How to Clean Silver Earrings with Cubic Zirconia at Home Quickly and Effectively • Soap solution

What do you need to know before cleaning your silver?

Before we tell you how to clean silver jewelry, you need to understand the main causes of tarnishing. This information will allow you to take better care of your favorite jewelry, maintaining its appearance for a long time. Every owner of silver jewelry has noticed that dark spots can form at different rates: some chains darken very quickly, while others, on the contrary, may not notice such a problem for several years.

There is a popular belief that jewelry darkens when a person has health problems. For example, it is believed that darkening of silver may be associated with serious liver or stomach problems. But professional doctors do not advise listening to such “advice,” and professional jewelers explain the darkening by other reasons.

The main reason for darkening is a poor metal sample. So, if copper was used to make silver, such jewelry will darken very quickly, because it is copper that oxidizes very quickly as a result of contact with human sweat. Another reason is cosmetic creams and other products that all women use. In their composition one can often find sulfur - a substance that, when reacting with silver, causes the darkening of the metal.

To ensure effective cleaning of silver items and jewelry, remember that moisture can cause tarnishing. If you store jewelry in a damp room, it will constantly darken, losing all its attractiveness. You will be cleaning such jewelry for an infinitely long time. The best way out of this situation is to find a dry place to store your silver jewelry.

Good to know

Have you decided to clean your silver chain, but don’t know what products you can use to avoid damaging the delicate metal? Our article will tell you about the most effective folk methods.

Not only silver, but also cupronickel, from which jewelry and costume jewelry are made, can suffer from darkening. To clean cupronickel silverware, including spoons and other cutlery, check out this article.

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.

Our ancestors also determined the “curse” itself by an object that suddenly changed color:

In fact, the blackening of a precious metal can always be explained from a scientific point of view.

Cleaning surface contaminants

To clean the product from dirt, soot or grease, you can use a soap solution. To 1 liter of water add 3 tbsp. l of grated soap, then wipe the metal with a dampened cloth. This method will not cope with stubborn stains. It is a preparatory stage for chemical treatment.

Advice from Chistyuli. To clean silver, use any soap except laundry soap.

How to clean silver at home if the product is quite fragile or has a complex structure? It’s better not to experiment, but to immediately contact a jewelry salon for the help of a specialist.

But here is a controversial method of cleaning silver, which caused a storm of indignation, because the author of the video “ruined” the gilding! Friends, look at how NOT to clean silver, and be careful with your items:

How to clean silver jewelry - recommendations from jewelers

Earrings and rings with inserts made from these materials can be cleaned with slightly alkaline solutions. To do this proceed as follows:

Expert opinion

Ekaterina Korneva, expert in the field of care, cleanliness and beauty

I will help you understand all the intricacies.

The difficulty of cleaning silver with stones lies in the fact that the classical methods of care applied to the metal are often not suitable for the inserts that decorate it. Rapid darkening of silver can be associated with profuse sweating of a person, which in some cases indicates disturbances in the functioning of the heart and endocrine system. How to clean silver earrings at home to make them shine: effective ways and methods For any questions, please contact me, I will be happy to answer!

How to clean gold and silver with cubic zirconia at home

• tweezers;
• cotton rags;
• polishing cloth (flannel, suede);
• toothbrush with soft bristles;
• toothpicks, cotton swabs;
• eraser;
• soda, salt, chalk, ash, tooth powder or paste;
• ammonia;
• shampoo or soap;
• lemon acid;
• vodka or cognac.

Products with stones of mineral origin can be cleaned by placing them in cold water with a potato cut into several pieces. Leave for a while, remove, rinse and wipe with a dry cloth.

Basic rules for caring for jewelry

• Avoid unnecessary contact with household chemicals and sharp objects. Be sure to remove your rings and earrings before any cosmetic procedures.
• Protect accessories from contamination. Experts advise that after wearing, put them first in a special container with compressed air, and then in the box - this will help get rid of dust, which invariably leads to damage to your favorite jewelry. You should also wipe them regularly with a soft cloth.
• Monitor the temperature. Jewelry products supplemented with cubic zirconia feel best in a cool and dry place. Sudden changes in temperature can have devastating effects. In particular, the glue that holds the minerals in place may deteriorate. The result is deplorable: the stones come off and are lost. Therefore, try to store new clothes away from heating appliances, direct rays, and windows.
• Each ring has its own place! The ideal option would be to provide each model with its own box, special bag or box. But keep in mind that some types of wood with their fumes are dangerous for jewelry and can cause irreparable harm to them. If you put all the jewelry together, they can intertwine, scratch each other, and ruin the metal and gems. Or even darken by entering into a chemical reaction with each other.

This is a question many women ask. For example, you inherited gold, it was given to you by your mother-in-law or a distant relative. How to clean gold from foreign energy? There are several ways.

1. Hold the items under the tap. Imagine how running water washes away all the bad things.
2. Keep it in salt water, salt generally removes all negativity.
3. Cleansing with a candle will help get rid of negativity. Place the ring on the table and light a candle. Use a burning candle to draw circles around the item being cleaned counterclockwise. Apply as many times as necessary until you feel complete cleansing. Then cross the thing with a burning candle. This way you will establish protection from future bad energy.

See also on the blog: How to protect yourself from negative energy

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How to clean silver with stones at home: what to clean with

• To remove minimal contamination, use a soap solution. To do this, warm water is mixed with soap shavings or shampoo. The decoration is placed in the liquid for 2 hours. Then the dirt should be cleaned with a soft bristle brush and polished with velvet.
• To remove stubborn stains, ammonia is used. A clean rag is dipped in ammonia and the metal is wiped, and then the product is rinsed with soapy water and polished.
• Mix crushed chalk, Vaseline, soap shavings in a 1:1 ratio to obtain a homogeneous mass. Apply the product to dirty areas with a napkin and wipe. Rinse the product with water and dry.
• Add 2 tbsp to 100 ml of boiled cooled water. spoons of salt, stir. Immerse gold items in a salt bath for 12 hours, then rinse under the tap and wipe.
• Mix 25 g of white clothes powder and 200 ml of water. Place the jewelry in the liquid, after 60 minutes, rinse and wipe with a flannel napkin.
• To clean white gold, use a solution consisting of ammonia and water (1:1 ratio). It is recommended to add 2-3 drops of shampoo to the liquid. The jewelry is dipped into the liquid, after half an hour, rinsed with water, and wiped.

In order not to spoil the gem, before cleaning the jewelry, find out about its density, since both the means and the method of cleansing depend on the stone. Then follow these recommendations to clean silver with stones at home:

Precautionary measures

When working with ammonia, given its characteristics as an excellent solvent and the presence of a pungent odor, we must not forget about precautions: the skin of the hands should in no case come into contact with the solution, since ammonia, being a solvent, can corrode the skin.

If the mixture accidentally ends up on it or on mucous membranes, you should immediately rinse the affected area with plenty of water, and then consult a doctor. Therefore, when cleaning the product, you must remember to wear rubber gloves; to remove the soaked product from the dish, you can use tweezers.

If it is necessary to clean tableware from blackness, it is advisable to replace ammonia with an alternative agent. If the product is poorly washed, the remains of ammonia may end up in the body and cause poisoning or burns.

One of the disadvantages of this method is the pungent odor, which is so dangerous that if you do not take precautions, inhaling the vapors can cause poisoning. Therefore, bending your head over an open bottle of ammonia, as well as breathing in vapors, is strictly not recommended. Fortunately, the unpleasant odor dissipates very quickly, so in order for the unpleasant odor to disappear as quickly as possible, cleaning should be carried out in a well-ventilated area.

Types of silver contamination

There may be contamination of a different nature from other substances. Dirt of any kind causes destruction of the metal structure.

Over time, jewelry loses its appearance and unique play of shades.

The stones become cloudy and require delicate cleansing.

With topaz

If the stones become dull and pale, you will need an ammonia solution:

With turquoise

Turquoise complements silver items well, but will require cleaning over time. To treat stone, mix dishwashing detergent, plain water, and choose a soft toothbrush. Wipe the surface with a cloth.

Dry in a place inaccessible to sunlight. It is not recommended to soak turquoise items for a long time, as it may lose color.

With amber

The stone of organic origin has amazing properties and maintains warmth when touched.

If the stains are weak, amber and silver are washed with soap. This removes any dust from the curls. Then the jewelry is placed in a container, where 2-3 pieces of ice are added (after which the amber becomes brighter).

The item can be left in the solution for several hours, then wiped with a paper or felt napkin. This method can smooth out unevenness.

With cubic zirconia

A synthetic semi-precious mineral that resembles a diamond, loses its shine over time. When it becomes less transparent and loses its shine, it is necessary to restore its attractiveness.

For minimal contamination, you can use a soap solution. When darkening, place the cubic zirconia in a bowl with a bottom covered with foil, sprinkle with baking soda, then cover with a second layer of foil and pour hot water for 10 minutes. After rinsing, wipe dry.

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With pearls

There are several ways to make silver shine and preserve the stone.

The second method involves using fine salt, a piece of thin natural fabric:

With amethyst

A variety of quartz captivates with its radiance. The stone combines well with silver, but fades over time. For easy cleaning, use a soap or shampoo solution in which the item is soaked for half an hour.

To remove dirt and grease, use a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching the surface.

How to clean silver at home: 17 best ways

To avoid damaging your earrings, follow the recommendations for processing silver jewelry:

Expert opinion

Ekaterina Korneva, expert in the field of care, cleanliness and beauty

I will help you understand all the intricacies.

The difference lies in the duration of soaking; in this case, the time is no more than 5 minutes. Therefore, the fabrics and brushes that you use to clean gold must be soft. Soap solution If you have any questions, please contact me, I will be happy to answer!

For what reasons do cubic zirconias fade?

Cubic zirconias lose their shine for the following reasons:

• Improper storage. Stones can get scratched on a hard surface or on each other. A damaged product reflects light less well than a smooth and polished product, and therefore does not appear as bright. Also, semi-precious stones fade if exposed to light for a long time.
• The stone is covered with a layer of skin secretion. The sebaceous glands constantly secrete fat, which mixes with dead scales. When it comes into contact with your skin—for example, when you put on or touch a piece—the secretions transfer to the stone and dull it.
• Chlorine, ammonia, formaldehyde, acetone, denatured alcohol and arsenic corrode cubic zirconia, causing it to take on a different shape and lose its ability to refract light. Abrasives are not as dangerous, but they can scratch the surface of the stone.
• Cosmetics also change the appearance of products. Decorative cosmetics, like sebum, stain products upon direct contact, and aggressive care products, like chemicals, destroy crystals.
• Due to sudden changes in temperature, the stones may crack.

How to properly dry and store pearls

1. To clean the grease, a soap solution is prepared using shampoo, dishwashing detergent, and laundry soap as a base. The product is soaked in it.
2. To remove dirt: wipe the jewelry with a soft cloth. Stains are removed with a toothbrush and carefully processed in the area of ​​decorative inserts so as not to damage them.
3. Removing plaque: rinse the item with warm water and wipe dry. Only after drying should you proceed with the main procedure, since remaining liquid can damage the surface.

Pearls should be stored in a dry and dark place. A suitable option would be a separate box with a soft interior. Pearls are wrapped in velor or suede fabric or a bag. It is advisable to store products separately from metal and other stones.

How to save the result

It's not enough to clean the ring. It is important to carry out proper and timely care related to storage and operation.

To preserve the original shine and appearance of silver rings after cleaning, you should:

• store accessories separately from jewelry made from other alloys, as the metal oxidizes;
• remove products during cooking, cleaning or protect them with gloves;
• avoid contact with excess moisture, and even more so with perfumes and decorative products during water and cosmetic procedures;
• Clean regularly using an eraser or a dry soft cloth.

By observing the nuances of cleaning and further storage and operation, you can minimize the natural process of metal oxidation. This will reduce the need for frequent painstaking cleansing activities.

How to clean silver with stones at home?

In order not to spoil the gem, before cleaning the jewelry, find out about its density, since both the means and the method of cleansing depend on the stone. Then follow these recommendations to clean silver with stones at home:

1. The highest densities are found in sapphires, emeralds, and aquamarines (diamonds are not usually used for finishing silver). You can clean jewelry with these stones using washing powder (shampoo) and a soft toothbrush. Apply soapy water to the brush and clean the product. If you put the jewelry in warm water for half an hour, the cleaning process will go faster.
2. Opal, malachite, turquoise, moonstone have a density coefficient of less than 5 units, so they can be cleaned in the same way, only you need to replace the powder with laundry soap.

Important! Ruby, topaz, and bright garnet do not tolerate high temperatures, so they cannot be cleaned using hot water.

Here are a few tips that you can use to clean silver earrings with stones at home:

• To clean any gems, use the safest product - glycerin. Soak a cotton swab in the product and thoroughly wipe the frame and stone. Polish with a soft cloth. If there is no glycerin, then use rubbing alcohol or cologne. Use this method if you do not know the type of stone.
• Pearls, amber, mother-of-pearl, and ivory have a very soft porous texture. Therefore, no alkaline or acidic solutions should be used when washing. You cannot clean them with ammonia. Soak these stones in warm water, wipe with flannel or suede, or better yet, let the stone dry on its own. We recommend polishing only the metal part of the jewelry to a shine.
• Clean heavily soiled pearls and turquoise with cornstarch. Pour a pinch of starch onto the fabric and rub the pebble. After treatment, rinse with warm (not hot) water and dry with a cloth.
• Clean malachite, apatite, agate, opal with a cotton swab and alcohol. After processing, polish the stone with a soft cloth.

If you have antique silver items, or inherited jewelry, and it looks very dark, it may not be dirt, but the result of special processing. Be sure to follow the link and you will know how to clean blackened silver from blackening.

How to refresh jewelry: useful tips

There is no need to worry about the product darkening or turning yellow. Only the top layer of the ring is affected - dirt does not penetrate into the structure. Therefore, the situation can be dealt with quickly and effectively using both professional means and folk methods.

It doesn't matter which method you choose to clean tarnished silver. The main thing is to know these recommendations:

• 
  pre-wash the product with shampoo or liquid soap to get rid of dirt and grease (this should not be done under running water so that the ring does not fall into the drain, it is better to use a small bowl);

• a soft cloth is placed on the bottom of the dish - this prevents scratches on the metal;
• To make it easier to remove dirt from the recesses of the patterned ring, use a soft brush when washing the product;
• When cleaning, you should not make any effort; all actions should be moderate.

Regardless of whether the silver has darkened or not, the ring is cleaned once every 1.5-2 months, without using abrasives with hard particles.

Cleaning methods

1. Ammonia. Dilute 1 teaspoon of the product in a glass of water, soak the product for half an hour. Rinse jewelry with running water and dry.
2. Lemon acid. Prepare a solution: 100 g of citric acid per 0.7 liters of water. Place the container with the prepared solution in a water bath. Place the products in the solution, boil for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse and dry.
3. Medical alcohol. Soak the earrings or ring in alcohol for half an hour. Then rinse and polish.
4. Potato. Soak the decorations in a mixture of grated potatoes and water for a few minutes. You can also use a decoction of potato peels. After cleaning the product, polish it with a woolen cloth until it shines.
5. Soda. First, clean the silver from grease by holding it in a soap solution. Then clean the products using a solution or soda slurry. Add a few drops of water to the soda until a paste forms, and then use your fingers and the paste to clean off the blackening. Wipe your jewelry carefully to avoid leaving scratches on the item.

Earrings require delicate handling, as they are often equipped with stones. Therefore, when choosing a cleaning method, you need to take into account the material of the inserts.

Quick Cleaning Methods

If silver jewelry needs to be put in order in a matter of minutes, you can use some means in accelerated technology.

Table 1

You can quickly eliminate blackness by boiling a ring of garlic peels or eggshells. In 5 minutes the product will be as good as new.

How to properly store silver jewelry with stones

To prevent silver items from collecting dust, it is best to store them in a separate box. Do not pile all the jewelry in one place to avoid confusion and scratches.

The second rule is that to prevent jewelry from turning black, it must be stored in a ventilated area.

It is contraindicated to keep silver items in smoky or smoky rooms, as well as in places with high humidity. This contributes to the rapid formation of plaque on jewelry.

Why does silver darken?

Unlike gold, silver turns black faster: if it is enough to clean gold once a year or even less often, in order for silver items to be shiny and sparkling, they must be cleaned of plaque at least once every two months (the less often this is done, the thicker the plaque will be and darker color).

The lower the quality of the silver, the more effort is required to clean it, so when purchasing, it is advisable to give preference to 925 sterling silver (the purest silver is 999 sterling silver, but it is not used in manufacturing because it is very fragile and brittle).

The main reason that affects the darkening of silver and gold is the presence of various impurities in the metal, primarily copper, which oxidize when interacting with other substances, which manifests itself in the form of a black coating. For example, if we talk about silver jewelry, then when worn, copper reacts with sulfur, which is part of sweat, as a result of which silver sulfide appears in the form of black crystals on the surface of the silver.

Silver jewelry also often darkens in people who have problems with stomach acidity. For this reason, jewelry with a smooth surface is most often darkened, since it comes into close contact with the skin, providing maximum contact.

How to clean silver with stones at home?

• Ready-made specialized products that are sold in jewelry stores.
• Home remedies. Soap solution, ammonia, chalk, and alcohol are used as auxiliary substances.
• Using mechanical cleaning for heavy soiling. Typically, medium-hard abrasives are used, which simultaneously polish the metal.

Competing with gold for the hearts and wallets of buyers, silver wins in terms of value, but also requires proper care. Otherwise, beware - from a bright accent of your image it will turn into a dark spot.

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Reasons for the appearance of black plaque on silver and jewelry

The main reason for the darkening of silver items is contact with sulfur. In this case, a chemical reaction occurs to form silver sulfide. It can be compared to rust on iron. Since we are dealing with a noble metal, it is not so easy to damage it. The black film does not harm the ring and can be washed at home.

Contact directly with sulfur is very rare. In everyday situations, darkening often occurs from contact with cosmetics, contact with water, and sweating on the human body. In order to avoid such consequences, all experts give advice: remove silver if you plan to wash or swim.

How quickly to wait for darkening depends on care and testing. In this case, the lower the sample (the alloy contains a greater amount of copper), the sooner blackening will occur. Fortunately, the ring is almost always 925.