Cleaning hacks
Polish silver shiny easily with our tips
Polish your silver easily so it is shiny clean, we tell you about our very best tips for you to succeed as well as possible!
Polish silver shiny easily
Silver sulphide is the name of the black discoloration that your silver cutlery or silver jewelery gets when they have been unused for a while. It is due to a chemical compound that is created when the silver comes in contact with oxygen and hydrogen sulfide that are in the air or in protein-rich foods. The discoloration is therefore not due to dirt due to the fact that you use your silver objects. Instead, it is because you do not use your silver that it gets dark and loses its luster. When the cutlery or jewelery is used, some of the silver sulphide is worn away.
Clean silver
However, as it is easy to polish silver, it is easy to reproduce its luster. You just need to get a routine in cleaning your silver from time to time. So therefore you have to find time to take care of your silver yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Take a look at our website to see how we can help you get a cleaner home.
Clean silver jewelry
If you have silver jewelry that has a matte luster, there are different ways to fix it. Which way you choose, however, depends on what your jewelry looks like. If your jewelry, in addition to silver, also has precious stones or other stones, as well as parts made of any other metal, you can not use a method that involves dipping the entire jewelry in a solution. This is because it can lead to damage to the parts that are not made of silver. Instead, you can then polish the silver parts with the help of a small brush or cloth on which you have applied a polish.
Clean silver chain
If the silver chain is completely in silver without any details in another material, you can use a method that involves dipping the entire chain in a solution that removes the silver sulphide. However, if it is an old or detailed chain, it may be a good idea to consult a silversmith before starting treatment. Then you do not risk exposing your silver chain to anything that could damage it.
Clean silver cutlery
In the same way as with silver jewelry, it is important to check that your cutlery does not have details in other metals or included stones. If the cutlery consists only of silver, use the method you find easiest.
Once you have polished your silver cutlery to a fine luster, you can store them wrapped in tissue paper. Then they do not turn black as fast. That way, you may not have to polish them before every fancy dinner you have to offer.
Clean silver
There are three different methods you can choose from to clean your silver.
- Acid
- Chemical reaction
- Abrasives
Which method you choose depends partly on what your silver objects look like, and partly on what products you have at home. The most environmentally friendly method is to use some weak acid in the form of vinegar.
Putsa silver med ättika
As with many other deposits on home products, you can also remove silver sulfide using acid. In the kitchen there are a variety of acids you can use. However, you must be careful with the concentration so that the silver is not damaged. Therefore, foods that contain vinegar, such as ketchup for example, are excellent for polishing silver. As tomato is also an acidic vegetable, it enhances the effect.
When cleaning with ketchup, you can polish each piece of jewelry or cutlery separately. It is recommended if other metals or stones are included. Then do the following:
- Click ketchup on a cloth or small brush, such as a toothbrush
- Apply the ketchup to the silver object
- Let it work for a quarter of an hour
- Trim until the luster comes back
- Rinse with water and wipe with a cloth
If your jewelery or cutlery consists of silver only, you can also use the following method:
- Place the silver in a bowl
- Pour over ketchup
Thighs work for a quarter 4. Transfer the silver to a bowl of warm water 5. Brush with a brush 6. Rinse and wipe with a cloth
Clean silver with bicarbonate and aluminum
Another method of regaining lust is to polish silver with bicarbonate. Then the silver sulphide disappears by a chemical reaction. To polish silver with bicarbonate, you also need aluminum. Namely, it is these two substances in combination that create the chemical reaction. If you do not have bicarbonate at home, it is just as easy to polish silver with baking powder, because it is almost the same thing.
The chemical reaction takes place in such a way that the basic bicarbonate causes the aluminum but not the silver to oxidize. This is because aluminum is a base metal. Thus, the aluminum will oxidize to aluminum ions while emitting electrons to the silver ions in the silver sulfide. In this way, the silver regains its luster while the aluminum becomes discolored.
To use this method, do the following:
- Place aluminum foil in the bottom of a glass mold or aluminum saucepan
- Sprinkle with a little baking powder or bicarbonate
- Place the silver on top of the foil and sprinkle with additional bicarbonate or baking powder
- Pour boiling water over the silver
- Let stand until it has cooled
- Take up the silver and rinse with water
- Wipe and clean with a cloth
When you pour boiling water over the bicarbonate, it can bubble and rust. This is because the bicarbonate gives off carbon dioxide. Therefore, it is good to protect the eyes. In addition, this method may smell bad because hydrogen sulfide is formed during the process. It can also irritate the respiratory tract. Therefore, make sure that you perform the work where the ventilation is good.
Note that if your silver items are made of precious stones, stones or other metals, do not use this method as they can be damaged during the chemical process.
Polish silver with toothpaste
The third way to clean your silver is with the help of abrasives. In well-stocked grocery stores you will find silver plaster, but it is just as easy to use regular toothpaste. This is because the toothpaste contains small plastic grains that grind the enamel so that you get shiny teeth. Therefore, toothpaste works just as well as silver plaster when you want the silver to sparkle. Do this:
- Click toothpaste or silver plaster on a cloth
- Clean each item until you are satisfied
Rub in the same direction in a straight motion to avoid scratches 4. If necessary, change the cloth so as not to rub in old silver sulphide 5. Rinse with warm water 6. Wipe and polish with a cloth
If they are very old or fragile silver objects, you should avoid this method as they can cause scratches. Then use one of the other methods or consult a silversmith.
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