Are you stressing over how to de-tarnish all your silver and prevent them from discoloring again? No worries! We have multiple solutions to chase away the tarnish and restore the glow of your silver. Read till the end for complete information.
Silver has a luxurious touch and can be a gorgeous addition to the house. Silver jewelry and other items in the house, such as flatware and ornate items, have a shiny texture that adds a timeless elegance to your home. Although silver might look luxurious, it can quickly tarnish and darken due to the exposure to different gases in the air and other chemicals. In addition, silver can tarnish due to the oxidation process that gives it a dark blackish shade. If you have tarnished silver in the house, we have quick remedies to fix it and bring back the shine of all your silver. De-tarnish all your silver with a bizarre combination by using one or two items from the below list whichever works best for you!
De-Tarnish All Your Silver with A Bizarre Combination
1. Aluminum Foil
Using aluminum foil is an easy way to bring back the shine in silver cookware, jewelry, and other items. To make it work, you need to take about 1-liter of water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Now, add one tablespoon of baking soda, and add a small piece of aluminum foil to the mixture. Next, put your silver items in the pot and let them sit for just about 10-15 seconds. Be mindful to remove it carefully as it would be hot. Finally, gently wipe with a microfiber cloth or a sponge to remove the residue.Â
2. Ketchup
Although it might feel weird to use, ketchup is a fantastic hack to de-tarnish all your silver without much nuisance. To clean, take a tiny amount of ketchup in a paper towel and gently apply over tarnished silver. Rub it for a few minutes and then rinse with water. Be sure to use a soft toothbrush for rubbing around the corners and crevices. This should help get rid of tarnish from the silver.
3. Baking Soda
Since it is used in many different cleaning hacks, baking soda is one of the most versatile kitchen ingredients. In addition to its numerous benefits, you can use baking soda to de-tarnish all your silver as well. Mix baking soda and lemon juice to form a paste. Now, use this paste to rub over the silver and remove the residue. Lastly, rinse it with clean water and let it dry naturally.
4. Cornflour
Another kitchen ingredient to clean silver jewelry is to make a paste of cornflour and water as it can help restore the shine and remove the blackish residue. First off, cover the jewelry with the paste and let it dry. Now use a microfiber cloth or a soft towel dipped in lukewarm water to rub it off, then rinse with water. This should clean all the black tarnish from the silver.
5. Laundry Detergent
A quick way to clean silver items is to use a combination of aluminum foil and detergent. Layer up a bowl with aluminum foil and add hot water to it. Now, mix about one scoop of detergent and let it foam up. Next, soak the silver jewelry, flatware, or any other silver item for about 1 minute. Rinse it well later to remove the tarnish.
6. Vinegar
Place all the silver items you want to de-tarnish in a large bowl. Then, cover them in diluted white vinegar. Now add about 2-3 spoons of baking soda. Let everything sit for about an hour and rinse later with water for a clean and shiny silver.
Precautions
These are some unique combinations of ingredients that you can use for cleaning silver and getting its shiny look back. However, be sure to exercise caution in de-tarnishing expensive items. Moreover, please do a test with something small and of lesser consequence to avoid any adverse reactions.
How To Prevent Silver From Tarnishing
Tarnishing happens when silver comes in too much contact with sulfur-containing gases, which causes discoloration. Humidity and temperature too affect the look of the silver items and can lead to loss of shine and texture. Once the silver has tarnished or discolored, you can try the above methods to clean it up. However, it is always better to take proper care of silver to avoid it from losing its shine and texture. Here are a few things you can try to prevent your silver from tarnishing.
1. Ambient Conditions
Appropriately storing silver jewelry is the first thing you can do to avoid losing its texture. Keeping it away from air, high humidity, and high heat areas can slow down or prevent the tarnishing process. It is advised to wrap it up in cotton for proper storage. Further, you can store them in sealed air-tight containers or bags to limit exposure.
2. Chalk
Chalk has the properties of absorbing moisture and chemicals, thereby preventing the tarnishing process. Storing the jewelry with chalk can slow down the process. Add a piece of chalk to the container that you store your silver items in to avoid moisture.
3. Proper Storage Boxes
Do not store silver in any chemically treated boxes, such as wooden ones, as the polish can affect the quality of silver. Additionally, avoid storing it with newspapers, cardboard boxes, rubber bands, and even plastic. Use appropriate storage boxes to preserve and prevent your silver from de-tarnishing.
4. Keep It Clean
Keeping your silver clean and rinsing it well before storage is essential. This is especially true for all the cookware. Therefore, avoid prolonged exposure to food residue and clean immediately. To clean before storage, use a mixture of warm water with a little bit of liquid soap. Soak for a few minutes and then rinse and wipe it clean with cotton or a soft cloth. Let it dry completely in the open air before you store them in a closed area.
Takeaway
Silvers are home’s pride and joy, but the black tarnish diminishes their glow and renders them useless. However, we have a list of solutions you can employ to de-tarnish all your silver and prevent them from discoloration. Use the bizarre but beneficial combination to combat the stains and restore your silver to its former glory.
Although there are special silver de-tarnishing wipes and storage boxes you can use for proper storage and cleaning, the hacks mentioned above are pretty helpful if you do not have them or want to go the economical way.
Lastly, be precautious about the number of ingredients you use to de-tarnish all your silver. Since silverwares are expensive and rare, remember to start with something small to be on the safe side if things go sideways. We look forward to reading your thoughts and experience in the comments below. Thank you for reading!
