How to restore the shine of darkened silver?
There are silverware in every home. But they look different everywhere: some owners have dull, dark silver, one longing, and sometimes you look at the silver - there is a feeling of celebration, so it looks natural, bright, beautiful! Are they different types of silver? No! It all depends on the conditions of storage and care.
For high-quality cleaning of silver items, they are given to a jewelry workshop, where it will be done quickly and professionally, but it is necessary not only to pay for the work, which, however, is not the worst thing, but also to spend a lot of time. Therefore, professional silver cleaning is rarely ordered, and silver items fade every day at home, waiting for the next processing. This happens only due to the fact that not everyone knows how to care for silver items at home.
Why does silver darken?
restore the shine of darkened silver
There are many factors affecting the appearance of this metal: high humidity, prolonged wear (sweat effect), interaction with cosmetics and sulfur-containing products.
One of the simplest ways is to cleanse silver with special means, which are sold in a jewelry store or an ordinary hardware store. Unfortunately, the desire to start cleaning does not always arise when all stores are open, or there is no desire to rush to buy. No problem! Silver can be cleaned using whatever is on hand.
Many methods - many choices!
Silver items can be cleaned using a woolen rag. Moisten a piece of cloth with ammonia and wipe the silver.
Try an ammonia-based detergent for silver. Take 200 ml of water, pour in 1 teaspoon of ammonia, a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, add baby soap (liquid) to this mixture. Mix everything thoroughly, place silver items in the resulting liquid for about 15 minutes, or longer, depending on the degree of contamination. Pull out when you notice that the silver has cleared. Wipe wet things with a piece of microfiber.
The water in which the potatoes were boiled is suitable for cleaning silverware. Add a small sheet of foil to this water, about 8x12 cm, then put silver there. The result will pleasantly amaze you - the products will become like new.
Things that contain only silver, without finishing with stones, enamel and other decorative elements, will give an attractive look with a mixture of our own preparation. To get it, use 250 ml of water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Bring the resulting solution to a boil, throw in a sheet of foil and a silver object. You can turn off the fire when the product looks great. Cleaned silver should be rinsed with running water. The result will exceed all expectations, and your silver will acquire a shine and shine.
Black stains can be easily removed with 9% table vinegar - it must be heated, and then silver is placed in it. After some time, take out the silver object, wipe it dry with a piece of suede or cotton cloth.
It is possible that you will not be able to use the above methods due to the lack of necessary components, do not be discouraged - absolutely everyone and always have salt at hand. So, prepare a saline solution: for a glass of water - one teaspoon of salt. Next, boil silver items in the resulting liquid for a quarter of an hour, take them out, dry them with a cotton cloth.
Of course, not all methods of silver purification are listed here. Maybe you have something to add? Tell us about the intricacies of silver jewelry care you know, be so kind.