In this article, we will discuss the best way to clean silver jewelry. When clothing is not enough to remove tarnish from silver jewelry then you can make your own economically silver cleaner using household ingredients from your kitchen. You should keep in mind that silver cleaners are not for all types of silver jewelry. For the jewelry with clear gemstones (e.g. blue topaz, garnet, amethyst), you need to take special care when using a silver cleaner. After using any cleaner, you should thoroughly rinse your silver with running water or a clean, damp cloth.
Top Methods to Clean Silver Jewelry:
1.) Soap and Water to Clean Silver Jewelry
Warm water and a mild dishwashing (free ammonia and phosphate free) soap can be really effective in removing tarnish from silver items and jewelry. This method should be your first preference if the polishing cloth fails to remove tarnish. This is a kind of preliminary method to remove tarnish and you should use this method followed by any other.
2.) Baking Soda and Water to Clean Silver Jewelry
Baking soda is a brilliant cleaning agent nowadays due to unavailability of non-whitening, non-gel toothpaste which used as commercial silver cleaners. However, you can make a paste of baking soda and water that can work to the same extent like non-gel toothpaste. After making the paste you need to use a clean cloth to apply a pea-sized amount to the silver and then polish. Now, place the silver piece under running warm water, and dry with a clean cloth.
3.) Olive Oil and Lemon Juice to Clean Silver Jewelry
The natural properties of olive oil and lemon juice can help you clean silver jewelry fast. You need to mix half cup lemon juice with one tsp. olive oil in a bowl. The bowl should be large enough to hold the cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth. Now, dip the cloth in the solution and squeeze out so that it doesn’t drip. After that simply polish the silver, rinse, and dry.
4.) White Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean Silver Jewelry
White vinegar and baking soda act as a gentle cleaner for items made of silver. This method is capable of removing even heavy tarnish. You need to soak the tarnished piece in a solution of half cup white vinegar and two tbsp. baking soda for three hours, then rinse and dry.
5.) Aluminum Foil to Clean Silver Jewelry
This method involves a simple chemical reaction to clean your silver. You just need few items for this magical cleaning method, baking soda, salt, and aluminum foil. Line a glass roasting pan with aluminum foil, dull side facing down. Now, place the silver pieces on top of the foil. Then, simply pour boiling water over the silver jewelry until they are covered and add two tbsp. each of baking soda and salt.
Now, uniformly stir the solution to allow the salt and baking soda to dissolve. Make sure that, you don’t want any granules scratching the metal. Aluminum is more reactive than silver and by doing this you will make the tarnish to transfer to the foil in about ten minutes. Your eye won’t believe as you’ll see the tarnish “magically” disappear from the silver jewelry. Using salad tongs (not rubber gloves, which contain sulfur), carefully remove the jewelry from the hot water. Now, rinse the jewelry with normal water then dry and buff with a soft cloth. This is one of the most effective methods to clean silver items as it involves chemical reaction.
