Silver products, whether cutlery or jewelry, have been part of human life for a very long time. Ancient Egypt and Byzantium highly valued these beautiful creations not only for their beauty, but also for their healing properties.
Silver spoons were applied to skin lesions - rapid scarring occurred, the wound healed, and at the same time, an antiseptic effect was exerted. Scientists have proven the ability of silver precious metal to neutralize a huge number of pathogens.
Products made from precious metal remain favorite accessories today.
Cleaning blackened silver
How to clean blackened silver, which is one of the most noble and famous metals?
Since ancient times, people have believed that blackened silver has magical properties. Our ancestors believed that silver protected them from evil spirits and evil spirits. Methods for creating this metal became known and widely used in Ancient Rus', five hundred years before our time. Rich people of that time considered it very prestigious to buy blackened silver. This expensive metal was used to make cutlery, jewelry and household items that have survived to this day. Nowadays, silver blackening is being replaced by other blackening methods. This method is called oxidation. The metal is covered with a special film, which gives a blackening effect. This method is not durable. Silver wears off quickly. Therefore, it is better to use old proven methods.
Why does silver darken?
It's actually simple. With basic knowledge of chemistry, it can be determined that silver contains copper, which reacts with oxygen and moisture and oxidizes. Gradually, an imperceptible coating accumulates on the product, which soon manifests itself as darkening.
Another reason is sweat. Also, when wearing products on the body, any person will sweat. And now everything depends only on how much a person sweats when wearing the product.
Blackened silver and oxidized - what's the difference?
Oxidized products are too smooth in appearance, smooth to the touch, and not much of a dark color. When the metal undergoes true blackening using sulfur, copper and lead, the appearance is different. It is a rich black color in some places, lightish in others. Such products have deep, clear and noble patterns. When cleaning oxidized silver, light spots may appear. Blackened silver is more resistant to polishing and cleaning, and loses its blackness if boiled for a long time or when immersed in acid.
In order for your jewelry to maintain its original appearance, it needs to be cleaned periodically. What not to do? Do not use: ammonia, abrasive materials, under no circumstances should we boil the product or scald it with boiling water. The following method will do:
- Having prepared the soap solution, add a little salt, put in your chains, earrings and rings, and leave for 20-30 minutes. After this, rinse thoroughly and leave to dry;
- Another way. Place your decorations in water with peeled potatoes and leave for 4-5 hours. Then rinse with water and dry;
- You can clean the product with a regular eraser, which is also a very effective method;
- We use toothpaste and a soft cloth. Apply toothpaste to the product and very gently, slowly, clean the metal. The main thing in this method is to choose a toothpaste with a minimum amount of abrasives.
Very rarely, owners of such products use the services of specialists. But in vain. Of course, the best cleaning results will come from a jeweler. Using a bur machine and special products, he will clean your jewelry, and it will be as good as new. The main thing is not to forget to warn the master that the blackness remains.
If your jewelry has stones, cleaning is the same as for items without stones. The only thing you need to pay attention to is to wipe the stones with a cotton pad, or in hard-to-reach places with a cotton swab, after moistening them in ammonia or cologne.
Many people think that silver products do not require special care, but this is not true. Silver is stored separately from other jewelry. Stay away from items containing sulfur, as sulfur is the enemy of silver. Systematically clean products from dirt and dust. Remove during water procedures and housework. Household chemicals can have a detrimental effect on the appearance of the metal.
What causes silver to darken?
For a long time it was believed that the darkening of silver was the result of a negative magical effect. With the development of chemistry, the reasons for this phenomenon were precisely established. Experimentally, scientists have found that silver ions easily react with other elements.
The culprits of metal darkening can be:
- placing the product in places with high humidity;
- contact with wet human skin;
- sweat, especially when it contains a lot of sulfur (associated with diseases);
- some types of cosmetics and household chemicals;
- foods (for example, salt or onions);
- improper storage;
- low-quality silver with a large number of impurities.
The reason that silver has turned black can also be its reaction to a gaseous substance or frequent contact with rubber products.
Blackening methods
Over the years of using this metal, many methods and methods of blackening it have accumulated. Can be done at home or by specialists.
- Galvanic method - requires special equipment, is performed only in specialized places;
- Mechanical method - you need to take graphite, mix it with iron oxide and turpentine. After receiving, the mixture is as thick as sour cream. Applied to the product. You need to wait until it dries and wipe with a soft cloth or brush. After this, we wipe it with alcohol and admire our work;
- The chemical method is the safest and most long-lasting. You need to fill the patterns on the product with a mixture consisting of silver sulfide, sulfur, copper and lead. After complete drying, clean the product well with a brush.
Bring back the shine to rhodium-plated silver
Rhodium increases the hardness of the product and allows it to be used longer. Silver is not damaged and does not begin to turn black so quickly. But this coating becomes thinner over time and has to be restored. To ensure that the product needs to be repaired as little as possible, care should be taken using the following products:
- glycerin: applied to the decoration with a cotton swab, the method is suitable if the darkening is not too old, localized in limited areas, if there is a significant change in appearance, more effective methods are considered;
- soap solution is a universal remedy that cleans silver of any kind, but copes with greasy stains, dust, and does not remove blackness well;
- velvet and warm water, an alternative method is special solutions, napkins purchased at a jewelry workshop.
Blackening silver at home
You can try the blackening procedure at home. What do we need for this?
- Boiled egg, plastic container, thread and fishing line. Before starting, thoroughly clean your product. Then, cutting the egg into two parts, place it in a container. We hang the silver product on a rope, and seal everything tightly with a lid for half an hour or longer. Periodically turn the product over for uniform blackening;
- Blackening with iodine and sulfur ointment also gives the desired result. Apply iodine to the entire product and leave to dry. After complete drying, wipe thoroughly with a cloth. Sulfur ointment - the same process. Just need to dry it with a hairdryer. If the metal turns purple during drying, then everything is correct. After drying, wipe off the ointment completely.
Cleaning rhodium-plated silver
The main advantage of rhodium-plated silver is that the rhodium coating very reliably protects the product from oxidation and the formation of black plaque. Therefore, the task comes down to removing simple household contaminants: soap, creams, grease, sweat, etc. The method of boiling in detergent with the addition of ammonia in cases with a high degree of contamination helps to cope with this problem very effectively. The cleaning process is exactly the same as for jewelry with stones.
How to clean silver from blackening
If you want to clean your silver from blackening, you can use the following methods:
- You need a container, line the bottom with foil and place the product. Sprinkle baking soda on top, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and pour boiling water over everything. Leave for ten minutes, then rinse everything with warm water and dry well;
- Take a pan, cover the bottom and sides with foil, and place your decorations. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of soda on top, pour boiling water and put on fire. Wait for it to boil. Wait for it to cool completely, remove the product and rinse well under running water;
- Mix a lot of chalk and ammonia. Carefully clean the metal with a small brush. When you see the color begin to change and become whiter, leave it for half an hour. Then rinse thoroughly with water and dry.
- You can also use citric acid or even lemon itself. Apply a few drops of juice or acid to the product. You need to wait until the surface begins to lighten. After this, wash and polish with a soft cloth.
If you see that the product has not whitened enough, you can repeat it again. Such simple methods are available to everyone. You will not have the problem of cleaning your silver jewelry.
Clean gold-plated silver
Gold-plated items can be cleaned, but the least aggressive methods should be used, for example, ammonia or soap solution. The gilding layer wears off over time, becomes thinner, until one day it disappears completely. For this reason, cleaning agents should not be used frequently. Abrasive products (dry powders, such as soda or chalk) are prohibited. It is not recommended to keep silver coated with a layer of gold for a long time in liquids that remove blackness and dirt. Do not use hard brushes for cleaning. Mild agents that are used to restore the attractiveness of gilding:
- applying beer, polishing with rags;
- soaking in warm water with pieces of raw potatoes.
Jewelry made of silver with gold plated
Benefits of silver products
Each of us chooses the decoration that we like and that you can afford. Gold is more expensive than silver. But this is not a minus, but a plus. In addition to price, silver has many advantages:
- We wrote about the price above. This is a profitable purchase;
- Silver goes very well with various stones;
- Silver products are suitable for various clothes;
- Silver is even used for medical purposes, as it has an antibacterial effect.
Since ancient times, silver has been endowed with magical qualities. It was believed that wearing such jewelry would help ward off evil spirits. Table sets are not only beautiful, but also healthy. Take care of your jewelry and products made from this noble metal, and they will serve you for many years.
How to effectively clean blackened silver: 21 home methods and special products
Blackening of a silver chain and methods for cleaning it
3 ways to keep your silverware shiny
How to clean and restore tarnished gold to its original shine
Cleaning carpets at home yourself: easy and simple
Cleaning pillows at home
A beautiful vase is a clean vase
Cleaning ancient and modern coins at home
Source
Special products for cleaning silver
For cleaning with professional products, use GOI paste. It is great for silver items. But you need to be extremely careful; choosing the wrong product can ruin your product.
Silver blackening: features and technique
There are many pieces of jewelry on the market, but some are more eye-catching than others. Blackened silver jewelry looks mysterious, intriguing and reminiscent of antiques. Dark patterns combined with shiny fragments give the jewelry a special charm. Blackening can even be done at home using simple products.
Why does silverware spoil?
Not only jewelry containing Ag, but also spoons and forks (cutlery) can turn black. Probable reasons:
- increasing humidity in the room where the devices are stored;
- the use of unsuitable detergents: abrasive, too aggressive substances destroy the surface of silver products, as a result they quickly become covered with patina;
- use of tableware for preparing sulfur-containing products (eggs, onions, etc.).
What it is?
Niello has long been used to decorate silver and gold items. This technique allows you to paint metal black. Contrast appears on the surface, which makes the product more “alive”. The technique is used when there are drawings or simple relief.
Blackening consists of an alloy of copper, sulfur, silver and lead that is added to the base metal. The material is often used to create unusual jewelry in an antique style. There is no point in applying blackening to a flat surface. First, processing is carried out, drawing a pattern using indentations about 0.3 mm in size. This is where the mob melts in.
How to do it at home?
Preparing solutions from metals and making galvanic baths at home is not a good idea. The process requires skills, knowledge and equipment. However, it’s too early to despair; there are simple ways to make your favorite ring more attractive and interesting. Home technology is not only easy, but also does not require much investment. The methods are time-tested and popular among women due to their effectiveness.
Iodine
This method is the most basic and does not require much effort. Blackening with iodine is not suitable for flat products. There will be almost no result. There is one more nuance: the reaction requires bright sunlight. Testing the method in cloudy weather or in winter simply won’t work.
How to make a product shine
If you have thoroughly cleaned your silver jewelry from plaque and dirt, but it is still dull and does not shine, then you need to polish it.
The simplest method is to use a special napkin. It consists of a rough and dry cloth that gently polishes the silver, making it smooth and more shiny. This polishing cloth can be purchased at any jewelry store. Its cost, as a rule, ranges from 50 to 300 rubles.
Using a silver polishing cloth is the easiest way to make your silver jewelry shine.
Branded jewelry stores like Pandora often provide a branded polishing cloth with your purchase. Its daily use allows you to avoid darkening of silver and maintain its shine.
A simple waffle towel works great for polishing silverware. After cleaning spoons and forks, use the toughest one you have. Wipe the items with force. This will not only rid the cutlery of the whitish residue that may remain after washing, but will also give them additional shine.
A simple waffle towel will add shine to your silverware.
To restore shine to silver jewelry, use toothpaste (any kind will do). It won't clean silver like tooth powder, but it's great for polishing. Use a soft brush to work the item without scratching it.
Using toothpaste is an affordable and easy way to make your silver shine
How to remove blackening?
Lightening silver after home blackening is quite simple. Even the factory coating can be removed. There are quite a few ways, and all of them will take no more than 30 minutes.
- Make a medium concentration soda solution in a saucepan. Place foil and decorations there. Boil for 3-5 minutes. This method can be used to clean tableware and other surfaces from any contaminants.
- A softer method will allow you to easily remove homemade blackening, but for a factory one you will have to repeat the process several times. You need to take a small glass container, put the decoration inside and fill it with dishwashing liquid. An alternative is to use hair shampoo.
- A solution of ammonia will remove the blackhead. It is enough to immerse the decoration in it for 1-2 hours. You can also soak a cloth in ammonia and wipe off the composition.
- Rubbing with a medium-hard toothbrush will remove tarnish from the silver item. It is important to clean actively until the desired result is achieved.
Relevance of the problem
Silver can be found in almost every home, especially in families where they care about healthy eating, and, therefore, purchase silverware: full-fledged sets or individual cutlery.
Quite quickly after purchase and use, silver items begin to tarnish, turn black and even acquire a greenish tint.
The latter can be noticed even with the most careful handling of these products. The intensity of their use after purchase does not in any way affect their attractive appearance.
Thus, the frequency of use does not affect the degree of blackness of the product surface. The main determining factor in this matter is the metal alloy.
