Choosing The Right Home Remedy To Clean Silver

Silver tarnishing occurs over time, and occurs as a result of contact with a variety of items such as rubber bands, fossil fuels, latex rubber gloves, and certain paints. Some kinds of foods also cause silver discoloration.

You can learn more about the causes of silver tarnishing later on. For now, you are going to learn about how to correct the situation.

Exposure to elements such as ones mentioned above as well as certain foods case tarnishing issues. Oftentimes harsh chemicals have been used to remove the hydrogen sulfide buildup that results in silver tarnishing.

However, there are home remedies that can help you accomplish this task without emitting harmful elements into the environment. Please view this short guide below for more details.

A Brief Guide

One of the most common ways to clean off your silver pieces is to use plain white toothpaste. Spread some of these common household substances on a damp cloth. It is important to remember that the white toothpaste without any anti-tarter or anti-plaque in it is the best kind to use.

Another way to clean off your silver pieces is to use aluminum foil, baking soda, salt, and boiling water. When applying this method, you would first lay the spoons or other silverware on the aluminum foil. Then, you would boil the salt and baking soda and boiling water over each silver piece.

This aluminum foil method is meant to create a chemical reaction that can causes the tarnishing chemical to transmit back from the silver items onto the aluminum foil. If the tarnishing is not that severe, you might even be able to just simply scrub it off with baking soda and/or vinegar and water.

However, if the tarnishing is severe it might require several rounds of the above-mentioned more involved treatment. In any case, you should beware of some possible dangers associated with using these remedies.

Warnings

Just remember that if you choose to soak your pieces in the baking soda, salt, and water solution not to leave the baking soda sit on your precious silver for too long. Otherwise, the pieces could become permanently damaged.

Also remember there is a difference between silver plated pieces and pure sterling silver. You should use special care on the plated pieces. Otherwise, the silver could be damaged and worn right down to the steel metal underneath.

Additional Tips

If you want to prevent from burning or irritating your hands you can use pot holders, oven mitts, or work gloves during this process. If you want to scrub and/or dry your pieces individually so they really shine you can do so.

If you want to protect your hands during the scrubbing and shining process you should wear rubber or cloth gloves. This would help prevent your hands from becoming irritated by any home solution you use, even if it is milder than certain store-bought chemicals.

No matter what, regardless of the types of dirt and stains removed it always helps to take vinegar or diluted ammonia (or other window cleaner) and spray the rims. Then, you can wipe it off with a paper towel or lint-free cloth.