Red Nymph Jewelry
Firstly, why is silver jewelry blackened? Silver, chemical name of which is Ag, is a kind of active metal, and is subjected to corrosion by the reaction of sulphur and oxides in the air and other natural media; because silver oxide and silver sulfide are blackened after oxidation, there will be some tiny spots or black films form on silver jewelry after wearing for a period of time, as the time elapses, spots and black films spread, the silver jewelry discolors gradually, and even blackens in serious case.
This is the cause of blackening of silver jewelry observed by us, thus it’s a normal phenomenon with no surprise.
Then, how do we clean blackened silver jewelry?
We know that blackening of silver jewelry is the outcome of chemical reaction of certain substances in the air, so it’s impossible to remove the black on the surface of silver jewelry with common cleaning method.
Blackened silver jewelry can be mainly cleaned by physical and chemical cleaning.
The principle of physical bleaching method is to use small particles on the cleaning media to wipe off the oxide film on the surface of silver jewelry, which is equivalent to peel off the skin of silver jewelry.
Particular methods are as follows:
Scrubbing with toothbrush and toothpaste.
Lay rouge on the cloth to scrub silver jewelry, and finally wash with clean water.
Lay correction fluid on silver jewelry, and scrub silver jewelry with dry cloth, this an absolutely effective method.
Chemical bleaching method is relatively simple, the principle of which is to break oxide film on the surface of silver jewelry through reduction reaction; comparing with physical bleaching, chemical bleaching is easier and will not leave scratch on silver jewelry, thus it’s more suitable for use in our daily life .Particular methods are as follows:
Soak silver jewelry in Coca Cola, which contains carbonic acid, and soaking for a period of 12 hours.
Scrub silver jewelry with cooking vinegar, which contains acetic acid.
Soak silver jewelry in overnight tea, which contains the substance of oxalic acid.
Scrub silver jewelry with silver cleaning cloth, for which contains chemical component for removing of silver oxide.
Soak silver jewelry in silver cleaning liquid for 1-2 minutes, then wash with a large amount of clean water. Silver cleaning liquid can be bought at Set Sail online store
If your silver jewellery got mat and tarnished soak it in a plastic bowl filled with lemon-lime soda. Leave it for one hour. After the time is up take out the silver, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry with paper towel or soft cloth. This method work only for slightly tarnished silver items.
If your silver is lightly tarnished, the salt bath should take the tarnish right off.
If you’re cleaning 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, make sure they won’t be affected by being submerged in a saltwater solution. This solution is gentle on most stones, but if you’re cleaning very fine jewelry with expensive gemstones, you’re better off taking it to a professional just in case. You can also contact your jeweler for advice.
Clean your silver jewelry often, and clean it promptly after use. Silver jewelry that is frequently used rarely has tarnish problems. When tarnish is not yet present, or when it’s just beginning to develop, simply wash your silver jewelry in warm (not hot) water with a gentle, phosphate-free detergent.
Prompt cleaning is especially important when the silver jewelry has been exposed to certain foods containing sulfur, or those which are acidic or salty. In particular, common foods such as table salt, eggs, some fruits, onions, mayonnaise, and vinegar are harmful to silver.
In any case, wash your silver jewelry right away or at least rinse it well with warm water, and don’t leave silver sitting in dishwater that may contain traces of these foods.
If you want to know how to clean sterling silver at home, you’ll be glad to know there are many options to try.
SOAP AND WATER
Soap and warm water is a classic cleaning method, and it can breathe new life into your sterling silver.
Combine warm water with a mild ammonia, such as phosphate-free dishwashing soap.
This should be your first port of call if polishing doesn’t work. Try this before you move onto the following sterling silver cleaning tips.
BAKING SODA AND WATER
If soap doesn’t work, combine water with baking soda to make a paste. You should apply a pea-sized amount of the paste to a clean cloth to polish the silver.
If you have stamped, etched or detailed jewelry, we suggest adding more water to make a thinner paste. You should also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach any crevices.
Once done, run the item under warm water before drying it with a clean cloth. It may soon look as good as new.
LEMON JUICE AND OLIVE OIL
Lemon juice is known for its cleaning properties.
If you want to know how to clean sterling silver, lemon juice and olive oil could be the best option for your item.
All you need to do is mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice with only a tsp. of olive oil in a large bowl.
Dip a small microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution before wringing it out. You can then polish the silver, rinse it under warm water and dry it with a clean cloth.
BAKING SODA AND WHITE VINEGAR
If baking soda doesn’t work with warm water, you could always try it with white vinegar, instead.
It’s a gentle way to remove heavy tarnishing. Soak the tarnished jewelry in a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tbsp. of baking soda.
You should soak the item in the solution for between two to three hours.
Don’t be surprised if the solution fizzes!
BAKING SODA, BOILING WATER, SALT, AND ALUMINIUM FOIL
If the above didn’t work, create a chemical solution from baking soda, salt, boiling water, and foil.
Grab some aluminum foil to line the kitchen sink or glass roasting pan. The dull side of the foil should be placed down.
The next step is to place the jewelry onto the foil and pour boiling water over the items until covered. You should then add 2 tbsp. each of salt and baking soda.
Stir the solution to ensure the baking soda dissolves in the mix, as granules may scratch the metal.
The solution will cause any tarnish to be transferred to the aluminum foil. It may only take between 5 to 10 minutes to see a big difference in your jewelry.
Drain the solution using a colander and rinse the jewelry in warm water, before drying with a clean cloth.
We should warn you, the solution can smell a little like rotten eggs, but it could have your silver looking as good as new.
A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE
You will want your jewelry to last for a long time to come. If you don’t have time to clean them, or they are too tarnished, take them to a professional silver cleaner.
No matter how well you care for your silver jewelry, dishes, and cutlery, they will naturally tarnish over time. Although silver doesn’t require as much upkeep as common household items like bed sheets and kitchen appliances, it still needs to be cleaned every so often to be restored to its original shine. Your most-worn rings, necklaces, and other jewelry pieces may only need to be polished from time to time, but any fine silver that is left on display or tucked inside jewelry boxes may require a more intensive clean, especially since the chemical reaction from air and light exposure causes silver to tarnish. Keep in mind polishing is abrasive, no matter how delicate your hand, so it’s best to keep cleaning to a minimum — anywhere from two to six times a year.