If your silver jewellery is looking a little dull, it’s easy to make them sparkle again. There are a few different ways to do this, some of which call for supplies you might already have in your home.
To start, check if your jewellery is sterling silver or silver-plated. This will let you know if the cleaning method is suitable for your piece.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a household staple with a plethora of uses. It can neutralize foul odors, lift stains, scrub grimy areas, and much more. It’s also inexpensive and readily available. And, as a bonus, it has a number of health benefits including alleviating heartburn, boosting exercise performance, and even helping you lose weight.
But did you know that this versatile ingredient can clean your silver jewellery? Baking soda can help you remove tarnish and restore your beautiful silver pieces.
Simply rub a thin layer of baking soda onto the surface of your silver jewellery and rinse. If your jewellery is really tarnished, you can create a dip or bath with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Alternatively, you can use toothpaste to clean your jewellery. Just make sure it’s not a whitening toothpaste and that you use a soft cloth. You can also try using a homemade cleaner like vinegar and salt or a commercial silver cleaning solution such as QuickShine Jewellery Dip.
Lemon Juice
Silver jewellery and fine metal tableware don’t get used every day, but if you do use them regularly they will need to be cleaned once or twice a year. This is easy to do with lemon juice.
The citric acid in lemons acts as a natural chelating agent that breaks through and dissolves mineral deposits such as rust, hard water stains and calcium deposits. This is why it is found in many commercially produced jewellery cleaners.
Mix lemon juice and olive oil to make a gentle, non-toxic jewellery cleaner that will leave your precious pieces clean and shiny. Dip a soft cloth in this solution and rub gently over your items until they shine. Rinse and dry. This method is particularly good for removing light tarnish. It won’t remove heavy oxidation, however, so don’t submerge items that contain fake stones or have elaborate settings.
Olive Oil
Although it may seem like a food item, olive oil is also one of the best natural jewellery cleaners. It is a natural degreaser that can help remove grease, which makes it easy to clean your silver. It can even remove light tarnish. Simply soak your jewellery in olive oil for a few minutes and then rinse and dry it.
Another great way to get rid of tarnish is to use vodka. While this won’t get rid of heavy tarnish, it will do a good job of getting your silver jewellery back to its original shine.
For a really dirty piece of silver, try using bicarbonate of soda and lukewarm water to create a paste. Apply the paste to any tarnished areas and leave for three minutes before gently brushing it away. This is a good option for pieces of jewellery that are delicate or have intricate patterns on them. Then, rinse and dry the jewellery with a soft cloth.
White Vinegar
The simplest silver cleaner is white vinegar, and it will cut through dirt and tarnish like a charm. To make a simple silver pickle, combine one cup of distilled water with salt and a tablespoon of vinegar, and soak your jewellery in the mixture for a few minutes. The silver will come out bright and clean.
Using a cloth, gently rub the silver jewellery until it is sparkling clean. Then rinse it with warm water and dry it with a towel. This method won’t remove heavy tarnish, but it is a good way to freshen up your favourite silver stud earrings or bold huggie rings.
Vinegar is effective at cleaning many different metals, including other precious metals like gold. However, some other metals need mixtures that are less strong than those used with silver – for example, pewter requires a gentler solution. For this reason, you should always test a recipe on an inconspicuous piece of your jewellery or cutlery before attempting to clean a more valuable item.silver jewellery cleaner
