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Silver jewelry is not only a beautiful asset but also an investment in your future. It is a highly durable metal that can withstand harsh weather and resist corrosion. However, over time, its surface tarnishes due to oxidization. But, don’t worry. There are a few ways to clean silver jewelry at home, and we are here to share them with you. It is essential to know how to care for this precious metal to retain its beauty for years to come. Keep scrolling!

How To Care For Silver Jewelry

Exercise caution while donning your favorite jewelry to reduce the need to clean it repeatedly. Here are some tips on caring for your delicate silver jewelry:

  • Don’t wear silver jewelry when swimming or enjoying water sports.
  • Don’t wear your silver in the shower or bath because it will become tarnished with soap, scum, and moisture.
  • Don’t sit in hot tubs wearing your silver jewelry, as rust-causing minerals may tarnish it.
  • Abrasive materials like dust and pebbles can permanently harm your jewelry if not cleaned promptly. Gardening gloves can also be harmful.
  • Avoid wearing silver jewelry during activities that cause you to sweat excessively, as the moisture will interact with the metal and cause it to tarnish.
  • Silver is also an incredibly soft metal and gets easily scratched, scraped, or shaped.
  • Be careful not to let perfumes, hairsprays, or other beauty products come into contact with your silver jewelry as they contain strong chemicals that can damage it.

If you follow the above steps, you won’t have to clean your silver jewelry too often. But if you do, we have got you covered! The next section lists 6 quick ways to clean your silver jewelry with safe ingredients and methods that won’t damage its beauty or durability.

6 Ways To Clean Silver Jewelry

1. Clean Silver Jewelry With Toothpaste

Toothpaste is the perfect ingredient to clean and shine your silver without affecting its natural beauty. You can either use dilute the toothpaste with water or use it as it is. However, it is recommended to avoid using the gel alone as it contains too many harsh chemicals.

Method

  • Take a small amount of toothpaste in a dish and add water to make a paste.
  • Rub the paste on your silver jewelry with a soft cloth or toothbrush in circular motions.
  • Rinse off your silver with warm water and dry it using a soft cloth.

You will be surprised at how quickly the toothpaste cleans your silver jewelry without eating away at its metallic surface or dulling its luster.

2. Clean Silver Jewelry With Salt

Salt is another natural ingredient you can use to clean silver jewelry.

Method

  • Fill a big bowl halfway up with table salt.
  • Add warm water to the salt until it reaches a quarter of the way up the bowl.
  • Mix well to get a thick solution that won’t spill when you begin cleaning your silver jewelry.
  • Place your silver jewelry in the salt solution for around 30 minutes.
  • Take it out and dry it using a soft cloth or towel before rinsing it with warm water to remove any excess salt.

Your silver jewelry will be sparklingly clean and full of life once you have finished this process, so it is definitely worth a try.

3. Clean Silver Jewelry With Potatoes

Another natural ingredient you can use to clean your silver jewelry is potato, which has bleaching properties that whiten the metal piece.

Method

  • Peel a big, clean potato with a grater or vegetable peeler.
  • Cut it into four equal quarter spherical shapes.
  • Place your silver jewelry on the potato quarters and put them in a sealed container, such as a plastic storage box.
  • Let the container sit for at least 48 hours before opening it.
  • You can then rinse your silver jewelry with warm water to remove any excess potato juice.

Make sure to cover your silver jewelry completely in the potato and let the setup stay undisturbed for 48 hours.

4. Clean Silver Jewelry With Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the most popular ingredients for cleaning silver jewelry because it contains hydrogen peroxide, which removes tarnish and grime to give it a new life.

Method

  • Add one cup of table salt and baking soda in a large bowl to make a thick, pasty solution that won’t spill when you clean your silver jewelry.
  • Place the jewelry in another bowl and cover it with the baking soda solution before sealing the bowl and leaving it to sit for at least 24 hours.
  • Remove your silver jewelry from the bowl and dry it using a soft cloth or towel before rinsing with warm water to remove excess salt.
  • Clean it further with a toothbrush dipped in the baking soda solution. Scrub the jewelry with it to reach the intricate corners.

Don’t use hot water to clean silver jewelry as it can damage the luster and surface. Also, make sure you dry the pieces thoroughly with a soft cloth or towel before storing them away in a sealed container.

5. Clean Silver Jewelry With Aluminum Foil

You can also use aluminum foil to clean silver jewelry as it has bleaching properties that help restore the shine.

Method

  • Wrap the tarnished silver jewelry in a large piece of aluminum foil.
  • Bring water to a critical boil in a large stainless steel or cast iron pan and add the tarnished silver.
  • Mix half cup of baking soda with three cups of warm water and pour over the foil-wrapped tarnished silver.
  • The aluminum foil will appear tarnished, and the silver will require only moderate polish work to regain its original sheen.

Follow up with another piece of aluminum foil if you need to liven up more tarnished areas of your silver jewelry before storing it away in an airtight container.

6. Clean Silver Jewelry With Vinegar

Vinegar is another popular and effective ingredient for cleaning silver jewelry because of its natural bleaching properties.

Method

  • Pour some white distilled vinegar into a bowl or cup and place your silver jewelry in it.
  • Cover the cup and leave it to soak for around an hour.
  • Remove the jewelry from the vinegar and rinse with warm water.
  • Make sure you dry off your silver jewelry thoroughly with a soft cloth or towel before storing it away in a sealed container.

Over time, your jewelry may become dusty and tarnished, and you may not want to wear a piece covered in dirt. However, that does not have to be the case because you can easily clean silver jewelry at home. Follow these simple and effective DIY cleaning procedures to keep your silver jewelry shining and durable for a long time. You can restore the brilliance and splendor of your jewelry with only a few common household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, salt, or even simply water. So don’t be concerned about dampness, moisture, or the weather, and just enjoy wearing your best pieces!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you clean silver with Coke?

Yes, you can clean silver with Coke. Take a bowl of Coke and dip your silver jewelry/artifacts for a few minutes till the acid in the Coke dissolves the tarnish. But don’t let it sit for too long, though. Rinse with lukewarm water and wipe off.

Does lemon juice clean silver jewelry?

Yes, you can put a few drops of lemon juice on silver jewelry and rub it off gently with a soft cloth. The acid in lemon helps remove the tarnish effectively.

Does milk clean silver?

Milk, along with some white vinegar or lemon juice, can help clean silver.

How do you clean silver with ketchup?

Yes, you can squeeze a bit of ketchup onto a paper towel and rub the silver artifacts in the tarnished places. You can also let the ketchup sit for 15-20 minutes to get a better shine.

Key Takeaways

  • You can clean your silver jewelry by using regular kitchen items like salt, baking soda, and potatoes.
  • Using hot water can potentially damage the surface or reduce the shine of this soft metal.
  • Do not let your silver jewelry come in contact with water, sweat, or perfumes to prevent them from being tarnished.

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Shalini Roy has a Master’s degree in English literature. She is an ambivert whose expressions have found their way in… more



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