Silver.Ag: Four Ways To Clean Silver Chains
Silver chains are popular; they can be worn with anything and come in a variety of designs. But the drawback with silver is that it does tarnish and nothing can stop that whether it is pure or mixed silver. When it is exposed to the air and atmosphere, a chemical reaction occurs and oxidizes. That reaction is called silver sulfate, and that is what make those black marks on the silver. The best thing for silver is to wear it every day, but that isn’t always possible when you have more than a few pieces, so here are four ways people choose to clean their silver chains.
Polishing cloths are what jewelers recommend to keep the silver looking new. Some companies today produce these with a polishing agent and tarnish inhibitor worked into the fabric. These are soft and are perfect for buffing the chain, removing tarnish and dull areas. [I:http://www.articlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IgorPauer17.jpg]
If the tarnish is not coming off with a soft cloth, it may be time to purchase a silver cleaning polish. In general, this is actually a liquid and you just put the chain or whatever right into the solution and let it sit. When it is ready to come out of the solution all you need to do is rinse it off, dry it, and then buff it to bring the shine back.
There are home remedies that people turn to and swear by also. One is the toothpaste method. This is where you will use a white, non-gel, type of toothpaste. You rub it into the chain and gently clean the chain up and down with a soft bristled toothbrush. When you are done, you rinse with lukewarm water and dry. Buffing may be needed after that to enhance the shine. You need to be careful with this method as the bristles on the toothbrush can scratch the silver.
You could also try the aluminum foil and baking soda technique, this one rarely requires any scrubbing unless the black marks are really bad. You simply line a pie pan with aluminum foil, pour boiling water till it is halfway full, and add two tablespoons each of salt and baking soda. Stir that up really good till it is dissolved and then lay the chain in the solution. The chain needs to lay flat and touch the aluminum or it won’t work. [I:http://www.articlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IgorPauer26.jpg]
The salt, baking soda, and aluminum will react and this acts as a magnet to remove the tarnish. Let it soak for about five to ten minutes and then gently clean the stubborn black spots with a soft cloth or if you choose a soft bristled toothbrush. You can then rinse, dry, and buff or place it in a bowl of clean water with soap for a few minutes before rinsing.
Nothing you do can stop the tarnish from eventually appearing, unless you wear it constantly, but that can be hard. Keeping your hands clean when handling it does help prolong tarnish from appearing. Next time you notice a favorite necklace is badly tarnished, don’t throw it away, try one of these four methods above to clean your silver chain to make them look new again.
Author is expert in silver jewelry, working over 16 years in silver jewelry business. The production company (Silver.Ag), he works for, physically stock about 114.000 pcs of jewlery to be able to dispatch customers orders within 24 hours. The company has over 500.000 customers worldwide.
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