Only a person far from the Christian religion can consider a pectoral cross to be an ordinary decoration. This is a symbol of faith, dear to every truly Christian soul. The cross is worn constantly, without taking it off even to sleep and while taking water procedures.
Although this is a symbol, it has a completely material embodiment. And, like any decoration, the cross needs care. Even more than any other, because they wear it all the time. The symbol of faith, more than other jewelry, is exposed to aggressive environments, including human sweat.
Causes of darkening
Before considering the question of how to clean a silver cross from blackness, you should familiarize yourself with the causes of this defect. Products usually darken due to the reaction of the metal with hydrogen sulfide, which is in the air, as well as its interaction with nitrogen and sulfur produced by the human body.
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Since the cross is usually worn on the body, biological reactions often occur on the surface of the product when it comes into contact with the skin. Due to the presence of sulfur and copper atoms in the silver molecule, the metal is oxidized. This occurs when it interacts with water vapor and oxygen atoms.
The time for the oxidative reaction to occur depends on external environmental factors, the composition of human sweat, and the number of contacts of the product with cosmetics. Swimming in a pool with chlorinated water will cause the product to darken.
How to clean a silver cross? Folk and professional methods are suitable for this. Professional cleaning involves the use of expensive ultrasonic devices. To do this, contact the workshop. At home, you can use proven methods, which will be discussed below.
How to clean a silver cross at home
There are a lot of simple ways to clean a silver cross from blackness without resorting to professional means like special sprays for jewelry. You don’t even have to use a brush and GOI paste: everything you need can be found in your medicine cabinet or kitchen.
The simplest thing is to clean a silver chain and cross without inserts: you can use any means suitable for cleaning silver. However, it must be borne in mind that some stones and organics (including pearls and amber) are not very hard and resistant to abrasives, high temperatures and aggressive chemicals.
You should not try to clean a silver cross at home if it has any kind of coating: rhodium plating, blackening or gilding. Careless actions can damage the decorative coating. Naturally, after this the cross will not cease to be a symbol of faith and its spiritual content will remain unchanged, but external aesthetics may suffer greatly.
There is a popular belief: if a silver cross turns black, it means that its owner has been damaged. But here the point is pure physiology: the sweat of a not entirely healthy person contains more sulfur compounds, therefore, has a more pronounced effect on the silver in contact with the body.
Vinegar
As cheaply and safely as possible, you can clean a silver cross from blackness (naturally, not decorative blackening, but a dark layer of silver sulfide) using ordinary table vinegar. You should not use all kinds of exotic varieties of vinegar (apple, balsamic and others like them) for this purpose. If you have vinegar essence at your disposal, it must be diluted to a concentration of about 8-10%, otherwise the environment will be very aggressive.
Then everything is extremely simple:
- Pour a glass of vinegar into a saucepan and place the decoration there.
- Place the saucepan on the burner and heat the contents without bringing to a boil.
- Turn off the heat, wait for 5-10 minutes, remove, wash and dry the decoration.
The cleaning process with vinegar is very effective, but it is very “fragrant”, so it needs to be done with a good hood, or better yet, with the windows wide open.
Vinegar can also be used for regular care of a silver cross: simply wipe it with a swab soaked in vinegar. Sometimes you can wrap a cross with a chain in a cloth soaked in vinegar for half an hour or an hour, just don’t forget to rinse the jewelry thoroughly after that.
Baking soda
If desired, you can clean the silver cross chain using baking soda and kitchen foil.
To do this you need to do this:
- We line the bottom of a fireproof (steel, enameled or special glass) dish with regular chef's foil.
- Pour 1 liter of water into a container, add 50 grams of soda, and put in the decoration.
- Place the dishes on the fire, bring to a boil, turn off the heat.
- Let sit for half an hour, remove the decoration, wash and dry.
This method is very effective, safe for the cross, and is not accompanied by unpleasant odors. For even greater effectiveness, you can add a spoonful of coarse table salt.
Under no circumstances should you try to “scrub” the cross with clean soda: scratches may remain on smooth surfaces. In extreme cases, in case of severe contamination, you can use a mushy paste made from soda with the addition of water or ammonia.
Hydrogen peroxide
If you have hydrogen peroxide in your first aid kit, you can also clean a blackened silver cross with it. It certainly will not harm the sacred jewelry, especially if it is made of a high-grade jewelry alloy. Moreover: peroxide is safe for most inserts, including especially delicate pearls and amber.
See all silver crosses in the SUNLIGHT catalog
True, peroxide (as hydrogen peroxide is correctly called) is unlikely to bleach very neglected silver to its original shine. However, if you take care of the cross constantly, more radical methods will not be required.
To clean jewelry from basic contaminants, just put it in a solution of peroxide in water (concentration about 1:20), keep it there for a couple of hours, rinse and dry.
As part of regular care, you can periodically wipe the cross with a swab dipped in pure hydrogen peroxide.
Lemon acid
If the jewelry does not have delicate inserts, you can clean the silver cross with citric acid. To do this, you need to take a standard bag of lemon juice, dilute it with warm water (ratio approximately 1:10), and put the decoration there for a couple of hours.
Cleaning the cross will be more effective if you boil it in the resulting solution. Just 10-15 minutes - and the shrine will again look like it did on the day of christening.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste cannot be called a super-effective tool for cleaning jewelry, but it has one significant advantage. Toothpaste is very gentle, so it can be used to clean silver with any coating and inserts.
The cleaning principle is extremely simple: squeeze the paste onto a brush with soft bristles, treat the jewelry with it, rinse, and dry. True, it will not be possible to get rid of thick sulfide deposits in this way, but the main impurities (same as sebum) are washed off well.
It will be much more convenient to clean the cross chain with paste if you fix it on a flat surface with pins. This will make it easier to reach hard-to-reach places inside the links.
Ammonia
Another great product for cleaning silver, which is found in many home medicine cabinets, is ammonia. The easiest way to use it is to soak a cross with a chain in a solution of ammonia for 10-15 minutes, followed by rinsing and drying. The optimal solution concentration is approximately 1:10.
If desired, you can clean the jewelry mechanically, using a paste made from chalk with the addition of ammonia. The composition turns out to be very caustic, so you need to work with gloves. In general, since ammonia emits a very pungent odor, it is better to carry out all manipulations on the balcony.
General rules
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Silver, like other precious metals, needs to be cleaned. But at the same time, certain conditions and techniques must be observed so as not to damage the product. It is advisable to wash crosses as often as possible. Do not wait until the blackening becomes very noticeable. Old stains are difficult to clean; this requires more caustic products containing an abrasive, which is undesirable to use.
If even slight yellowing or darkening of the silver occurs, wash it with cool soapy water. You can add a little soda. The chains should only be cleaned with a soft bristle brush. But it should only be natural pile, since it damages the coating less.
For 925 sterling silver, it is better not to use homemade cleaning products. We need special liquids that preserve the physical integrity of the jewelry.
To make the metal shine, use lemon juice and hot water. Dry the products with paper napkins and soft fabrics. For polishing, use suede, flannel or wool fabric. After cleaning, jewelry should not be worn for several days.
Jeweler's cleaning tips
- Use special fabrics.
To polish your silver jewelry, use a special polishing cloth. You can use a thin diaper, but professional materials will lead to better results. Paper towels or napkins may cause scratches.
- Be careful.
Regular cleaning will help keep your jewelry in good condition, but be careful. Buy special cleaning products from jewelry shops or prepare them yourself. Ammonia works wonders, but bleach will literally destroy the cross. Avoid him at all costs.
- Use warm water.
Warm water is best to clean your jewelry. However, it can also provoke an undesirable reaction with washing liquids, causing discoloration. Silver is especially sensitive to this. In this case, the problem can be solved by polishing using special cleaners.
- Avoid cleaning damaged jewelry.
Never clean jewelry that has mechanical damage. This can make the problem significantly worse. Set the cross aside for repair in a specialized workshop.
Baking soda
How to clean a blackened silver cross without taking it to a professional workshop? To obtain the mixture, water is combined with soda in a ratio of 1:50, the solution is thoroughly mixed.
Then the cross is placed in the finished composition and left for an hour. Then it should be removed, rinsed under running water and wiped with a soft cloth. Powdered soda is not used as it may scratch the surface. You can also wrap the cross in foil and place it in boiling water for 5 minutes, adding 1 tsp. soda
Rules for wearing and care
Any piece of jewelry requires care. The pectoral cross is the subject of myths, legends and beliefs - the formation of blackness is blamed on the owner, who has sinned a lot, as well as the evil eye and damage. However, this is a matter of spiritual practices; in fact, the appearance deteriorates if worn and stored incorrectly.
Wearing rules:
- remove the cross before taking a shower or bath;
- protect from exposure to cosmetics such as creams, gels; suntan lotion is very harmful to silver;
- do not allow household chemicals to come into contact with the product;
- remove the cross when visiting a swimming pool or spa salon to avoid chlorine and exposure to high temperatures;
There is no need to ignore storage rules. It is better to wrap the product with a soft cloth to avoid bumps and scratches. The Christian attribute must be stored in a special box to prevent exposure to sunlight. And also the storage place should not be damp.
If you follow the simple rules of wearing and storing and carry out constant care, there will be no problems with cleaning the product, so you can even get by with home remedies.
Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol
If a silver cross has turned black, how to clean it using home methods? You can make a solution from hydrogen peroxide and alcohol by mixing the components in equal quantities. Then the cross is placed in the resulting composition, left for 30 minutes, and then wiped dry with a soft material.
Hydrogen peroxide can only be used if you are confident in the composition of the product. A cross that does not have a factory stamp and is created with various impurities may be damaged. It will no longer be possible to return it to its previous appearance.
How to clean with special compounds
In addition to formulations made from homemade ingredients, there are special products for caring for silver. They are available in different forms - gels, sprays, ointments, pastes or liquids, wipes.
Most often, such preparations are necessary for working with crosses instructed by precious stones. With their help, you can professionally clean silver items of any degree of blackness at home.
Aladdin
It is considered the most economical and fastest-acting of the list of silver care products. Advantages of "Aladdin":
- economical consumption;
- reusability;
- cleaning speed.
There is only one drawback - the cost, which does not suit all buyers.
The product is very easy to use. It is enough to place the cross in a plastic container with holes, which is then lowered into a container with the product. After 30 minutes, the product will return to its original cleanliness. Rinse the cross with clean water and wipe dry.
After removing the container, the solution is ready for the next cleaning. Jar volume 200 ml, approximate price 160 rubles. It is important to note that the product is not suitable for cleaning crosses made of blackened silver or with inserts of coral, pearls, turquoise and amber.
Mascot
Another specialized product from a domestic manufacturer. Available in liquid form. The cleaning method is slightly different from the method of using the previous solution. The liquid must be poured in the required quantity into another container. Take a non-food container made of glass or plastic, pour in the product, and put a cross. After 2 minutes, remove, rinse with water, and wipe with a soft cloth.
If you cannot get the desired result at one time, you can repeat the cleaning. The effect will be enhanced by using a soft toothbrush to lightly rub the silver cross.
It is recommended to work with rubber gloves, this will help avoid contact of liquid and hands. The manufacturer produces Talisman in 50 ml and 150 ml volumes. The price for a larger volume is 170 rubles. Detailed instructions are located on the packaging.
Unicum
Universal gel for cleaning silver products. It does an excellent job of cleaning inserts made of precious and non-ferrous metals, returning them to their original shine. To remove blackness, just apply a small amount of gel to a damp sponge and wipe the product. Finally, rinse off the gel with clean water.
To increase shine, apply a drop of gel to a cotton pad and wipe the surface of the silver cross, wait 3 minutes, polish with a napkin. Volume 380 ml, price 130 rubles.
Ammonia
How to clean a silver cross to return it to its original appearance? To prepare the solution you will need 1 tbsp. l. ammonia, which is mixed with soapy water (1 liter). The soap must be laundry soap (without fragrances or cosmetic additives).
The product is dipped into the finished mixture and left for 10–15 minutes. Then the cross is wiped, moistening a napkin in this composition, and then rinsed with cool water.
Crushed chalk is mixed with ammonia in a 1:1 ratio and the product is smeared with the finished mixture. After 10 minutes, the solution is removed and the silver is washed.
Benefits of silver products
Each of us chooses the decoration that we like and that you can afford. Gold is more expensive than silver. But this is not a minus, but a plus. In addition to price, silver has many advantages:
- We wrote about the price above. This is a profitable purchase;
- Silver goes very well with various stones;
- Silver products are suitable for various clothes;
- Silver is even used for medical purposes, as it has an antibacterial effect.
Since ancient times, silver has been endowed with magical qualities. It was believed that wearing such jewelry would help ward off evil spirits. Table sets are not only beautiful, but also healthy. Take care of your jewelry and products made from this noble metal, and they will serve you for many years.
How to effectively clean blackened silver: 21 home methods and special products
5 Tips for Cleaning Silverware to Keep Its Shine Without Damage
How to Determine the Best Way to Clean Silver
If there are stones or some kind of coating on this or that object, then it is wiser to use gentle products. It is better to entrust the cleaning of any miniature jewelry to a specialist.
Expert opinion
Ekaterina Korneva, expert in the field of care, cleanliness and beauty
I will help you understand all the intricacies.
If there are stones or some kind of coating on this or that object, then it is wiser to use gentle products. The galvanic method requires special equipment and is performed only in specialized places; How to clean silver from blackening If you have any questions, please contact me, I will be happy to answer!
Cleaning Recommendations
When working with silver, you do not need to use gold cleaning products. These metals have different compositions, so different cleaning methods are needed. Silver should not be left wet after processing. Because of this, the surface quickly becomes cloudy after drying.
You need to be careful when wiping silver items. Even a soft and delicate material to the touch leaves abrasions and stripes on the metal surface. This especially applies to polished glossy surfaces. For these purposes, soft table napkins are used. Wipe with the front side only.
If there are precious stones on the cross, you should not clean the house. This spoils the appearance of the stone. Silver should be stored separately from medications and rubber objects, since it reacts with their components. Cleaning should be performed at least once every 2-3 months.
If the product has a relief image or engraving, do not wipe the product with flannel. This will cause the lint to get stuck in the pattern. You need soft paper napkins. Their remains can be blown off or removed with a paint brush.
If you have precious stones, you need to buy special Leuchtturm or Silver quick products. They are sold in jewelry stores and clean jewelry very well. To do this, the product is placed with the prepared solution and left there for a while. Exposure time should be checked on the packaging. The only disadvantage of this method is the high price for a fairly small bottle volume.
Preparing the product for cleaning
Fortunately, you can clean a silver cross on your own, using quite affordable means that are likely to be found in the arsenal of every self-respecting housewife.
First, you should first prepare the product for cleaning:
- Remove the cross from the chain. If the cross hangs on a chain, you should remove it, but manipulations are allowed with both elements of the decoration. The gaitan cord, of course, will not withstand such treatment, so it must be processed separately.
- Soak the decoration in soapy water. We prepare a soap solution based on laundry soap, shower gel, dishwashing liquid, and so on. You can select the proportions yourself, because you can’t really harm the silver with such means, but the solution should really lather well.
- We wash off the main contaminants. After the cross and chain have thoroughly soaked (after 20-40 minutes), you can treat them with a sponge or a very delicate toothbrush, removing the main contaminants.
- Rinse under running water. Wash the decoration elements simply under the tap. But if you are afraid of losing them down the drain, you can fill any container with cool water and use it to wash off the remaining dirt and soap solution from the cross.
- We carefully dry the decoration. Dry silver items carefully, naturally, carefully removing water with a soft cloth or flannel cloth. No high temperatures or blowing with a hairdryer!
If the contamination is very large, you can resort to professional cleaning. Jewelry workshops have special devices for ultrasonic cleaning of jewelry.
Storage rules
In order for products to retain their attractive appearance for a long time, they must be stored correctly. Silver should be kept in separate closed boxes - cases, caskets. The room must be dry. If the decoration will not be used for a long time, it should be washed with soapy water, dried and wrapped in flannel, foil or parchment.
Do not allow metal to come into contact with medicines, products, household chemicals, plastic, or rubber. It is advisable to remove products before applying cosmetics, taking a shower, swimming in the bath, sea, pool, sauna.
You should not clean them to prevent the ingress of detergents. If the product gets wet or dirty, wipe it dry with a cloth. With proper care and proper cleaning, jewelry will last a long time. Using effective home methods ensures excellent results.
With proper and regular care, a silver item gains shine, freshness and aesthetics. It retains its attractive appearance for a long time.
Source
Why does the cross turn black?
Pectoral crosses are most often made of silver. But even with proper care, over time they lose their shine and darken. Popular reasons why jewelry loses its original appearance include:
- Water and chemical impurities. In addition to water, jewelry becomes blackened by shower gels, soaps, shampoos, household chemicals, cosmetics and rooms with high humidity. In order to preserve the original appearance of the cross for a long time, it is recommended to remove it before the pool, bath or shower. Tap water contains many impurities and chemicals that cause oxidation and blackening. To reduce exposure to chemicals, do not wear jewelry while cleaning.
- Sunlight and warmth. To prevent the cross from turning black after going outside on a sunny day, it must be hidden under clothing.
- Sea water. On the seashore, the air is filled with hydrogen sulfide and, together with the high temperature, oxidation of the metal occurs. Therefore, before heading to the beach, it is better to leave the jewelry in a dry place.
- Secretions of the human body. Sweat, cosmetic residues, sebum and other body secretions negatively affect the condition of the silver cross. Such secretions contain sulfur, which reacts with silver and copper to produce sulfite, which coats the silver item with a coating. In addition to the change in shade, the decoration has an unpleasant odor.
In addition to scientific evidence of why a silver item turns black, in ancient times there were beliefs that a religious symbol changes color due to troubles in a person’s life. In the old days it was believed that the cross turns black due to a person’s illness, loss of strength, or loss of vital energy. In this case, you needed to rest, change your field of activity, or examine your surroundings.
Also, some sources say that blackness on the cross may appear due to damage or the evil eye. It is necessary to rinse the jewelry in holy or spring water and bathe in it yourself so that the water removes negative energy.
According to church ministers, blackness on jewelry appears when people commit a bad deed or sin. It is necessary to visit the church and confess. According to believers, it will no longer be possible to save the cross; you need to leave it in the temple and buy a new one for yourself.
In order to reduce the likelihood of early blackness, when purchasing a product you need to pay attention to the silver standard. The more additives in the alloy, the faster it will become covered with a dark coating. You need to choose jewelry made of 875, 925, 960 silver.
How to Determine the Best Way to Clean Silver
To answer this question, three nuances should be taken into account:
- Product quality;
- Pollution level;
- The presence of other elements (gilding, stones, etc.).
Before you start cleaning silver, you should remember that using any aggressive means is only appropriate for things that are entirely made of silver.
If there are stones or some kind of coating on this or that object, then it is wiser to use gentle products. It is better to entrust the cleaning of any miniature jewelry to a specialist.
Today you can buy a variety of cleaning agents for silver. They can be liquid or paste-like.
When cleaning silver, you should avoid using hard brushes or sponges to avoid damaging the items.
How to save the result
To do this, follow the recommendations for caring for silver:
- Store the cross only in a box and in a room without high humidity.
- Do not place products containing sulfur nearby.
- Use only proven cleaning methods.
- Be sure to remove the silver cross before intense physical activity.
- Do not allow the cross to interact with cosmetics.
- After the product gets wet, be sure to rinse it with clean water and dry with a napkin.
Taking good care of your silver cross will allow you to preserve its purity, shine and beauty for a long time.
Source
Why does silver tarnish
There is an opinion among the population that the blackening of silver jewelry is associated with negative energy that the metal absorbs. That is, the more often the owner of the item catches the eye of envious people, the more blackness becomes on the surface of the silver. In fact, there are several other reasons that entail blackening, and all of them have nothing to do with mysticism.
- Increased air humidity, which enters into chemical processes with the metal and makes it noticeably duller.
- Storing silver next to a home medicine cabinet or medical preparations containing sulfur.
- Features of the skin of the owner of the product, as well as excessive use of perfume or skin care products.
