The plata It’s one of the precious metals noblest and most appreciated in the world, but this does not prevent us from needing clean it. It is shiny and susceptible to polishing, which makes it an attractive material to the human eye. It is resistant to corrosion and cheaper than gold, which is why it is widely used for making gold. coins, medals, trays, kitchen utensils and various items of jewelry.
However, over time they darken due to the appearance of silver sulfide, caused by the natural reaction with the sulfur found in the air and on the skin -usually confused with rust-. This one is black 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 has a remedy. And it is a cleaning easier and cheaper than you think! Keep reading and know these home techniques for clean silver with baking sodaremove the dull appearance and restore that characteristic shine of the first day.
How to clean tarnished silver with baking soda
Yeah, I’ve also had that awkward moment where I pull 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 baking soda 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!
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 they are integrated.
- Immerse the objects and let it act for at least 20 minutes.
- Finally, peel, dry and rub to polish.
How to clean silver with baking soda, salt and aluminum
This is another practical, cheap and very effective alternative to eliminate the dullness of silver in extreme cases and make it shiny and like new. You will only need aluminum foil, salt, bicarbonate of soda 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 wish to clean.
- Remove them following 15-30 minutes or when you notice them looking shiny.
- Rinse, dry with a cloth and rub vigorously to make them shine.
Use: if any piece has not lost its black color, scrub with a soft bristle toothbrush. Remember to do it gently, you don’t want to scratch them!
How to clean silver with baking soda and lemon
another trick for clean silver that stays black is by employing 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.
- Arrange the pieces and let them soak in this mixture for a full 1 hour.
- After this time, take them out and apply lemon juice on them. If you notice a greenish tint, don’t worry! It is the chemical reaction doing its thing.
- 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 directly rub the baking sodasince, although it does wear down 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 they are harmless and do not represent 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.
