The plata it is one of the noblest precious metals and appreciated in the world, but this does not prevent us from needing to clean it. It is resistant to corrosion and cheaper than gold, which is why it is widely used for making coins, medals, trays, kitchen utensils and various elements of jewelry.
However, over time they darken due to the appearance of silver sulfide, caused by the natural reaction with sulfur found in the air and on the skin -usually confused with rust-. This one has a black color and tends to take away the elegance and distinction to those most precious objects.
If this has happened to you, the good news is that it is curable and it is a cleaning easier and cheaper than you think! Keep reading and discover these home techniques to clean silver with sodium bicarbonateremove the opaque appearance and restore that characteristic shine of the first day.
How to Clean Blackened Silver With Baking Soda
Yes, I’ve also had that awkward moment where I take out a silver chain and to my surprise it looks old and tarnished! With these famous methods you can end this black film and clean jewelry with bicarbonate at home and with ingredients that you have on hand daily The best of all? They are used for any other type of object made of this material!
How to clean silver with baking soda, salt and aluminum
This is another practical, cheap and very effective alternative to eliminate the opacity of silver in extreme cases and make it shiny and like new. You will only need aluminum foil, salt, bicarbonate and very hot water:
- Inside a container, place a piece of aluminum foil until it is completely lined and fill it with 500 ml of boiling water (or the appropriate amount for the size of the object).
- Add two tablespoons of baking soda, two of salt and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Submerge accessories, jewelry or any object you want to clean.
- Remove them following 15-30 minutes or when you notice that they look shiny.
- Rinse, dry with a cloth, and rub vigorously to bring out a shine.
Use: if any part has not lost its black color, scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Remember to do it delicately, you don’t want to scratch them!
Daily silver care and things to avoid
To keep your sterling silver sparkling, we recommend that you avoid exposing it to salty air, chlorine, sulfur, moisture, perspiration, cosmetics, bleach, and other harsh chemicals. Therefore, we suggest that you store your jewelry in a safe and dry place when doing activities such as doing housework and outside, bathing, using lotions, hair products, perfumes and other cosmetics, exercising in the gym or practicing contact sports, or cooking or cleaning with detergents and bleaches.
How to Clean Silver With Baking Soda and Lemon
another trick to clean silver that stays black It’s using this disinfectant cleaner made with this power couple. See how to do it:
- Get an aluminum container or glass and fill it with hot water along with two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Place the pieces and let them soak in this mixture for 1 full hour.
- After this time, take them out and apply lemon juice on them. If you notice a greenish hue, don’t worry! Is the chemical reaction taking effect.
- Rinse with warm water, dry by rubbing a little and you will see how they shine once more.
Contrary to what is commonly believed, according to expert jewelers in the area it is not recommended to rub the baking soda directlysince, although it does wear the dark layer, it also corrodes the silver and can scratch it, making it lose its delicate and elegant appearance.
Despite this, all the methods mentioned above are harmless and do not pose a toxic risk neither for you nor for your objects. So, choose the one you prefer and don’t forget to tell us how it turned out.
Cleaning silver jewelry with baking soda and vinegar
baking soda and vinegar, two cleaners that together are second to none in almost any dirt. In this case, they are inseparable companions to remove that dark layer that forms over the years. Clean silver at home with them by following these steps:
- In a container, pour 60 ml of white vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda.
- Mix well until integrated.
- Submerge the objects and let it act for a minimum of 20 minutes.
- Finally, peel, dry and rub to polish.
Right now, due to the crisis, there are some media outlets that echo the news of people earning money with second-hand things, and this is no less, because there are different profiles on wallapop that sell clean and shiny silver jewelry, and I don’t want to say that let’s become millionaires with that, but buying them dirty and giving them a second chance can earn you a few extra bucks.
Amazon’s Best Baking Soda for Cleaning
If you don’t have this item at home, don’t worry, because This model sold by the large online market Amazon is perfect so that you can apply the cleaning techniques that we have taught you. From the Nortembio brand, it is a package of 100% ecological bicarbonate (another point in favor) that contains a total of 1.43 kilograms of this elementso you will have more than enough to clean all the silver jewelry you have in your house.
It is made under the highest quality standards and, in addition, will not leave any scent. The packaging is 100% safe, so, if you put the lid on well, you will not have any problem with the baking soda escaping. In short, it is the compound that allows you to say goodbye to conventional cleaning products. to finish, It is sold on Amazon for only 17.81 euros. What are you waiting for? Get hold of it and you will see the good results it achieves!
