How to clean a silver chain: popular cleaning methods, practical tips, photo examples

Silver is a noble metal widely used in jewelry making. A range that will satisfy even the most sophisticated customers. Knowing how to take care of your jewelry will help keep it looking great.

General information about silver

Silver occupies an important place in the economic, cultural and religious life of states. Archaeological finds testify to the fact of its use by mankind already in the third millennium BC.

It is a silvery white metal. It has a high degree of thermal and electrical conductivity, plasticity during processing. Its main property is the ability not to oxidize under the influence of oxygen. This property puts it in the group of precious metals. Among which it is the most common in the natural environment.

Its unique properties make it an important element in jewelry making. Silver corresponds to men and women, people of any age, social class. It goes well with gold, precious and semi-precious stones, corals, ivory. Gifts from it correspond to every life event.

Silver chains are the most common jewelry made from this metal. They are in demand among women and men.Emphasize the individuality of the owner, help to create his image.

Ways to clean a silver chain at home

The main disadvantage of silver is the ability to darken under the influence of the environment. To remove dirt from the chain, you can take it to a jewelry workshop or clean it yourself.

Conventionally, cleaning methods can be:

• wet;
• mechanical;
• dry;
• combined.

wet methods

The essence of the method is to immerse silver items in a liquid substance for a certain time. After the time has elapsed, the items are rinsed in an aqueous solution, wiped with a flannel or woolen cloth. These procedures are guaranteed to help restore shine and attractiveness to jewelry.

To create a cleaning environment often use:

• ammonia, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. To achieve the cleaning effect, it is enough to immerse the jewel in the solution for 10-15 minutes;
• lemon juice or diluted citric acid. It is diluted in the proportion of one teaspoon of acid per hundred grams of water. Products in the solution are aged for about 20 minutes.
• vinegar solution. A tablespoon of acetic acid is diluted in one liter of water. The object to be cleaned is immersed in the solution for two hours;

Attention! Before cleaning with acid, you need to make sure that there are no impurities of other metals in the jewelry.

• brine. A chain is placed in boiled salt brine, kept in it until it cools completely. To achieve a better effect, a piece of foil can be placed in the solution;
• coca-cola drink. The product placed in the drink will restore its attractiveness and shine in two hours.

Mechanical Methods

When using these techniques, only mild cleaning agents are used: chalk, soda, tooth powder, GOI paste, olive oil. They are applied to the surface of the chain and carefully rubbed with a soft toothbrush, shaving brush or brush. At the end of the cleaning procedure, the object is washed in water and dried.

With this option, it is allowed to use ordinary white toothpaste (tooth powder). Crushed chalk, diluted with ammonia to a mushy state. Baking soda diluted with water to a mushy state.

At the end of the cleaning procedure with olive oil, the product is washed in soapy water, rinsed with water, and wiped dry.

Dry Methods

These methods are a subspecies of mechanical. In this version, powders, pastes, oils are applied to the fabric. On a flat surface, a chain is laid out with a soft cloth and carefully polished. At the end of the operation, it is rinsed.

Advice. After cleaning, the chain must be dried well to avoid streaks. After bleaching, it is advisable not to use for three days. During this time, a protective layer is formed on the metal, which allows you to maintain the attractiveness of the product.

Combined cleaning methods

Combined methods involve the creation of cleaning substances from several components and allow thermal effects on the product. At the end of the cleaning process, the decoration is rinsed, wiped dry.

Cleaning options at home using improvised means:

• the bottom of the saucepan is covered with foil, on which the chain is laid and filled with soda solution. Boil for 5 minutes, after which it is kept in a hot solution for another ten minutes.The concentration of the soda solution: two teaspoons of soda per glass of water;
• potato broth is poured into a saucepan with foil and a chain laid on it. It is retained in the resulting substance for about fifteen minutes;
• in a thoroughly mixed solution of water, lemon juice, vodka (two tablespoons each) and a few drops of dishwashing detergent, place a piece of jewelry for one night.

Advice. If the chain consists of inserts of precious stones, then it cannot be boiled and soaked in solutions.

The combined decoration is cleaned mechanically. Products with amber, corals, pearls are best cleaned in specialized jewelry workshops.

How to protect silver jewelry from blackening

During operation, silver jewelry comes into contact with human skin. Particles of cologne, perfume, sweat get on the products, which leads to the oxidation of the metal. In the surrounding atmosphere there are chemical elements that react with metals. As a result of their influence, the dyeing darkens and oxidizes. Cleaning jewelry is inevitable, but it can be delayed for a longer period.

Rules for the use of silver jewelry:

• before the implementation of water procedures, applying cosmetics or perfumes on the neck, jewelry must be removed;
• carry out sports exercises, chores without wearing silver jewelry;
• do not use jewelry during illness;
• carry out preventive work on cleaning products at least once every two months;
• wipe silver jewelry daily with a soft cloth;
• to store silver jewelry in a box upholstered with a soft cloth separately from gold ones.

Advice. Before cleaning your silver jewelry, soak it in warm, soapy water for two hours and scrub with a soft brush.

It is possible that the dirt will be removed and cleaning will not be necessary.

Silver is a tricky metal to use. When using it, certain rules must be observed. However, there is no need to be upset about this. Since everyone can clean silver jewelry at home.

Photo of cleaning silver chains