Are your silver items and jewelry clouded, darkened, or oxidized? Over time the shine of your silverware starts to fade, meaning your sparkly silver necklace is no longer quite so sparkly.
But don’t fear, there are several home remedies to give new life to your bracelets and necklaces (or even your cutlery) that have lost that beautiful shiny colour. Read on to find out how you can use toothpaste, vinegar, or even beer to clean your silver up a treat. Here are advice on how to clean silver.
Get started
Firstly, we recommend you buy a soft cloth – preferably in suede – and a toothbrush. These will facilitate the cleaning of hard-to-reach spots or any stones. Then you just need to choose between the DIY solutions below and give the shine back to your silver items.
Lemons
Besides being an excellent remedy against bad smells and the ideal way to clean an oven, you can also use lemons to clean your jewelry. Dip a toothbrush in lemon juice and gently scrub your silver. It will quickly regain its natural shine.
Beer (even non-alcoholic beer!)
Beer can be very effective when cleaning your oxidized jewellery. In fact, cola has the same effect. Fill a bowl, mug, or glass with beer and leave your silverware in it overnight. The next morning, rinse everything well. This will avoid your silver cutlery leaving the taste of beer in your mouth when you next eat dinner!
White vinegar
This natural home cleaning superstar can also be used for cleaning jewelry and other silver objects. This method takes slightly longer than others, but requires very little effort. Leave your jewelry in a cup or glass of white vinegar for about 2 hours. Then rinse thoroughly and dry with a cloth. The silver will look as good as new!
Toothpaste
Toothpaste doesn’t just clean your teeth but also your silverware. Put a little toothpaste on a cloth or toothbrush and gently scrub the silver. You’ll see the black/green stain caused by oxidation gradually disappear. And it’ll have a minty fresh smell as a bonus – win/win.
Liquid dish soap or Marseille soap
Fill a pot with hot water and add dish detergent or soap. Soak the jewelry or silverware for 10 minutes, then rub them a little with a soft cloth. Finally, rinse with clean water and dry. Simple and effective.
Cigarette or wood ashes
Although this method may seem strange, ash can be an easy solution to the problem of oxidized silverware. Soak a cotton wool ball in lemon juice and dip in a bit of ash. Rub your jewelry with this mixture, and the tarnished silver will become clean and sparkly again. Don’t forget to rinse and dry thoroughly.
Sodium bicarbonate
For more persistent stains, try this remedy. Let your jewelry soak in a glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda. Leave the mixture for a few hours to take effect. Afterwards, rub your silverware with a toothbrush or sponge and thoroughly rinse. This magical ingredient can also be used to clean baby toys and get rid of nasty odours in your home.
How about you? How do you clean your silverware? If we’ve forgotten some unique method, share it with us in the comments below!
And if it’s not just your silver that needs cleaning, find out how you can hire a part-time maid for your Dubai home with Helpling.