a bath with soda, it is wise to clean your jewelry. Use a polishing cloth or clean your jewelry with dreft. This way your jewelry is properly degreased.

Cleaning silver with Dreft
If you want to degrease your silver jewelry, you can clean it with Dreft. Make a bath with lukewarm water containing a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and a teaspoon of baking soda. Leave the silver jewelry in the bath for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then clean the jewelry with a soft, old toothbrush. This way you can also brush narrow edges clean. Rinse your jewelry well and dry with a clean cloth.

The preference of dishwashing liquid is mainly for the green Dreft because it degreases very well. This is important because most of the dirt on your jewelry comes from oil from your skin. However, also pay attention here if your jewelry has Swarovski zirconias, precious stones or diamonds. Some stones and diamonds may break, or they may become dull or discolored when they come into contact with water and/or dishwashing liquid.

Other home-garden-and-kitchen resources
You can find all kinds of other home-garden-and-kitchen remedies on the internet that can polish your silver. Toothpaste, chalk, sour milk, ammonia, cigarette ash, baby ointment and ketchup are all reviewed. Due to the acidity or the abrasive effect, they all have their function. If you want to keep your jewelry good, do not use these products too often. Prevention through proper maintenance is better than cure. So use the silver polishing cloth that comes with your jewellery.

It is also important that you have your jewelry checked annually at our store. It is then checked whether the settings are still good, stones are still in place and your jewelry is cleaned and polished. This falls under service and you do not have to pay for this. In this way you will enjoy your jewelry the longest and it can be passed on from generation to generation.

Tip: you can also use silver polish that is specially made for the maintenance of your silver jewelry. Hagerty 's resources are very good and not expensive either. In addition to silver polish, there are also means to maintain your gold jewelry.

Maintaining silver jewelry
In addition to cleaning your jewelry and the annual maintenance at Jeweler Jos, there are a number of ways you can maintain your silver jewelry.

• Take off your silver jewelry before exercising. Sweat causes your jewelry to oxidize faster. Even if you go swimming in a pool or in the sea, it is a good idea to take off your jewelry.
• Also take off your jewelry before going to sleep. At night you perspire and that is not good for your jewelry. Don't put them on until the next day after you've done your makeup and hair. Make-up, perfume, hairspray and other beauty products contain sulphurous substances that affect your jewelry.
• Take care of your jewelry by not wearing it when cleaning your house. It is also not wise to wear your jewelry when you wash your hands with soap. Although the latter can't hurt every now and then.
• Finally, avoid contact with sulphur-containing products, such as elastic, wool, rubber or eggs. Are you sick? Even then it is better to take off your jewelry because you often perspire.