Have you ever found yourself in need of an emergency way to clean your silver necklace? This is for you. This article will tell you how to clean your silver necklaces using simple home remedies so it stays looking its best.
Silver necklaces have always been popular because they are beautiful and can be worn to match any outfit or occasion. Wearing a silver necklace can also be a way to express oneself by choosing a chain that suits their personality, mood, or style.
However, over time these necklaces can become tarnished. It can be confusing to know what is safe for such an expensive and delicate piece of jewelry, but there are some easy ways to keep your necklaces looking new and shiny. Read on to find out.
How to Clean a Silver Necklace
1. Dishwashing Soap and Water
The most popular way to clean silver jewelry is with dishwashing soap and water. Soap-suds help to break up the dirt and oils that accumulate on your silver necklace making it easier to remove.
How to do it:
- Fill a bowl with warm water and add a tablespoon of mild dish soap for every quart of water.
- Soak your necklace in the mixture for at least 15 minutes.
- Bring out the necklace, then gently scrub with a toothbrush or brush head.
- Rinse with cold water twice to remove any soap residue from the necklace.
- Dry it thoroughly with a towel or cloth, then air dry.
2. White Vinegar
One of the best ways to clean your silver necklace is by using a mild solution of white vinegar and water. This natural cleaning agent will take care of tarnishes and leaves your silver sparkling clean.
How to do it:
- Pour white vinegar into a shallow dish and add some water (the dish should be half filled).
- Place your necklace in the vinegar dish, making sure that it’s completely submerged, and let it soak for 15 minutes.
- Scrub the piece gently with a toothbrush or soft sponge to remove any remaining tarnish.
- Rinse the piece under running water to remove any vinegar residue and dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth or towel before storing it in its designated space for future use.
SEE: Gifts for the Woman Who Wants Nothing (Here Are Some Unique Ideas for Her)
3. Lemon + Salt
Lemon and salt is a safe and inexpensive way to remove tarnish from your delicate piece of jewelry. That is because lemon juice contains citric acid, which is the substance that removes the tarnish.
Salt is also acidic, which means it can help to remove residue that might react to the metal and cause discoloration.
How to do it:
- Clean your hands and dry them thoroughly so as not to spread dirt or oils on your necklace.
- Fill a bowl or glass with lukewarm water and add table salt.
- Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice out of the lemon halves into the bowl.
- Place your necklace into the mixture for 5 minutes.
- Take it out of the water and wash off excess salt with water.
- Put your necklace on a piece of white paper or cloth and allow it to dry overnight, turning it over occasionally so that both sides can air-dry evenly.
- Repeat this process as many times as desired until your silver necklace is thoroughly clean and shiny again.
4. Toothpaste is Not Only for Your Teeth
Toothpaste is an easy solution for you to clean your tarnished silver necklace and make it look new again. It has ingredients like baking soda, which makes it an effective cleanser for removing tarnish and grime.
Gather all the materials you’ll need: a clean rag or paper towel, toothpaste, water, and a toothbrush or brush head.
How to do it:
- Apply a generous amount of toothpaste to the necklace.
- Gently scrub the necklace with the toothbrush or brush head, and water until it’s clean.
- Rinse off any excess toothpaste with clean water and use the towel to dry off the necklace.
- Allow it to air dry before storing it in a cool dry place.
SEE: Gold Plated vs Gold Filled: Which Is Better?
5. Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil
Baking soda is a great cleaner that can do anything from removing odors to giving your house that fresh scent. What you might not know is that it also works wonders when cleaning your silver jewelry.
A combination of baking soda and aluminum foil will help reverse the tarnishing effect, so you don’t need to buy any expensive products. It is also a fast process that requires little to no effort.
How to do it:
- Clean your necklace with a dry cloth, then use a damp cloth to remove the dust and dirt from the surface of the jewelry.
- Take a small bowl and line it with aluminum foil (turn the shiny side up).
- Pour a cup of hot water into the bowl and add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to form a thin paste.
- Instantly place your necklace into the mixture (make sure the necklace is touching the aluminum foil properly).
- Leave for 5-10 minutes for the chemical reaction to occur.
- Remove your necklace and rinse it in clean water.
- Dry it thoroughly with an old towel or cloth, and then allow it to air dry.
6. Apply Some Ketchup
There are many ways to clean your silver necklace, but ketchup is one of the cheapest and most effective ways. It’s also perfect if you’re looking for something gentle enough for your necklace, yet strong enough to remove any stubborn dirt.
How to do it:
- Start by putting on gloves so that you don’t get the ketchup on your hands.
- Carefully open the lid of the ketchup bottle without touching the inside with your fingers.
- Squeeze some ketchup onto the necklace and rub it onto the metal with your fingers.
- Let the ketchup sit for 15-20 minutes, then take some water and soak up any ketchup that is left on the surface of the necklace.
- Dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth or towel to make sure all the surface dirt is gone.
7. Soak Your Silver In Ammonia And Water Solution
Ammonia is an alkaline solution that you can use to clean your silver necklace. It can remove tarnishes because it dissolves metal oxides and converts them to water and metal ions.
However, cleaning with ammonia is more complicated than just using a little bit of soap and water. So you should avoid prolonged or excessive use so as not to damage your necklace.
How to do it:
- Fill a bowl with 3 cups of cool water and 1 tablespoon of ammonia.
- Swirl the bowl as you pour in the ammonia so that it is distributed evenly throughout the solution.
- Add your necklace to the bowl and let it soak for about 15 minutes.
- Take out the necklace and scrub off any tarnish or dirt with a toothbrush.
- Rinse the necklace under cool running water, then pat dry with a towel.
8. Use Hand Sanitizer
Cleaning jewelry with hand sanitizer is a great way to keep your jewelry looking good. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol which will kill all the bacteria that might otherwise grow on your jewelry, which can leave it with a dingy appearance.
How to do it:
- Rinse the necklace in cold water to remove any dirt that might be stuck on the surface.
- Rub the necklace against an old toothbrush or an unused toothbrush (the bristles should not be wet).
- Put a bit of hand sanitizer onto the bristles of the brush and gently rub the necklace until it shines.
- Dry the necklace with a dry cotton ball.
SEE: Is Gold Plated Real Gold? What Exactly Is the Difference?
9. Use a Polishing Cloth
Sometimes all you need is a polishing cloth and some time to get that shiny silver back into shape. However, this technique should be done regularly to keep your necklace looking shiny.
Cleaning with a polishing cloth is easy and quick. It also has the bonus of not requiring any water, so if you are in a hurry or don’t want to get wet, this is a great option.
How to do it:
- Use an old t-shirt or towel to brush away any dirt.
- Use a toothbrush to get into any nooks and crannies where the dirt may have collected, such as on the clasp or in the curves of the pendant.
- Shine your silver necklace with a polishing cloth for extra polish.
- Continue doing this until your necklace looks as good as new.
10. Window Cleaning Detergent
Window cleaning detergents are made with ammonia, which is safe for most metals, including silver. Plus, ammonia will not corrode any metals and it will provide a clean, shiny finish to your necklace.
How to do it:
- Put warm water into a bowl and add some window cleaning detergent.
- Add the silver necklace to the solution and allow it to soak for about thirty minutes.
- Remove the necklace from the solution, and gently brush each part with a soft toothbrush or cloth.
- Rinse the jewelry with cold water and dry off with a towel or cloth right away so that you don’t let any dirt or soap residue stay on the surface of the necklace for too long.
SEE: Best Evergreen Gift Ideas For Women
11. Try Shampoo
A shampoo is a common household item that can be used for several purposes, including cleaning your silver necklace. The acid in shampoo removes the tarnish by dissolving metal ions in the tarnish, such as copper.
It is also an ideal option because, unlike some other cleaning products, shampoos will not leave behind any residue.
How to do it:
- Fill a bowl with warm water and add a tablespoon of shampoo for every quart of water.
- Place the necklace in the bowl and leave for 10-15 minutes.
- Gently rub the liquid all over the necklace (use a toothbrush if necessary).
- Rinse the necklace thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Dry with a clean towel or cloth.
FAQs
How often should I clean a silver necklace?
Once or twice a year. Ideally, you should clean your silver necklace once or twice a year to make sure any residue or dirt doesn’t get on your jewelry.
The frequency with which you should clean your silver necklace also depends on the type of cleaner you use and how often you wear the necklace.
Can I wear a silver necklace to the pool?
No, you can’t. Silver’s reactive nature makes it vulnerable to tarnishing by dissolved oxygen and chlorine found in pool water.
Silver is an element that does not react with any other elements or compounds under normal conditions, but because it reacts with chloride ions found in pool water, it takes on a dull gray-black patina which can be seen on jewelry.
How do I maintain my silver necklace?
Clean your silver necklace with a soft, dry cloth, and avoid wearing it when you bathe or swim.
If you wear perfume, don’t wear it directly on your neck as the fragrance can tarnish the necklace. In addition, be sure to store the necklace in an airtight bag or box, away from any light source.
Conclusion
It’s pretty difficult to keep silver necklaces clean and looking their best. With time, they can get stained and tarnished, especially around the clasps and chains. They can also pick up smells from different places (like perfume or smoke) and become unpleasant to wear.
It’s very simple. If you don’t clean your necklace, dirt will build upon it. This dirt can not only make your jewelry look dirty, but it can cause damage to your beloved jewelry.
From cleaning your silver necklace using simple methods like soap and water to more complex methods like aluminum foil and baking soda, these simple home remedies will help you clean your silver necklaces, so they remain in good condition.
Thanks for reading.
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