Decorative items or silver jewelry begin to dull and darken over time. This is totally normal, it does not respond to an oxidation process nor does it compromise the quality of this metal.
Due to dust and environmental factors, silver reacts to hydrogen sulfide making it opaque. There is no need for expensive or specialized products to clean silver and return it to its natural shine, just use a few of these simple tricks.
How to clean silver? 8 effective tricks to make it shine
To prevent objects made of silver from becoming dull or tarnishing, it is best to clean them once a month. Any of these effective tricks for cleaning silver are useful and are not complicated to apply.
If for some reason silver items have not been cleaned for a long time and the spots or dark spots seem to be very attached, these tips can also be used to return them brightness although they may require a little more effort.
one. Lemon
Lemon is an excellent ally in various household cleaning tasks And for cleaning silver objects it is undoubtedly very efficient. It is also a very simple trick that will allow you to see the shimmering shine of silver again in just a few minutes. All you need is a lemon cut in half, a little s alt and a clean, dry cloth.
In one half of the lemon, you have to spread s alt and with this rub against the silver.Whether it's a decorative item or a piece of jewelry, this trick works the same way. Once the entire surface has been rubbed, let it work for a few minutes and then clean with a dry cloth, applying a little force in the manner of polishing.
2. Aluminum foil
With aluminum foil you can clean silver that has been tarnished for a long time Even if the silver looks very old or has passed away long before Before they clean it again, with this trick you can look like new again. This trick can be useful as a first step to remove stains from silver and leave it cleaner before applying another of these tips.
You need enough aluminum to contain the piece of silver, hot water and s alt. In a large container, preferably glass and where the object to be cleaned fits perfectly. Cover with aluminum foil and pour hot water with s alt.The objects are submerged for around 10 minutes and after this time they are removed and dry perfectly.
3. Toothpaste
Toothpaste can be very useful for cleaning silver This is a very simple and practical trick, and it can also be useful for objects that are very small or have too many indentations or small spaces. Use toothpaste, water, neutral soap and a toothbrush if the piece is going to be cleaned in detail.
The first thing to do is wash the silver object with plenty of soap and water, without having dried it, rub it with toothpaste and use the brush to carve in complicated or small places. Once the silver is noticeably regaining its color, it is then rinsed again with soap and water and dried and polished with a dry cloth.
4. Water with s alt
The easiest trick to clean silver is to do it with s alt water This recommendation is especially useful for frequently cleaning objects before before they start to stain. You just need hot water with s alt and carve the silver until it shines bright. For this reason, it is a good idea to use it as a daily method of cleaning silver.
You have to put the s alt in a container with very hot water and dissolve. Right there you have to submerge the silver objects to leave them overnight there. The next day they are dried at the same time that it is rubbed as a polish with a dry cloth. This is enough for articles made of silver to regain their shine.
5. Banana peel
Few know about the usefulness of the banana to clean metal objectsAnd to help keep silver looking flawless, it's also very efficient. This is because the inner part of the shell contains active ingredients that help remove and eliminate objects that darken metals, and silver is no exception.
So this trick is very simple and requires nothing more than the banana peel. With it, the silver piece is rubbed as many times as necessary and changing the shell from time to time because after a while the shell loses its properties that help clean the metal. After this it can be cleaned with a damp cloth to remove any residue from the banana peel.
6. Cream of tartar
Cream of tartar is readily available and can be used to clean silver This trick can be used in combination with something else like that of aluminum foil to help remove stains on silver that has not been cleaned for a long time.The cream of tartar, in addition to cleaning the dust, gives it an incredible shine.
In a pot you have to combine the cream of tartar, a little s alt and water and heat over low heat. Right there you have to add the silver objects and let them boil for up to 5 minutes. Once this time has elapsed, it is removed from the heat, later the pieces of the mixture are also removed and once they are cold they are polished with a dry cloth.
7. Baking Soda with Vinegar
The perfect combination to clean silver is vinegar with baking soda You need half a cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of baking soda. This combination will produce an effervescence, once it is over, the objects to be cleaned are submerged in the mixture.
Another way to use it is to moisten a cloth in the combination of baking soda with vinegar and clean and rub the silver piece hard to remove stains and dust, thus bringing out the shine.If the first time it is not completely clean, this process can be repeated several times until the expected result is obtained.
8. Essential oils
Some essential oils are very efficient for cleaning metals The most widely used for cleaning silver is lemon essential oil. The advantage of this trick is that nothing is needed more than a few drops directly from the bottle onto the silver item and rub with a non-absorbent cloth until the desired shine is achieved.
It should not be diluted with water or any other oil, and also, as they are highly concentrated, just a few drops will be enough to clean large surfaces without damaging silverware in any way. This trick for cleaning silver can be useful for medium-sized items that don't have too many indentations or grooves.