As a result of wear, silver quickly darkens and becomes dirty. This raises a reasonable question: how to clean a silver ring, chain, bracelet or other item? To restore the shine and cleanliness of your jewelry, you can use the available products that are in the kitchen, medicine cabinet or cosmetic bag of every housewife. Such methods are very effective and do not have a negative effect on the metal.
Silver jewelry looks stylish and elegant, but under the influence of external factors it darkens and loses its shine. Cleaning that can be done at home will help restore cleanliness.
The article contains popular methods and useful tips that will help you properly clean silver rings.
Signs about blackening of silver
Silver has been part of human everyday life for so long that it could not help but acquire various signs. In the modern world, superstitions are treated with a great deal of skepticism, however, sometimes signs really shouldn’t be ignored. The main thing is to interpret them correctly.
For example, science has established that as certain diseases progress, the concentration of sulfur in a person’s sweat increases. Diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder, and liver especially contribute to this. It is to sulfur that silver items react by darkening. Based on the blackening of the jewelry, our ancestors concluded that the owner of the item was sick.
Blackening of silver has always been considered a bad sign. Sometimes such a reaction is even interpreted as an “evil mark” or damage to the owner of the product. This superstition is explained quite simply - since ancient times, silver was credited with the ability to protect against dark forces.
If the precious metal darkens, it means that it took the blow, thereby helping the owner avoid bad influence.
Blackened silver jewelry
Our ancestors also identified the “curse” itself by an object that suddenly changed color:
- Ring - to the crown of celibacy;
- Chain or earrings - evil eye;
- Cross - curse;
- Dishes - the owners’ house has been taken over by evil spirits;
In fact, the blackening of a precious metal can always be explained from a scientific point of view.
Reasons for oxidation of gold rings
The main causes of oxidation include:
- Compound. Gold, like other inert metals, can only oxidize when exposed to high temperatures. However, this precious metal in its pure form is practically not used in the jewelry industry. When making jewelry, copper, silver, nickel or zinc are added to gold. These additives have the ability to darken in the presence of oxygen. Therefore, products with a purity level below 585 quickly oxidize in air.
- Some chemicals: iodine. These compounds are found in creams, ointments or medicinal substances. Using such a cream or accidentally getting iodine on your jewelry will cause the ring to oxidize.
- Activity of fatty and sweat glands. During human life, the sebaceous glands produce sebum and fat, which are released through the pores. Sweat contains salts and organic substances. Under the influence of such factors, the metal becomes covered with a dark coating.
A gold ring can oxidize due to the activity of fatty and sweat glands.
There is an opinion that gold jewelry will oxidize if its owner eats a lot of meat or has kidney disease. This is explained by the fact that the predominance of protein foods contributes to the release of large amounts of nitrogen compounds. This can lead to corrosion of the precious metal.
How to clean a silver ring
Sometimes turning to a jewelry workshop will be the best solution to save time and get an excellent result. If you can’t turn to professionals, you can purchase specialized cleaning products.
Professional level. Average cost of work
Professionals clean products using a steam generator or ultrasound. The cost of such work is from 200 rubles. Many workshops offer free cleaning if the jewelry was repaired by them.
Almost the same level. Professional products
There are many professional products that can be used to achieve deep cleaning and radiant shine.
- Kristallin: an odorless product that looks like a soap solution, from 150 rubles. Contaminated products are immersed inside a vessel with crystalline, where they remain for about 20 minutes.
- GOI paste: an inexpensive substance that requires careful handling, from 100 rubles. You can buy pasta in a specialty store or order it online. The paste is applied to a cloth moistened with gasoline, and polishing takes a long time and carefully.
- Flurin: a solution of specially selected reagents, suitable for cleaning silver or gold, from 500 rubles. The jewelry is completely immersed in the solution for 7-10 minutes. After removal, hard-to-reach areas are treated with a soft brush.
Crystallin, flurin and GOI paste
Vinegar
If you don’t have ammonia at home, you can clean the ring using regular table vinegar. True, in this case, the mixture of water and vinegar will have to be boiled for several minutes, which means a strong specific aroma cannot be avoided. However, this is exactly the smell that spreads throughout the apartment when we pickle vegetables for the winter.
- Combine 6% vinegar (1 part) and purified water (2 parts) in a glass (fireproof) or steel container.
- Cover with a lid and bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and immerse silver jewelry in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Wash in clean water. Wipe dry and rub with a piece of velvet.
How to clean a silver ring with a stone
Cleaning jewelry set with precious stones is different from regular jewelry. When working with such rings, you must adhere to a number of rules:
- Minerals should be protected from extreme temperatures.
- Products inlaid with stones should not be soaked for a long time. This may affect the shine of the stone.
- Minerals should not come into contact with aggressive chemical elements.
How to clean a silver ring with inserts at home? It must be taken into account that each stone is special, and various nuances must be taken into account.
- jewelry inlaid with diamonds or cubic zirconia can be safely washed with warm water and soapy water, however, if the quality of the water is poor, plaque may form on the stone;
- extreme temperatures should be avoided when handling sapphire, amethyst, and crystal;
- rubies are highly resistant to physical and mechanical damage; such stones can be polished with hard cloths;
- emeralds have a porous structure, so jewelers apply a protective coating on them that can be easily washed off with aggressive chemicals, so cleaning is only allowed with a mild soap solution;
- Topaz can be cleaned using baby laundry detergent;
- special attention should be paid to turquoise, the stone loses its appearance from contact with a liquid medium, it is cleaned with soft tissues;
- Amber can be cleaned with mild baby soap and warm water.
- Pearls are cleaned in the same way.
Principles of cleaning gold products
To effectively clean your jewelry, you need to know how to properly clean gold rings at home. The general principles of such cleaning include compliance with the following rules:
- Do not use abrasives or acids.
- It is not recommended to clean gold and silver items in the same container. This may cause the products to change color.
- Dry citric acid or baking soda should not be used. Before cleaning, dry powder must be diluted in water.
- Do not use sharp objects. They can easily damage the stone or the surface of the ring.
- To polish the product, use a dry flannel or soft towel. It is advisable to soak the rings in warm water before the procedure.
Proper cleaning will restore the product to its original appearance and maintain the attractiveness of the precious metal.
How to clean a silver rhodium ring
Silver products coated with a thin layer of rhodium receive additional protection from environmental influences, retain their shine for a long time, and do not change color. Rhodium is a hard metal, has high chemical resistance, and is not subject to oxidation.
So, how to clean a silver ring coated with a thin layer of rhodium? It should be borne in mind that dirt comes off from the rhodium surface much easier, since the coating tends to repel it.
Such jewelry can be cleaned by any means, but the use of ammonia, toothpastes, and hard toothbrushes is not allowed. Avoid strong friction when polishing.
Raw potatoes
Some fashionistas prefer to use raw potatoes to clean their silver rings. Gruel from crushed potatoes removes blackening well, so this method has every right to exist. However, it is advisable to use it for slightly darkened products. Vegetable puree cannot cope with old stains and blackness.
But if you regularly wipe your decorations with potatoes at least once a week, you will forget about this problem forever.
- Grate the potatoes on a fine grater, cover the decorations with this paste and leave for 10 - 15 minutes.
- Rinse under running water and polish with a velvet cloth or a piece of wool.
How to clean a gold plated silver ring without ruining it
Gold-plated items require gentle cleaning methods, since the gold layer, which is only a few microns thick, can easily be damaged.
Cleaning gold-plated silver jewelry
You can polish a gold-plated ring with a regular soft eraser. The method of soaking in potato solution is also suitable.
Ammonia
You can fight blackness no less effectively with ammonia.
Note. This procedure should be carried out only in a well-ventilated area, with a constant flow of fresh air, or outdoors. The pungent, specific aroma of ammonia does not have the best effect on the mucous membranes and respiratory organs.
- Pour purified water and ammonia into a glass or earthenware container in a proportional ratio of 10: 1 (10 ml of ammonia per 100 ml of water).
- Immerse silver jewelry in the ammonia solution and leave for 30 minutes.
- Remove the jewelry and wash it in clean water.
- Polish them thoroughly with a velvet or flannel cloth.
Rules for caring for silver
Silver jewelry is, first and foremost, jewelry. They require careful wear, careful storage, and regular care. Following simple rules will help maintain the original presentable appearance of silver items.
- Silver does not like water, so it should be stored away from sources of moisture. It is advisable to purchase a storage box, upholstered inside with soft material. It is also not recommended to store the precious metal near cosmetics and perfumes.
- Jewelry should be removed before playing sports, cleaning, cooking, or sleeping.
- Products need to be cleaned periodically using folk methods or professional means.
- If medical ointment has been applied to the skin, then it is better to refrain from wearing jewelry.
Foil + soda
If you have a small piece of foil and baking soda at home, you can clean your silver jewelry in a few minutes.
Note. It is better to use purchased water for cleaning silver - soft, well-purified. Otherwise, alkalis and salts contained in the liquid will settle on the surface of the jewelry in the form of an unaesthetic, cloudy coating.
- Pour 10 g of baking soda (1 tsp) into 200 ml of purified water and bring the solution to a boil.
- Place a sheet of metal foil in a glass container and pour in the boiling liquid.
- Immerse the blackened jewelry in the soda solution for 1 - 2 minutes.
- Take out the jewelry, wash and polish it thoroughly with a velvet or flannel cloth.
Reviews
The jewelry has darkened, I wondered: how to clean a silver ring? I used a soda solution, the result is amazing! The ring quickly sparkled like new, and now I regularly polish it with a special paste to enhance the gloss of the surface.
Nikolay P. g, Moscow
Zhanna R. g, Stavropol
I believe that jewelry darkens because it accumulates negative energy. I first take the tarnished silver to church, and only after that I clean it at home with citric acid.
I tried to lighten the blackened jewelry with peroxide on the advice of a friend. When I finished, I discovered that the entire surface was covered with cloudy stains. No matter what I did to remove them, there was no effect. I decided to give it to a jewelry workshop. The ring was covered with a layer of rhodium, it sparkled so much that I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Dmitry N. g, Moscow
Cleaning methods
The easiest and most reliable way to clean jewelry is to take it to a special workshop. Professionals use special tools and compounds that can deal with any contamination carefully and successfully. But there is not always the opportunity and desire to visit such an establishment.
But don’t despair - at home you can also effectively clean silver with stones so that the jewelry shines and shimmers as before.
Nowadays there are various specialized products for cleaning jewelry on sale. They will clean your treasures carefully and thoroughly. But often this is not the most budget option. The main thing is to act strictly according to the instructions:
- Laundry soap is a universal option that almost everyone has on hand. It is necessary to grate it or grind it in any other way. Add a tablespoon of product per liter of warm water, stir well and place the decoration there. After an hour, rinse off the remaining composition and wipe the item dry.
- Liquid detergents such as shampoos, shower gels and dishwashing detergents are also suitable for cleaning. You need to add about a teaspoon of liquid to the water and place the product there for an hour. At the end, be sure to remove the solution and dry the decoration with a cloth.
- Every housewife has regular baking soda in her arsenal. A small amount of it should be diluted to a mushy mass in water. Using a brush or sponge, treat the surface of the item to be cleaned and leave it to work for a while. Then remove the composition and dry the decoration.
- Many people keep citric acid at home. It will help quickly get rid of blackness on silver. Heat the water and dilute the acid in it in a ratio of 1 to 5. Soak the product for a while and then wipe dry.
- A product that every person has in their bathroom is toothpaste. With its help, silver products can be restored to their former shine and spectacular appearance. Rub the ring with the paste using a rag or brush, rinse off the remaining product and dry the item.
- If you place silver jewelry in medical alcohol for a while, it will effectively remove stains and darkening.
- You can also find a faithful assistant in your home medicine cabinet. Budget ammonia will play this role.
It is necessary to dissolve a teaspoon of the product in one glass of water. Leave the solution to work for a short time (20-30 minutes), rinse the item with warm water and remove any remaining moisture.
When cleaning silver jewelry at home, do not forget about one more product.
A good effect can be achieved if you use chalk. It needs to be crushed to a powder, add water and prepare a paste. She needs to carefully handle all the curves of the decoration. Afterwards, be sure to rinse and dry as usual.
