Silver is a precious metal that tends to tarnish over time. oxidation. Fortunately, there are effective home methods to restore its original shine. One of the most popular and effective is the use of baking soda and aluminum foil. Below we explain how to do it step by step.
Write down what you need to leave silver like new:
- Sodium bicarbonate.
- Foil.
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A container (preferably glass or ceramic).
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Hot water.
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A soft cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Step by step to clean silver
To make your silver jewelry shine, you should follow these steps:
- Preparation of the container. Cover the bottom of the bowl with aluminum foil, making sure the shiny side is facing up.
- Hot water. Fill the container with hot water. It doesn’t need to boil, but it does need to be hot enough to melt the baking soda.
- Add baking powder. Add one tablespoon of baking soda to every liter of hot water. Mix well until the baking powder is completely dissolved.
- Immerse the silver pieces. Place jewelry or silver pieces into the container, making sure they are in contact with the aluminum foil. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. During this process, a chemical reaction will transfer the sulfur from the silver to the aluminum, cleaning and deoxidizing the silver.
- Additional inspection and cleaning. Inspect the parts after immersion. If you still see stains or darkened areas, you can gently scrub with some baking soda using a soft-bristled toothbrush. This will help remove stubborn stains.
- Rinse and dry. After cleaning the silver pieces, rinse them with cold water and dry them with a soft cloth. It is important to dry thoroughly to prevent water spots from forming.
Which jewelery can it be used in?
This method is safe for most sterling or sterling silver jewelry. But, It is important to be careful if your jewelry contains precious or semi-precious stones.. Some stones, such as opal, turquoise or coral, can be damaged by baking soda or sudden temperature changes. If in doubt, consult a professional jeweler before trying any cleaning methods.
Therefore, cleaning silver at home with baking soda and aluminum foil is an effective and economical method. However, it is always important to handle your jewelery carefully and ensure that the cleaning method is appropriate for each piece.