21 Sep
Posted by Lenka as HandmadeJewelryBlog, Silver Jewelry
I’ve picked up a few tip and tricks on how to clean sterling silver. If anyone else out there has a great one that I didn’t mention, please feel free to add on
1.Toothpaste (not the gel) <—-I used this method on a pair of heavily wire wrapped earrings, they didn’t shine like the Chrysler Building but they did look better. I used airplane toothpaste, maybe that was the problem?
2. Make a bowl with some tinfoil (place sterling silver inside),, then place it in another bowl add boiling water and a handful of salt. <—–I tried this method, and again the jewelry didn’t shine like new, but I’d only left it in there about 20 minutes.. I guess I was just too impatient? I think it should have been in there at least an hour.
3. Heat some Vinegar and salt on low and just marinate your handmade sterling silver jewelry <—- not really sure about this method. I’d oxidized some chain and had tried to get rid of the patina. It didn’t totally work but lightened it considerably.
But I’ve always had the best luck with a polishing cloth or a tumbler
2 Responses
Andrea
September 24th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
1Good tips Lenka, the method that works for me is to use a bowl lined with aluminum foil and hot water like you did, but instead of salt I used baking soda. You can clean silver jewelry just by rubbing it with aluminum foil, it’s a reaction between the metals apparently that removes the tarnish, but I’m too worried about scratching polished surfaces. I’m also extremely careful cleaning shell or pearl set jewelry as they could react to cleaning solutions.
Stuart Cross
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
2I use a piece of aluminium foil in a self sealing plastic bag to protect silver articles in storage from tarnishing. The aluminium is more reactive than silver and will reach with contaminants in the air before the silver.
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