Silver is a popular metal found in elegant jewellery and household items such as vases, candlestick holders and cutlery. But over time exposure to light and air can dull the shine and tarnish the metal, particularly for pieces that are held in cupboards and not used very often.
Fortunately, this can be dealt with efficiently with regular cleaning using household products such as baking soda. Discover some simple tips on how to clean silver and restore its shine below.
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Baking soda is one of nature’s most powerful cleaning tools. This method works well for silver items of all shapes and sizes apart from jewellery with encrusted gemstones.
Line a non-metal baking tray, or a sink if cleaning larger silver items, with foil (shiny side up). Fill the container with boiling water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda for every 3 litres used.
Place the tarnished silver items into the container and leave inside for at least five minutes. Use kitchen tongs to remove the silver and leave to cool on a dry surface.
For stubborn tarnish, repeat this process and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub if necessary.
Top tip:
remove difficult tarnish using a few drops of lemon juice and a soft cloth
Vinegar is another powerful, natural ingredient that is cheap and effective for cleaning silver. This method is effective for silver items such as cutlery and jewellery but not for antique silver.
To bring the shine back to your silver simply pour the silver items into a large bowl and cover with white vinegar. Add a few tablespoons of baking soda to create a fizzing reaction and leave to soak for thirty minutes.
Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly using a cloth.
Top tip: store silver items with a little piece of chalk to absorb excess moisture
Silver plated items have a thin coating over the other metal which can flake easily when submerged. Avoid using excess water and use a soft cloth with a little dish soap to keep your silver-plated items shiny.
Use a cotton bud or a soft toothbrush to clean smaller areas. Always test deep-cleaning methods on a hidden spot first.
This guide focused on how to clean silver without using chemicals,
discover more cleaning tips on our blog.
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