How to properly care for silverware at home

Many people are interested in how to properly care for silver. To restore the shine of the metal and make it more beautiful, you need to use a variety of cleaning agents. Today there are many popular recipes that allow you to achieve good results. Also, for this purpose, special chemical compositions and napkins are used, which are sold in jewelry stores.

Hardware Features

This noble metal has many useful properties and characteristics:

1. Thermal conductivity. Some people put a silver spoon in their tea. Thanks to this, it is possible to cool the drink faster.
2. Ability to handle germs. Metal stands out for its disinfectant characteristics. For this reason, it is often used for water purification.
3. Medical properties. Silver jewelry is often used for various diseases. This metal improves visual functions, fights hypertension and diabetes, strengthens the immune system and normalizes the functioning of internal organs. Silver ions are even put in medicines.
4. Energy purification. Silver increases clarity of thought, has a beneficial effect on intuition and helps in spiritual development.

At the same time, the metal also has negative properties. It darkens over time. Silver can stain and coat. This is due to reactions with elements that are in the air or on the human body.

The following factors lead to the blackening of silver:

• high air humidity;
• the presence of diseases in a person;
• special composition of sweat;
• exposure to chemicals or drugs;
• the influence of the cosmetics that a person uses;
• contact with rubber, salt, onions, household gases.

At the same time, silver items do not lose their popularity. With proper care, they can maintain their flawless appearance for a long time.

Rules of care

To achieve the perfect condition of silver jewelry and other objects made from this noble metal, it is necessary to provide them with the appropriate care.

Cleaning frequency

In contact with air, the metal is often covered with a dark coating. It is a silver sulphide which is formed by oxidative reactions. The plate is not considered a defect and does not indicate poor product quality. It can be easily removed using different means. The frequency of cleaning procedures is selected individually. On average, it's 3-4 weeks.

What not to use

Precautions are recommended during the cleaning procedure. For this, it is forbidden to use compositions containing abrasive particles. Also, sharp objects cannot be used to remove plaque.

General rules

To avoid blackening of silver, you must follow these rules:

• remove jewelry before showers and baths, do wet housework, or do the dishes;
• do not wear silver jewelry in the sauna, swimming pool, sports training;
• do not wear such products after applying cosmetics or perfume;
• clean the silver from dirt in time to avoid the formation of spots and streaks;
• do not wash silverware in the dishwasher.

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Overview of detergents

Today, a large number of effective formulations are known that allow you to quickly and effectively clean silver.

A soda

To do this, simply mix baking soda with water and wipe the silver jewelry with a soft cloth. There is also a gentler method. For this, the silver must be soaked in a soda solution. After a few hours, it is recommended to rinse it with water and wipe it with a soft cloth.

However, the most effective is the technique using the foil. You can also use an aluminum pan. It is recommended to bring 1 liter of water to a boil and add 2 large tablespoons of baking soda. Immerse the product in the resulting solution for a quarter of an hour. After which they will begin to glow. Instead of soda, you can safely use salt or combine these funds in equal parts.

Soapy water

Before cleaning silver jewelry, you can rinse it with warm soapy water. This method will help get rid of dirt. Otherwise, the cleaning agent can react with the dirt. As a result, there is a risk of getting undesirable results.

Ammonia

Liquid ammonia will help remove the blackening. If the products are not too dirty, it is enough to immerse them in a solution consisting of 2 large spoons of ammonia and 1 liter of water. It is worth keeping the money in cash for a quarter of an hour.You can also wipe the jewelry with a cloth soaked in such a solution.

To get rid of stubborn plaque, it is recommended to add a small amount of lye to the ammonia solution. Silver should be well rinsed in the resulting liquid, then rinsed with plenty of water.

Additionally, ammonia can be mixed effectively with hydrogen peroxide. It is recommended to take these components in equal parts and immerse the product in the resulting product for a quarter of an hour. Small objects can be rubbed with a mixture of chalk and ammonia. These components are mixed to a slurry state.

Acid

To purify silver in this way, it is recommended to use a 6% vinegar solution. You can also take a 10% citric acid solution. The products must be rubbed with a cloth soaked in the product. It is also acceptable to dip them in lemon juice. After a few minutes, the products should be thoroughly rinsed off.

Coins and other objects that have darkened strongly can be boiled in a solution of formic or sulfuric acid. Its concentration should be 5%. Recently, Coca-Cola and other beverages containing orthophosphoric acid have often been used for this purpose.

Potato

A simple method to purify silver is the use of potatoes. To do this, simply dip the item in water with chopped raw potatoes. It should be kept in liquid for several hours. To improve performance, the product can be rubbed. The water in which the potatoes were boiled is perfect. It is worth putting a piece of foil there.

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clove of garlic

To clean silver you need a lot of concentrated decoction of garlic peel.To prepare it for 500 milliliters of water, it is recommended to take 2 small spoons of raw materials. Dip a silver coin into the solution and boil it. Depending on the severity of the contamination, the procedure can take up to 30 minutes.

Features of the care of certain species

The rules for caring for silver items directly depend on the characteristics of the material. To obtain good results, the composition of the subject should be considered.

Gilding

Maintenance of gold items should be done with care. Such items can be easily damaged.

General recommendations

It is strictly forbidden to clean gold-plated jewelry with abrasive products. It is best to use a flannel or suede cloth for cleaning. In case of severe contamination, it is worth wiping the product with special means.

Use vinegar

To begin with, it is recommended to moisten the product with vinegar. After 5 minutes, rinse with water and let dry without wiping.

Wadding soaked in wine alcohol

To remove dust, it is worth wiping gilded things with cotton wool, slightly moistening them with wine alcohol.

Egg whites

If the garment has become dull, egg whites will help restore its shine. The product should be gently rubbed with the product using a flannel towel.

Application of special jewelry wipes

An effective way to clean jewelry is the use of special wipes. They are made according to the composition of the metal. These products are sold in jewelry stores.

925 standard

Silver from this test is considered the most common. To provide it with quality care, the product should always be wiped with a soft cloth.If the object darkens, it is recommended to place it in a warm soapy solution for a quarter of an hour. Then wipe the product with a soft cloth.

If the silver has darkened too much, it is recommended to use baking soda or tooth powder. With a slight color change, it is enough to use a solution of ammonia and water. They are mixed in proportions of 1:10. The decoration should be placed in the product for 15-40 minutes.

If severe contamination is observed, jewelry should be immersed in pure ammonia for a quarter of an hour. Then rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a towel.

Alloys

Cutlery and other items are often made from special alloys. They can be composed of silver, nickel and copper. Sometimes iron or zinc supplements are included. To clean these items, they should be placed in a zinc container with salt water for several hours.

Silver rhodium

Rhodium is a precious metal in the platinum category. It makes products shinier and prevents them from darkening.

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Mechanical cleaning and ammonia should not be used for rhodium-plated silver. These methods will damage the rhodium layer. To clean these items, you should use a soft, dry cloth and lukewarm water. Special wipes are also good for cleaning jewelry.

How to properly store at home

To avoid severe darkening of silver jewelry, it must be properly stored. For this, it is necessary to follow certain recommendations. Keep jewelry in a sealed box. This must be done in a dry environment. If you do not plan to use the item in the near future, it is recommended that you wrap it in a flannel cloth.

Rules for choosing a new product

Silver jewelry is worth buying in specialty stores. It should be borne in mind that such products cannot be too cheap. The low price indicates the low quality of the accessory.

An imprint must be present on the jewel, that is to say the sample of the metal. If there is a "925" mark on the item, it means the silver content is not less than 92%. In addition, the accessory must have a label indicating the weight of the product.

How to wear correctly

In order for silver to keep its appearance longer, you must follow these rules:

1. Do not wear silver jewelry in swimming pools or saunas.
2. It is recommended to remove them when using cosmetics.
3. Rinse after exercise.
4. Remove jewelry during household chores to avoid exposure to chemicals.

Characteristics of some manufacturers

The maintenance of silver objects depends on the manufacturers. There are popular Chinese brands that require following specific recommendations.

Xuping Jewelry

This manufacturer covers gold jewelry by rolling. To avoid undesirable consequences, the product must be protected from contact with other accessories. Otherwise there is a risk of scratches.

fall on

The jewelry of this brand is electroplated. This allows you to get an even layer. These products are sensitive to chemicals. They must not come into contact with abrasive particles, acids and alkalis.

Tips & Tricks

In order for silver to retain its attractive appearance for a long time, the following recommendations should be observed:

1. It is not recommended to wear the product several days after cleaning. This contributes to the formation of a protective film.
2. Do not use hard brushes or abrasive particles for cleaning. They will damage the metal.
3. For the appearance of shine on a silver product, it must be wiped with a napkin soaked in lemon juice. Then you can rinse the accessory with hot water.
4. After using aluminum for cleaning, it is worth polishing the product well with a soft cloth. This will help prevent aluminum sulfate deposits from appearing.

Cleaning silver items helps restore them to their original appearance. To do this, you can use folk recipes or special napkins. At the same time, it is important to strictly follow the rules of procedure.