How to clean silver jewellery
To maintain the beauty and shine of silver jewellery, you should follow some specific cleaning practices and methods. In this guide on how to clean silver jewellery, we have compiled some tips to help you remove oxidation effectively. This will ensure that your precious jewellery will shine like new again.
Silver jewellery lends brightness and elegance to the face, neckline and hands. Over time, however, and in contact with skin, water and certain chemicals, it can tend to darken and oxidise, losing its distinctive lustre.
By following a few tips and tricks for cleaning silver, you can take care of your precious jewellery and restore its original brilliance. By the end of this article, cleaning oxidised silver from bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings will no longer hold any mysteries.
Why does silver turn black?
Silver tends to darken due to a chemical reaction that occurs when it comes into contact with sulphur, an element found in many everyday substances. These include:
- Fragrances and hairsprays
- Cosmetics
- Cleaners and detergents
- Tap water
In addition, silver can also react with other substances, such as:
- The oily residues of our skin
- Sweat
- Chlorine and salt.
This reaction produces a dark, opaque patina of silver sulphide that tends to coat jewellery, especially that which most frequently comes into contact with the skin or is exposed to external factors.
This phenomenon, known as oxidation, affects only the surface layers of the silver, giving the jewellery an opaque appearance that attenuates its original shine.
How can you prevent silver from blackening?
To preserve the brightness of silver, it is important to adopt a few simple habits, as there are many daily factors that can damage it. Here are some best practices:
- Remove jewellery before doing household chores.
- Remove jewellery before washing yourself or playing sports.
- Avoid spraying lacquers and perfumes on jewellery.
In addition, it is a good idea to store jewellery in fabric bags, in the original boxes, or in high-quality jewellery boxes, separating it properly between compartments.
It is preferable to avoid storing jewellery in humid environments such as the bathroom or kitchen, as moisture promotes oxidation.
Regular cleaning helps prevent premature dulling, maintaining the jewellery's original brilliance.
How can you clean silver jewellery and household items?
How can you clean oxidised jewellery without ruining it? And how can you make silver shine again when it starts to get darker?
When silver jewellery begins to develop a thin grey patina that makes it look dull and opaque, there are a few remedies that can be used to make it shine as brightly as when you first bought it. In order to maintain the product's lustre, it is good practice to rub the surface regularly with a soft cloth, paying attention to the finish of the jewellery and any stones.
For items with slight oxidation, the item can be lightly rubbed with a soft, non-abrasive cloth that does not contain chemical substances, as these are too aggressive. Products containing ammonia, alcohol and acids must never be used, so as to preserve the original characteristics of the product without damaging it. This procedure should not be carried out on gold-plated objects.
The same can be done not only for jewellery, but also when cleaning frames, key rings and various silver objects for the home.
With these tips on how to clean silver jewellery, you can give your valuables a new shine.
