The shine and luster of silver jewelry can be marred by a dull coating of black tarnish, a common discoloration caused by exposure to air. A little scrubbing and the help of a few household products will lift this layer of corrosion to reveal your beautiful jewelry beneath.
Most people store their jewelry in a jewelry box or little velvet bags to prevent it from tarnishing, but even the most careful handling and storage can cause a piece to eventually tarnish. This is because tarnish is caused by a chemical reaction between the silver and sulfur in the air. This is why jewelry is stored in dark, air-restricted places like a jewelry box or cabinet. Some people also add a piece of chalk, a packet of charcoal or silica gel to their jewelry storage containers to further inhibit the tarnishing process.
If you have a particularly gnarly tarnished piece of silver, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to clean it. Combine a spoonful of baking soda and a teaspoon of table salt with boiling water, then place your silver jewelry in so that it is touching the aluminum foil. The heat from the water and the presence of the aluminum accelerate the oxidation and chemical reaction that removes the tarnish, Wiki How reports.
For a less intense scrubbing, you can try using toothpaste to clean your silver. Be sure to use a non-whitening formula and only on silver-plated pieces, as the bleach in most toothpastes can dissolve the coating on some types of silver. Scrub your jewelry with the paste and a soft, lint free cloth in a back-and-forth motion to avoid scratching the metal. Once your jewelry is shiny and new again, you can apply a lint-free polishing cloth to prevent it from tarnishing again. silver jewlery cleaner
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