If you own silver jewelry, you are supposed to handle them with care to ensure the longevity of each piece. If silver jewelry remains uncleaned for a period of time, an unattractive tarnish layer might be formed. Actually, the tarnish layer is usually formed on those less worn silver jewelry. Therefore, it is highly recommended to wear your silver jewelry regularly to maintain its original luster. If you dont, however would not like to lose its shine and color over a time, a professional silver jewelry cleaner should be your choice with the proper cleaning method. Well, what could be the best possible solution to clean your luxury silver jewelry?
Possible causes of silver jewelry tarnishing
To understand the process of cleaning, you must know about how silver jewelry gets tarnished in the first place. Some of the most common reasons which you might have come across so far could be
- Chemical reaction due to atmospheric exposure.
- Development of Patina marks on the jewelry while you wear them.
- Usage of abrasive elements for cleaning the silver jewelry.
- Improper methods used for storing the jewelry, etc.
Consequences of silver jewelry tarnishing
In some cases the tarnishing may develop gradually, while in others it may develop quickly. However the consequences are found to be quite disastrous. You could be an individual who loves to adorn yourself with these precious white metals or you could be a merchant selling them.
- The jewels lose their glitter and shine.
- It generates harmful derivatives like silver-sulphide. It can severely affect you skin while you continue to wear the affected jewels.
- Another by-product of the tarnishing / corrosion is Hydrogen-sulphide. This can critically reduce the lifespan of the jewels.
- Silver chloride, which happens to be the third strongest by-product, affects the strength of the jewelry. Your jewels tend to wither away within a time period of a few months.
- Merchants find it hard to sell the jewelry as the rejections % in the stock increases.
Where is the solution of cleaning silver jewelry?
Though the causes and consequences of the problem seem to be enormous in nature, the solution could be simple in nature. All you need to find are the
1.Proper cleaning elements.
2.Proper cleaning methods.
3.Mistakes to avoid while cleaning.
4. Keeping an eye on the frequency of cleaning and
5.Method of storage.
How to clean Silver Jewelry
If you wish to clean small parts of jewelry or small quantities of them, you could easily do so at home. There are many simple methods like
- Soaking and cleaning them in saline-water bath. You need to heat water in a bowl (don’t boil it). Then you need to add one tablespoon of common salt to it. Add a few small strips of aluminum foil to the mix. Now gently dip the jewelry in the water and let it soak for about 5 to 6 minutes. Then you can take out the jewelry and wash them gently in running water. Use a soft cloth to dry the jewelry. An obvious drawback of this method is that you can’t clean precious jewels studded with gems and stones as it has corrosive effect on them.
- You can also use a combination of vinegar and baking soda in order to clean your silver jewelry. You will need white-vinegar and a pinch of soda. Take about 1 cup of vinegar and add it to a small tub of hot water. Add a pinch of baking soda and a few aluminum foils. Dip the jewelry in the solution for about 5 to 10 minutes and the wash it. You can use a soft cloth to dry it later.
After cleaning them, you need to polish in order to keep the jewelry clean and shining over a longer period of time. You need to make sure that you are using non-abrasive type of polishing cloth for this purpose.
What are the best silver jewelry cleaners?
If you are serious about giving a professional touch to your silver jewelry cleaning process, then you need proficiently created cleaning agents. You can come across many such certified and user recommended cleaners online. Some of them are
- Hagerty 12170 Silversmiths’ Silver Wash, 19 Ounces. We found the R-22-agent used in it to be quite effective in removing as well as preventing the tarnishing of jewels in real time. The other beneit has been found to be removal of those blackish spots and marks from the delicate parts. Apart from cleaning, the product was also found to a good polishing agent.
- Brilliant® 8 Oz Silver Jewelry Cleaner with Cleaning Basket. We found this to be effective on almost all types of silver jewelry, including the .999, .925, argentium, tribal and other standards. If your jewelry contains any ruby, sapphire or other non-porous stones, then you need to ensure that you don’t soak the jewels. Instead you can use a gentle cleaning brush after dipping your stone studded jewelry in the cleaner. The cleaning basket is made of highly non corrosive and metal friendly material, which you can use to rinse the non stoned silver jewels.
- Northern Lab-Goddards 654709 Goddard’s Long Shine Silver Foam 18oz. This is highly recommended for cleaning complex pieces of jewelry which have intricate types of deep rooted designs. We have observed that the jewels get a finely polished finishing just like a mirror. A few gentle cleaning strokes ensure the complete removal of tarnish and black spots completely. Our experience shows that usage of soft sponge with this foamy cleaner is able to not only clean, but also polish the jewelry to a great extent. We have been able use on many of the antique pieces of silverware in our display area which is now attracting more number of prospective buyers.
Note:
Apart from cleaning the jewels regularly, you also need to wear them as frequently as possible. The natural body oils can also help in preserving the freshness of silver for a longer period of time. While storing your jewels, make sure that they don’t get stuffed up in boxes where light does not enter. Keep them away from dust and moisture is another important factor in enhancing the lifespan of your silver jewelry.