Silver is a versatile metal with a soft sheen that can make beautiful jewelry. Unfortunately, silver is also quite brittle compared to many other common metals, and can quickly stain, blot, or scratch. Cleaning silver jewelry can also be a little daunting because silver is so delicate and fragile. However, you don't have to be a professional or use expensive tools to clean your own silver jewelry. Start with Step 1 below to learn how to safely clean your silver jewelry.
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Method 1 of 3: Making a Salt Solution
Step 1. Pour two cups (1 cup = 236.5 ml) of hot water into a bowl
Pour enough water to cover the jewelry you want to clean. This solution will work as a gentle cleanser that removes stains without eroding the silver. If your silver has light stains, then the saline solution should remove them right away.
- If you clean a lot of jewelry at once, you can use more water. For just one piece of jewelry, use less water.
- If your jewelry has gemstones in it, make sure it won't be affected if soaked in a brine solution. This solution is gentle on most precious stones, but if you are cleaning very fine jewelry with expensive gemstones, you are better off taking it to a professional just in case.
Step 2. Add salt and aluminum foil
Add a tablespoon of salt to the hot water, and stir with a spoon until completely dissolved. Take a sheet of aluminum foil and make some rips, then put them in a bowl. The combination of salt and aluminum from the aluminum foil will react with the stain on the silver surface and create a shiny, shiny surface in place of the stain.
- Silver stains appear when the surface of the silver combines with sulfur, which produces silver sulfide which is black in color. When silver sulfide reacts with aluminum in a salt solution, the chemical reaction between the two substances will convert the silver sulfide back into silver. This reaction occurs faster if the solution is warm..
- If you don't have table salt on hand, you can use baking soda instead. Baking soda has the right properties to facilitate the same chemical reaction.
Step 3. Soak the jewelry in the solution
Leave it for 5 minutes. Stir a little to see if the stain comes off the jewelry. Once you see the silver sparkling again, remove your silver jewelry from the solution.
If you are cleaning silver jewelry with heavy stains, you may need to repeat this process two or more times. Make sure the solution is really warm, because the above reaction is much slower if the solution is cold
Step 4. Rinse the jewelry
Place the soaked jewelry under cold running water to rinse off the salt. After that, dry gently with a soft cloth or microfiber towel. Your silver jewelry will be like new. If you still see any marks or residue, repeat the process until it looks clean.
Method 2 of 3: Deep Cleaning Silver Jewelry
Step 1. Purchase a silver cleaning/shiny product
If smudges or spots appear on the silver, a simple solution of salt and aluminum may not be enough to clean it. Specially formulated silver jewelry cleaners are the safest choice for cleaning silver jewelry, especially if your jewelry is antique/old, or has intricately engraved designs.
- Even special cleaners can remove the silver lining, so leave the cleaning process to a professional if you're dealing with very delicate and fragile jewelry.
- Instead of buying silver cleaning/polishing products from a pharmacy or drugstore, consider buying them at a jewelry store or a store with a high-quality jewelry section.
Step 2. Scrub your jewelry with a small amount of cleaning product
Wet a cloth or soft sponge specifically for scrubbing silver that came in the package of the cleaning product and scoop a small amount of the cleaning product onto the cloth. Then rub the part on the silver jewelry gently. Rub only in a back and forth motion and in a straight line. Avoid rubbing in circular motions as doing so can leave streaks or patterns on the surface of your silver jewelry. Let the cleaning solution do its job.
Step 3. Rinse and dry the silver jewelry
Rinse the silver under cold running water. Be sure to remove any residue from the cleaning product so that no more of the cleaner will continue to work on the surface of the jewelry. Dry the silver completely with a soft cloth.
Step 4. Consider using common household products for less rare or less valuable jewelry
These products can usually remove tough stains, but can cause damage such as spots or scratches. Try using it at your own risk.
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Try toothpaste. Choose plain white toothpaste without special whitening agents. Take a soft cloth or sponge that has been dampened and put a little toothpaste on it. Rub gently on the silver jewelry in a straight back and forth motion. Be very gentle, and if you notice any streaks appearing while scrubbing, stop and remove the silver toothpaste immediately. Once the cloth or sponge has darkened from the stain, add more toothpaste to the clean part of the cloth/sponge and continue scrubbing gently. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a soft towel.
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Baking soda can remove stubborn stains, but don't use it unless you don't mind the risk of damaging the silver. Make a paste of baking soda and warm water, then rub it gently into the surface of the jewelry, and rinse once the stain is clean.
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Step 5. Try a dip cleaning product for silver
Commercial silver dip cleaners can dissolve stains without rubbing the jewelry, although they do have the possibility of removing the silver lining. For this reason, this cleaning solution should only be used as a last resort. Contrary to what the word "dip" implies, professional jewelry cleaners rarely actually soak the silver in these products, at least not for long. Dip cleaners are generally harsh chemicals that can be dangerous, so follow directions carefully and consult a professional when in doubt.
Method 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Jewelry
Step 1. Clean frequently
Clean your silver jewelry frequently, and always clean it immediately after use. Silver jewelry that is often used rarely has a stain problem. When the stain has not yet appeared, or when it is just starting to develop, simply wash your jewelry in warm (not hot) water and a mild phosphate-free detergent.
- Immediate cleaning is especially important if silver jewelry has been exposed to certain foods that contain sulfur, or are acidic or salty. Especially, common foods like table salt, eggs, some fruits, onions, mayonnaise, and vinegar are harmful to silver.
- In any case, wash your silver jewelry immediately or at least rinse it with warm water, and don't leave silverware in the sink which may contain food residue as above.
Step 2. Wash separately
It's a good idea to wash silver jewelry separately from your other silver items, such as silver bowls or utensils. This is because sinks and other metal utensils can scratch your silver jewelry.
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You should also avoid wearing rubber gloves when washing silver, as rubber can corrode silver jewelry.
Image - Stainless steel can also damage if it comes in contact with your silver jewelry. So avoid putting your silver jewelry in a stainless steel sink; and instead, use a glass/ceramic bowl to wash your silver jewelry.
Step 3. Dry with a scouring cloth
Use a special scouring cloth or just a soft, lint-free cloth to gently scrub the washed silver. Make sure to make it completely dry.
- Silver can be so soft and brittle that even using a rough towel can create indentations on the surface. Make sure to use a soft cloth.
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As you dry your jewelry, re-gloss it by rubbing it gently with a soft cotton cloth.
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Step 4. Store your silver jewelry properly
Apart from quick and frequent cleaning, the best way to preserve your silver jewelry is to store it properly. Make sure each piece of jewelery is completely dry before storing it. You can buy special bags or pouches for storing silver jewelry that can prevent it from tarnishing. If you don't have the special bag, use this technique:
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Wrap each piece of silver jewelry in acid-free tissue paper or stain-resistant paper. You can also wrap your jewelry in flannel.
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Store silver in a separate place from the rest of your jewelry. Never store silver jewelry near rubber, stainless steel, or paint.
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