Cleaning silver: home remedies and tricks

Clean silver
Home remedies and tricks

© Seksun Guntanid / Shutterstock

Whether cutlery, candlesticks or jewelry – silver objects lose their shine over time, tarnish and even turn black. You can find out how to clean your silver here.

Why does silver tarnish?

Tarnished silver is not nice to look at. But how can that happen? These deposits are Silver sulfidethat comes about when silver meets oxygen and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide can be found in the air or in food. Silver sulfide is a black, solid salt.

Cleaning silver: these home remedies will help

It doesn't always have to be Silver dip be from the drugstore. With the right home remedies, your silver parts will shine again very quickly.

  • citric acid: Tarnished cutlery or discolored jewelry shine again thanks to citric acid. To do this, simply put citric acid in a bowl and dip a toothbrush in it, brush the silver with it. (Baking soda can also be added – it intensifies the cleaning). Finally rinse the whole thing with water and dry it.
  • Toothpaste: One of the most popular home remedies is also toothpaste. Put the paste on the silver and let it take effect. Then rinse the silver with water and polish with a cotton cloth. You can find other areas of application here: Toothpaste as a home remedy.
  • Baking powder: baking powder is a real all-rounder. You can simply mix the powder with water and apply the paste to silver jewelry, cutlery and Co. and rub it in with an old toothbrush. After a good half hour, rinse the whole thing with water and dry and polish with a cloth. Other stains can also be easily removed with baking soda. Take a look here: Remove red wine stains.
  • Aluminum foil and salt: The silver in Aluminum foil Wrap and put in boiling water with salt. Important: The silver must come into contact with the salt water, i.e. not enclose the whole thing completely in aluminum foil. Bring to the boil once and remove the silver, allow to cool. Lo and behold: the silver has got its shine back.

Preventive measures

  • Chalk: The typical white one School chalk can prevent silver tarnishing. Chalk removes moisture from the air. Simply put down with jewelry or silver cutlery.
  • Correct storage: Storing silver as dry as possible also prevents discoloration. Silver cutlery can simply be wrapped in a cotton cloth or aluminum foil. This prevents a reaction with the sulfur particles in the air in the first place.
  • Dishwasher is taboo: Silver cutlery and cutlery made of stainless steel are not allowed in the dishwasher getting cleaned. Find out more here: 8 things that don't belong in the dishwasher.
  • Silver cleaning cloth: Anyone who regularly polishes their silver jewelry and table silver with a silver cleaning cloth no longer needs to clean a lot. Silver polish supports cleaning.

You can find more helpful household tips on our Pinterest pin board. By the way: We also have good tips for cleaning jewelry or specifically cleaning gold jewelry!

Video tip: This item should never be put in the dishwasher


dishwasher

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