How To Clean Silver Jewelry
Cleaning silver jewelry is necessary so it doesn’t lose its brilliance. The following methods should get rid of the dirt and prevent it from turning into a dull color.
Required Tools and Materials
Baking soda (1/4 cup)
Salt (1/3 cup)
Towel
Container (large enough to hold all the jewelry if you’re dipping them at the same time)
Strainer
Aluminum foil
Liquid dish soap (1/4 cup)
Plastic spoon
Water (half a gallon)
Stovetop
Instructions
Cover the container or pot with aluminum foil. Gather the ingredients listed and pour everything in the container. Use the spoon to stir the mix. Gather the silver jewelry. Place them in the pot. Set the pot on the stove (if it isn’t already). Allow the mix to boil for no more than 5 minutes.
The next step to cleaning silver jewelry is removing the pot from the stove after 5 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool down for a few minutes. Use the strainer and take everything out of the pot.
Get the jewelry and wash them with cold water. Set each one on the towel. Let them dry completely.
Using Polishes and Silver Dips
When using silver dips and polishes, don’t immerse it in the mixture longer than indicated. If you do, white stains will appear on the jewelry. Be sure to rinse each piece thoroughly. Any leftover stains might damage the ornament.
If there are no specific instructions, just dip the piece and quickly take it out. For drying, cotton cloth is usually used. Sunshine Cloth works just as well if not better, for cleaning silver jewelry; this material actually puts some anti tarnish protection on the piece.
If using lacquer shields, it’s best to apply the material on soft cloth and polish. Dipping might produce film in certain areas.
Tips and Warnings
Here are a few points to remember when cleaning. Use a large piece of cloth. When you have cleaned one piece, lay the piece on a separate cloth. Never use the area you used to dab the jewelry with the other pieces; wipe with another section of the cloth.
Wipe the jewelry in an up and down motion. Keep wiping and cleaning silver jewelry until the tarnish no longer appears on the cloth. Count all the pieces if you are dipping them in a solution; you don’t want to throw some jewelry along with the cleaning liquid.
There are special silver cleaning pastes for intricately designed ornaments. Apply some paste into a soft cloth and gently wipe. You can use also apply the paste on a wet toothbrush. This should help remove some of the deeply embedded tarnish. Clean in an up and down motion.
Do not move the toothbrush in a circular motion; it isn’t going to remove the dirt. Always follow the instructions for any silver dip you’re using. Excessive application could tarnish the product even more.
Cleaning silver jewelry doesn’t take a lot of time. But you need to use the right ingredients. Using the wrong materials might cause permanent damage so make sure the proper techniques are used.
