How to easily clean silver with stones at home

Throughout centuries of history, women around the world have valued silver jewelry for its elegance and grace.

A pair of silver earrings, when properly cared for and cleaned, is a good investment for many years to come. They will not go out of fashion and can be easily combined with both everyday and evening outfits. Silver jewelry remains timeless and is suitable anytime, anywhere. But silver is a metal with character. And if you don't care for it well, it will quickly turn black and lose its former shine.

In this article, we will look at ways to clean silver earrings yourself and preserve their original attractiveness.

Why does silver jewelry darken?

Silver items can become blackened due to many factors, even air.

This is due to the oxidation process that occurs when silver interacts with various substances. Here are the reasons for the appearance of black plaque:

• Chemical composition and air humidity. The air contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and upon contact with silver jewelry, a chemical reaction occurs, which results in a dark coating on your favorite earrings or rings. With increased humidity, the oxidation process occurs faster.
• Cosmetics and detergents contain many different impurities that negatively affect silver. Therefore, before cleaning and cosmetic procedures, it is better to remove jewelry.
• Sweat and sebum. These are also irritants for silver. Sweat contains sulfur, which oxidizes silver and leads to the appearance of a black coating.

If you notice blackness on your accessories, this is not a reason to throw them into the far corner. You can fix everything and clean your silver at home.

Causes of loss of shine

Silver is a metal that undergoes oxidation. Over time, the jewelry darkens and becomes covered with a blue-green patina. This is the result of a chemical reaction with the environment.

Silver is a soft metal. Therefore, to give it strength, other metals are added to it: copper, platinum, gold, zinc. The lower the proportion of silver in the alloy, the faster the jewelry will turn black.

When purchasing a product, you need to pay attention to the sample. Fineness is a reflection of the percentage of silver and other metals in the alloy. The most common sample is 925. This means that the alloy is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, etc. 925 silver is the most durable and least prone to tarnishing. Less popular samples are 875, 800, 750.

There is a superstition that if jewelry turns black, it means that the owner has been damaged. In reality, a chemical reaction simply occurs from the interaction of silver and objects that a person comes into contact with. Tarnishing of silver items can be caused by:

• Moisture.
• Contact with cosmetics.
• Human sweat.
• Household gas and rubber.
• Onion and egg yolk.

But there are many recipes on how to clean silver jewelry with a stone at home so that it sparkles and pleases the eye.

Features of cleaning silver

Silver requires a careful approach to cleaning, especially if the jewelry has inserts. You need to choose a method for removing blackness and strictly monitor the processing time. Under no circumstances should you increase the cleaning time for silver items. This can lead to irreversible consequences.

But don't be alarmed, follow our instructions and you can clean your favorite silver earrings quickly and easily.

How to clean white gold

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White gold differs from ordinary gold in that silver, palladium or nickel are added to it to obtain a light shade, and the top is often plated with rhodium. It protects the jewelry and gives it a white shine.

Harsh methods are not suitable for such products, but the following will be useful:

1. Ammonia + hydrogen peroxide . Mix both liquids in a container in a ratio of 1:2. Place the gold in the resulting solution for half an hour, and then rinse in running water and wipe dry with a towel.
2. Sugar . Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar in a glass of water. Soak the jewelry in the sweet solution for 10–12 hours: this will restore their former shine.

Preparing for cleaning

Most often, it is the earrings that are inlaid with stones. This imposes certain restrictions on the choice of cleaning methods. Therefore, before you start fighting blackness, you need to prepare the accessory.

• Examine the earrings from all sides. Pay attention to the clasp, the stone and its fastening, and the surface of the metal. If there is any damage to the fastenings, contact a jeweler.
• Assess the level of pollution. It often happens that grease, dust and dirt have accumulated in the decorative elements of earrings. And to restore their former shine, just leave the earrings in a soap solution for 15-20 minutes.
• Prepare the necessary funds. After choosing a cleaning method, prepare a soaking container, a soft, lint-free cloth (a flannel or microfiber cloth will do), and your metal cleaning products.

Only after you have examined the jewelry and chosen the most suitable method, you can get down to business.

What is prohibited in cleaning gold?

Like any other polished surface, gold is resistant to abrasives, strong acids, alkalis, processing with hard brushes or other rough materials. The formation of scratches, uncharacteristic darkening and color changes on the surface spoil the aesthetic appearance of the product and make it unpresentable.

When planning to clean gold jewelry, choose the cleaning method wisely, based on the degree of contamination and the foreign materials used in the gold item.

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Effective quick cleaning products

There will be no hard-to-find or expensive products here. Most likely, you already have all the most effective remedies at home.

Soap solution

A simple, popular and fairly gentle method. Dilute a soap solution in a container using liquid soap or shampoo. And soak the silver earrings in it for 20-30 minutes. Well, then walk over the surface with a soft cloth, remove any remaining grease and dirt, and finally wipe with a dry cloth to avoid soap stains.

Baking soda

This option is more “tough”. Although baking soda is excellent at removing blackness, you need to be careful with it. Rubbing silver even with a mixture of baking soda and water can leave micro-scratches on the surface of the jewelry. If you are afraid of damaging your earrings, make a solution from soda.

• Dissolve one tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Then place a piece of foil and silver earrings at the bottom of the glass. Leave for 15-20 minutes.

Ammonia

An inexpensive and effective product for removing black from silver earrings. We do this: leave the earrings in an ammonia solution (1 tablespoon of ammonia per 1 liter of water) for 20 minutes. Then rinse in water and polish until shiny.

But be careful: you cannot clean silver with a large amount of impurities of other metals, with pearl inserts and precious stones with ammonia.

Toothpaste

Whitens and restores shine to your favorite earrings. For cleaning, it is better to use toothpaste without granules and a soft toothbrush. Apply a little toothpaste to the brush and gently brush over the surface of the earrings. This method will help clean hard-to-reach places and recesses.

Raw potatoes

A non-standard way, but it works. Grate raw potatoes on a fine grater and mix the resulting mass with warm water. It should be a thick paste. Place silver earrings, rings, chains there and leave for about 20 minutes. Then let the jewelry dry on its own and only then go over it with a cloth for shine.

Vinegar

This method will take more time than others. Soak the silver and black in the vinegar solution and leave for an hour. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly under the tap and polish until shiny. Vinegar is not suitable for cleaning silver items with stones.

Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide itself is not used, but is used in tandem with ammonia. Mix peroxide and ammonia in 1:1 proportions and add the same amount of water. Leave the accessories for 10-20 minutes. If the blackness remains, try boiling for 10 minutes in this solution.

Ash

Another unusual way. Oddly enough, ash has cleaning properties and effectively removes dark deposits on silver. Try mixing ashes and lemon juice and leaving your silver items in the mixture.

You can also add ashes to boiling water and put silver earrings in there for 10 minutes.

Coca Cola

Cola not only works well against rust, but also perfectly removes blackness from silver. Pour Coca-Cola into a container and place the earrings there, boil for 5 minutes. Then rinse and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Pomade

Regular lipstick is often used as a means to clean silver earrings with stones. Apply lipstick over the entire surface of the jewelry in a thick layer, wipe gently, and then rinse.

Pomade is a gentle way to remove blackness and is suitable for both simple silver and jewelry with inserts and stones. But cleaning methods for earrings with stones is not limited to lipstick alone.

General recommendations

In order to quickly clean gold earrings with stones at home, follow the basic rules and recommendations:

• do not use aggressive chemicals for cleaning to avoid clouding the crystal and darkening the metal;
• do not use hard brushes, rough sponges or products with abrasive particles, otherwise you will get scratches that spoil the aesthetic appearance of rings, earrings and chains;
• if possible, use special compounds that are designed for cleaning gold items;
• You should not clean items made of white or yellow gold with laundry soap, as it leads to darkening and clouding of the metal;
• When choosing a cleaning product, consider the nature of the stone and its density.

Do not use the boiling or soaking method for products with glued stones. The glue will become soggy in water and the decorative element will be easy to lose.

How to clean earrings with stones

Silver becomes covered with a black coating, and stones become cloudy over time. To restore your jewelry to its former shine, you need to choose the appropriate cleaning method. As a rule, means for removing blackness from silver are selected based on what kind of stone is inlaid into the product.

With topaz

Earrings with topaz can be cleaned with ammonia. Add 4-5 drops of ammonia to 1 liter of water and immerse the earrings in the solution for 30 minutes. Afterwards, wipe them well. Remember that topaz is a fragile stone and cannot be cleaned with abrasive agents (for example, soda, salt, etc.).

With amber

A gentle organic stone that also does not tolerate abrasive substances and harsh cleaning methods. And in this case, even a mild soap solution will not help. Modern soap contains chemical compounds that amber simply cannot tolerate. When interacting with them, the stone can quickly become covered with a whitish film and it will be impossible to remove.

Therefore, in order not to damage the stone and at the same time effectively remove blackness from silver, use ammonia. Add 10 drops of ammonia to a glass of water, leave the earrings with amber in the solution for 8 minutes and you’re done.

With turquoise

A beautiful sky-blue mineral that is “afraid” of chemicals. Even dishwashing detergent can be “dangerous” for such a fragile stone. Ideally, it is recommended to wipe the stone with a simple damp cloth. Then wipe thoroughly dry. Turquoise does not tolerate moisture, so do not leave objects with turquoise in water. Silver earrings with turquoise can be polished with a special polish for silver, avoiding contact with the stone, and the turquoise can be wiped with a damp cloth.

With cubic zirconia

An elegant semi-precious stone, similar to a diamond, ceases to shine over time. To restore it to its former shine, you can use a soap solution. Remember, cubic zirconias “do not like” products containing ammonia and chlorine. Also, remove earrings with cubic zirconia during cosmetic procedures. And don't forget to clean it every 1-2 months.

With pearls

Precious stone and precious metal combine to create an elegant, timeless piece of jewelry. But even such elegant things as silver earrings with pearls require care and cleaning. Let us remember right away: pearls do not tolerate abrasive substances, and immediately turn yellow from alcohol products. Therefore, we choose only gentle cleaning methods. For example, soap solution. Leave the earrings for 10-15 minutes, and then wipe well with a soft cloth.

With amethyst

Amethyst also does not tolerate cleaning with abrasive substances and does not tolerate hot temperatures. A safe way to clean amethyst earrings is with the same soap solution. Don't forget to dry your jewelry afterwards.

Rules for cleaning silver jewelry at home

Cleaning silver jewelry is more difficult than cutlery and other items. This is due to a more intricate shape and the presence of inserts made of precious and semi-precious stones. In this case, it is necessary to select a cleaning method using available means based on the properties and structure of the stone.

With organic nature inserts

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds

Stones with an organic nature have a porous structure. In this regard, they cannot be treated with caustic agents: solutions based on alcohol and strong chemicals with alkalis.

For amber

To clean silver jewelry with amber, you must first soak it in warm water. In case of severe contamination, add soap to the liquid. After cleaning your favorite earrings, treat their surface with a soft cloth, rinse with warm water and dry.

For coral

Coral is a fragile stone. To clean a pendant or a ring with it, you should act carefully. In simple cases, it is enough to wipe it with a velvet cloth. If the metal part is heavily soiled, it is necessary to first insulate the insert so as not to damage the coral.

For ivory

As with amber, ivory is not recommended to be washed with alkalis and acids. Its soft structure is easily destroyed under the influence of caustic substances. To clean, the item must be immersed in warm water for a while and then dried with a towel.

For pearls

Among organic stones, pearls are the most unpretentious. However, most often a paste based on corn starch and water (ratio 1:2) is used to clean it. Apply the finished mixture to the stone with a soft brush.

With minerals

Minerals, as well as organic inserts, are cleaned according to the characteristics of each stone.

Silver with cubic zirconia

Cubic zirconia does not have high value, but, like other stones, it requires careful handling. Silver jewelry with cubic zirconia is cleaned with a solution of water and salt. To do this, they are placed in a cotton bag and covered with salt. After this, the bag is lowered into a container with warm water. The procedure continues until all the salt has dissolved. It is not recommended to shake the contents of the bag so as not to damage the stones.

Silver with pearls

Heavily contaminated pearls are cleaned in 3 stages:

• the decoration is soaked in warm water;
• the surface is polished with bran soaked in hydrochloric acid;
• The cleaned product is rinsed with clean water and wiped clean.

In simpler cases, it is enough to treat the mineral with potato starch. The use of vinegar is unacceptable: cleaning the ring in this way can irreparably damage the stone.

For turquoise, opal, malachite, moonstone

Moonstone, malachite, opal and turquoise have the same density, and therefore the same cleaning method works for them. For this you will need a solution based on laundry soap and a soft toothbrush. The surface of the stone is thoroughly rubbed with it until dirty spots are removed. You can make the job easier by first soaking the jewelry in warm water for 30 minutes.

For emerald, sapphire, aquamarine

The density of sapphires, emeralds and aquamarines is considered the highest among precious stones. Therefore, to clean them, you can use the previous method, replacing laundry soap with washing powder or shampoo.

For ruby, garnet, topaz

Garnets, topazes and rubies can be washed with either a baking soda solution or other cleaning products. The main rule is not to use hot water, as this can damage the stone.

What to do if the topaz has changed color

If, during wear, the topaz in the jewelry has become dull or unattractive, the owner will definitely want to restore its attractiveness. However, this cannot always be done.

Too bright artificial stones immediately attract the eye to the counter in a jewelry store. However, such topazes have a significant drawback - they quickly fade. However, it is not possible to return the original shine.

A similar situation occurs with natural light blue topaz. Under the influence of sunlight, they fade and never return to their former brightness.

Only those who own stones of rich blue, blue, yellow, tea and pink colors can correct the situation with the expressiveness of the shade. If you notice that the insert in the jewelry has become cloudy and has lost its expressiveness, then you need to contact the workshop. By repeated irradiation, the jeweler will restore the shade of the stone.

How to clean silver earrings without stones

The difficulty of cleaning silver earrings most often lies in their ornate shape and the presence of various decorative elements. But this can be easily overcome if you choose the appropriate cleaning method. If you have silver earrings without stones, then any of the methods described above will do. The most effective and proven means for getting rid of blackness are soap solution and ammonia. But remember, it is important to observe the soaking time and proportions of products. And for prevention, it is recommended to clean silver earrings once a month.

Caring for silver items

Proper storage and use of silver jewelry is the key to its durability. It is recommended to follow the following rules:

• Clean systematically with a dry soft cloth.
• Do not keep them near household chemicals, rubber and medicines.
• Remove before showering, cleaning the house and applying cosmetics.
• Store each product in a separate case.
• If long-term storage is necessary, wrap the decoration in foil.

Today, silver jewelry has become very popular. They can be worn by women of all ages. If handled with care, they will delight the owner for a long time and wonderfully complement her image.

Cleaning earrings with organic inserts

Natural elements combined with silver look great and are suitable anytime, anywhere. But cleaning earrings with organic inserts requires a delicate approach.

Natural elements can be shells, ivory, petals sealed in resin, stones (amber, coral, mother-of-pearl), wood, etc. It is best not to wet such jewelry, or gently wipe the silver part with soapy water or use a school eraser, and the organic insert treat with a soft cloth. It is strictly forbidden to use acids, alcohol, ammonia, soda, etc., on such jewelry.

How to save your cleaning results

No matter what jewelry is made from, they all require maintenance sooner or later. However, you can increase the period without cleaning, you just need to use and store your jewelry correctly. To do this, you need to know why silver darkens and how to neutralize this process.

Causes of silver contamination:

• presence of metal in rooms with high humidity;
• contact with saline solutions, cosmetics, household gas, etc.

If you eliminate these reasons, you won’t have to clean your jewelry often. To do this, you need to follow the recommendations:

• store silver jewelry separately from gold and other jewelry;
• taking a shower, visiting a swimming pool, sauna, bathhouse, etc. remove jewelry;
• prevent the ingress of household chemicals, including their evaporation - when cleaning, remove precious items;
• do the same when playing sports.

If you follow these simple recommendations, your jewelry will always look great and delight you with its aesthetic appearance.

Types and causes of contamination of gold earrings

The main reasons for the appearance of dirt on gold earrings can be divided into groups:

• mechanical contamination;
• chemical pollution;
• improper care and storage.

Mechanical contaminants include those that appear during the daily contact of gold earrings with the owner’s skin. These are skin secretions, dust and cosmetics that settle on gold earrings.

Chemical impurities include those that appear on jewelry as a result of oxidation processes.

In its pure form, without admixtures of other metals, gold cannot be used in the manufacture of jewelry in general and earrings in particular. Because it is thanks to the addition of silver, platinum, palladium, copper and nickel that it is possible to prevent their deformation.

But the addition of other metals reduces the mass fraction of gold used to make earrings and reduces its fineness. Accordingly, the lower the standard of the product, the faster the appearance of an oxide film on gold earrings.

What methods are suitable for cleaning stones separately?

Precious stones differ not only in appearance, they have unique properties. Therefore, cleaning methods will differ for different stones. The following list includes methods for the most popular jewelry:

• Pearls, coral and amber. These stones are extremely delicate, so use only flannel chamois to polish them. This will protect your coral, amber and pearl jewelry from scratches. Also, do not use ammonia to clean them, as this will only increase the tarnish.
• Diamond, ruby, quartz, topaz, sapphire, emerald. These are hard stones, so for them you can resort to a mixture of tooth powder and ammonia solution.
• Malachite, agate, moonstone, apatite and opal are best treated with medical alcohol. Naturally, after this they need to be polished.
• There is a universal and safe remedy suitable for all types of stones - glycerin. This is especially convenient for those who do not know what stone is set in the jewelry. Use a cotton swab soaked in glycerin to wipe the stones, then polish with a soft cloth.

Jeweler's cleaning tips

Many problems with improper cleaning of gold jewelry can be avoided if you follow the advice of professionals:

• If you have ever heard somewhere that you need iodine to clean gold earrings, know that this is not true. Iodine leaves ugly stains on soft metal that cannot always be removed even by polishing. Using iodine is a very bad idea, especially for jewelry with stones;
• Do not use chlorine-containing liquids (bleaches or cleaning products). Trying to clean gold earrings with chlorine will result in whitish spots, cracks or delamination of the inlay, clouding and loss of shine. In general, the earrings will be damaged, and even a professional jeweler will not be able to restore them;
• Another terrible product that for some reason is persistently used to clean gold jewelry is potassium permanganate, or potassium permanganate. Forget that this product cleanses anything at all (except the stomach, of course). The jewelry will be disfigured with dark uneven spots, the stones will be damaged.

Remember: if you have even the slightest doubt about your abilities, it is better to take your gold earrings to a workshop, where they will be professionally cleaned and all minor defects will be eliminated (stone fastenings and clasps will be corrected). You should not engage in amateur activities. It’s better to pay once for proper cleaning than to pay for repairs.