You’ll need to know how to clean silver to restore its lustre, whether it’s silver jewellery, tableware, or your expensive coin collection. Silver will naturally tarnish or become dull over time. Knowing how to clean silver, on the other hand, can help restore its lustre without harming it.
Tarnish (when silver discolours) is a chemical reaction caused by air or moisture contact. Removing tarnish from a soft metal can be difficult, similar to learning how to clean stainless steel without hurting it. This is due to the fact that washing metal things too vigorously might remove some of the silver or harm the thin plating.
Fortunately, there are many natural DIY silver cleaning treatments that are less abrasive and hazardous than commercial polishers. The best part is that you’re likely to have these popular components on hand, saving you time and money. Learn how to clean silver to restore its lustre with these simple steps.
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How to clean silver with baking soda and water
— To begin, make a paste by combining three parts baking soda and one part water.
— Then, using a soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth, carefully rub the mixture onto the silver. Work the paste into any gaps or tricky areas, turning the cloth over as you go. Use an old toothbrush to clean tiny objects like rings.
— Finally, thoroughly rinse the silver and buff dry with a microfiber towel.
How to clean silver with aluminum foil and baking soda
— First, get a large bowl large enough to hold all of your tarnished silver. The basin should be lined with aluminium foil.
— Fill the bowl two-thirds full with boiling water and baking soda, using one tablespoon baking soda per one cup of water.
— Next, add the silver to the bowl and soak it in the solution for up to 10 minutes. The chemical reaction will be able to break down the tarnish as a result of this.
— Finally, take the silver out of the solution and dry it with a soft cloth.
How to clean silver with dish soap and water
— To begin, fill a basin halfway with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. After that, soak your tarnished silver in the bowl for around 15 minutes.
— Next, gently massage the silver with a soft cloth to clean it before fully rinsing it with clean water.
— Finally, use a soft cloth or microfiber towel to dry and buff the surface.
How to clean silver with white distilled vinegar and baking soda
— In a dish of lukewarm water, combine half a cup of white vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda, as you would with baking soda and water.
— Next, soak your silver in the basin for two to three hours to let the chemical reaction to begin.
— Once the tarnish has been removed, rinse gently with cold water before drying with a soft towel.
How to clean silver with toothpaste
— On begin, apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to a microfiber cloth or an old toothbrush.
— Then, in circular motions, rub the toothpaste onto the silver to polish and remove any tarnish.
— Leave on for about 5 minutes before thoroughly washing with warm water and patting dry.
Choose a toothpaste that is free of tartar control, whitening chemicals, and other ‘extras’ that could be too abrasive for silver and scratch it.
How to clean silver with lemon juice and bath salt
— Squeeze one lemon into a bowl, add four tablespoons of bath salts, and fill with hot water.
— After that, immerse your silver in the solution for up to 5 minutes.
— After that, remove the silver and rub it with a soft cloth to remove the tarnish before thoroughly rinsing and drying it.
How to clean silver with hand sanitizer
— To begin, apply a few drops of hand sanitizer to a soft, lint-free cloth and gently massage away the tarnish on your silver goods.
— Finally, rinse with warm water and dry with a clean cloth.
While alcohol-based sanitizers are effective in removing tarnish from silver, they should not be used on jewellery with embedded mineral stones. The abrasive elements may cause stone damage, which could be pricey.
How often should I clean silver?
In general, this is determined by how badly tarnished your silver becomes. However, polishing silver 2-6 times a year is suggested to keep it in perfect condition. You might always invest in a reputable silver polisher in addition to DIY cleaning solutions.