Fine silver jewelry, luxurious cutlery - all this often becomes a real family heirloom or just a favorite decoration. However, one way or another, over time, the appearance of silver products also changes. Their color changes and their beauty fades, and they no longer seem as alluring as they used to be. Is there any way to fix the situation? Many people think that cleaning silver with ammonia is an excellent way out. Is this method really effective? Is it worth resorting to it? This is what we will consider in this article.
Why does the color of silver change
Despite the fact that such a noble metal as silver is resistant to various aggressive environments (for example, alkalis and organic acids), nevertheless, some substances still react with it and change the color of silver products. So, for example, hydrogen sulfide actively interacts with silver. An element such as sulfur is oftenis a component of most cosmetics and many drugs. Also, the color of silver can be affected by human sweat, namely the same sulfur that is part of it. However, in people whose he alth is stronger, silver does not darken as quickly. Why? Their sweat contains more nitrogen.
Popular ways to clean silverware
A wide variety of substances are used to clean silver items. Among the common folk remedies for cleaning silver are the following: detergents, soda, tooth powder or paste, s alt, soda, lipstick, garlic peel, eggshell, vinegar, potato broth and citric acid.
The cleaning of silver products with ammonia is especially popular. This is probably due to the wide availability of this cleaner and the incredible ease of use.
There are also professional products for this purpose, which perfectly, effectively and safely clean silver. As a rule, their use is considered the most preferable.
Cleaning silver with ammonia
It is important to remember that in no case should you clean silver with too hard fabrics or with coarse brushes that could damage or scratch the surface of the product.
Cleaning silver with ammonia on your own is an absolutely simple process. Successfullyeveryone can handle it. Despite the fact that this method is considered one of the most effective, it is contraindicated for gilded silver and jewelry inlaid with pearls. Also, this method should be used with caution in relation to jewelry with inset stones.
There are several different ways to demonstrate how silver is cleaned with ammonia. You need to familiarize yourself with each of them, assess the potential risks and choose the right recipe for yourself.
Jewelry & Cutlery
This method is the easiest. Silver cleaning with ammonia (ten percent) is carried out as follows. You just need to soak the silver in alcohol for a short time (no more than ten minutes), and then rinse thoroughly with water, gently dry and polish to a shine.
Ammonia and tooth powder
This method will be ideal for cleaning silverware. Cleaning silver at home with ammonia and toothpowder has gained its popularity due to the extraordinary brilliance that the product acquires as a result of a properly performed cleaning process. The working solution should consist of five parts of water, two parts of ammonia and one part of tooth powder. Practice shows that this proportion is the most effective. Soak a cloth in this solution and wipe the product thoroughly. After that, the silver should be washed with water and wiped dry with a soft, cleancloth.
Cleaning with ammonia and laundry soap
This method will require a little more time and patience. At the first stage, it is necessary to make a solution (using warm water and laundry soap, although toilet soap is also suitable). Silver items should be soaked in this solution for some time (about twenty minutes). Then they should be thoroughly rinsed with running water and wiped dry. At the second stage, it is necessary to mix ammonia and crushed chalk to a homogeneous consistency. The resulting slurry must be applied to silver and wait for it to solidify. After that, the product must be washed with water and polished with a soft cloth (preferably suede).
Other popular remedies
There are also less popular recipes, such as cleaning silver with ammonia and detergent. Nevertheless, no one can dispute the effectiveness of this method of cleaning silver.
However, practice shows that not only cleaning silver with ammonia can bring good results. There are a number of other folk methods for cleaning silver. For example, cleaning with citric acid. To do this, prepare a solution consisting of one part of citric acid and five parts of water, and then bring this solution to a boil. Silver should be placed in a boiling solution and boiled for fifteen to thirty minutes. This method will be ideal for cleaning silvercutlery, as well as silverware.
It is very easy to clean silver items with vinegar. To do this, it must be slightly warmed up, and silver should be placed in this warm solution. After ten to fifteen minutes, it can be pulled out of the vinegar and wiped with a soft cloth (if it is more difficult to clean, you should use a soft brush).
A more aggressive way to clean is with a mix of baking soda and s alt. One part of these components should be mixed with two parts of water. In this solution, you need to leave the solution for a period of half an hour. After that, manually clean the product with a soft cloth or a toothbrush.
Original methods
An extraordinary recipe - a strong decoction of garlic peel. In this solution, brought to a boil, silver should be boiled. The time that silver spends in solution will directly depend on the degree of contamination of the products.
Some also clean silver with even less traditional methods, such as cleaning with Coca-Cola, potato peels, water in which eggs have been boiled, and even sulfuric acid. You can use these methods at your own risk. However, it is important to remember that after using any cleaning agent, silver items must be thoroughly rinsed with water.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that the choice of silver cleaning method is chosen by everyone at their own peril and risk. Therefore, you must be sure that the chosen method will not damage your favorite decoration. That is why it shouldcarefully study the above information and choose your silver cleaner wisely. Regardless of whether it is silver cleaning with ammonia and peroxide or ammonia and laundry soap, or maybe some of the folk methods (for example, cleaning with vinegar, tooth powder or citric acid), the result will be the better, the more carefully the proportions are observed. working solutions and cleaning technology.
For the most part, the methods described in this article are absolutely safe for silver. The main thing is to follow the instructions correctly and not neglect simple but effective tips. In this case, cleaning silver with ammonia will be effective and bring excellent results.
