How to clean silver with stones (earrings, rings) at home

Silver jewelry has been used in people's lives since ancient times. In the modern world, they go perfectly with any outfit: with an evening dress and with denim clothes. Even in large quantities they never look vulgar. Therefore, these jewelry are so in demand among women and men of any age. But silver often takes on a dull appearance. You can restore its shine in a jewelry workshop. An alternative way is to apply the knowledge of how to clean silver jewelry with stones at home to make it sparkle.

Features when cleaning silver items with stones

The difficulty of cleaning silver with stones lies in the fact that the classical methods of care applied to the metal are often not suitable for the inserts that decorate it. Therefore, the method is selected based on the needs of the stone.

In order to clean silver jewelry, both chemical and mechanical cleaning methods are used, i.e. using abrasives, but the latter are absolutely not suitable for stones. The presence of even a small amount of fine abrasive can worsen the appearance of the main element of the decoration, and then a trip to the jewelry workshop cannot be avoided.

Jewelry with stones also react differently to dry cleaning. For some, alkali is not acceptable, others do not like acid and alcohol solutions, and some have a negative attitude towards high temperatures - for each case, an individual method of cleaning silver is selected.

Causes of loss of shine

As a result of the reaction, the metal darkens, sometimes becomes covered with yellow spots or a reddish patina appears, accessories lose their shine and attractiveness. Before considering options for how to clean silver jewelry with stones, it is necessary to determine the factors that contribute to oxidation. These include:

• high humidity;
• sweating;
• frequent changes in ambient temperature;
• contact with substances included in perfumes, cosmetics, household chemicals;
• exposure to household gas;
• reaction to onion juice, egg yolk;
• interaction with other metals when storing jewelry together.

View this publication on Instagram
Publication from ??Flea Market KROPIVNYTSKY?? (@krop.baraholka) Jul 20, 2022 at 12:36 pm PDT

Preliminary preparation

To properly clean silver with stones at home, you need to be well prepared. Depending on the task at hand, the following may be required:

• tweezers;
• cotton rags;
• polishing cloth (flannel, suede);
• toothbrush with soft bristles;
• toothpicks, cotton swabs;
• eraser;
• soda, salt, chalk, ash, tooth powder or paste;
• ammonia;
• shampoo or soap;
• lemon acid;
• vodka or cognac.

This list is indicative and is intended for cleaning a wide range of jewelry.

There are six rules to remember when cleaning:

1. There is one condition for the tools used - they should not be hard or sharp, so as not to accidentally scratch the product being cleaned.
2. Concentrated detergents cannot be used for cleaning; only weak solutions are acceptable. They work well on small, light stains.
3. You should not overuse water. Many silver items use glue to fix the stones, but water is still a solvent.
4. If, after using weak cleaning solutions, the blackness does not come off from the silver, then stronger agents (for example, alkaline pastes) can be used. In this case, the stone inserts must first be covered, and cleaning must be done with a cotton swab and a wooden toothpick. It will take more time, but the end result is worth it.
5. Cleaning is done at room temperature - sudden changes can negatively affect the final result. The insert may discolor, tarnish, crack, or move in the frame as the metal expands when heated.
6. To make a silver product shine, it must be polished. Thus, when processed, the metal acquires a dull appearance, which can only be removed with the help of a velvety fabric.

Caring for Silver Rings

A silver ring may lose its attractive appearance, primarily due to household pollution. Particles of dust, hard soap, creams, and food get clogged into the grooves of the relief surface of the ring, which does not look entirely aesthetically pleasing.

To ensure that silver jewelry retains its attractive appearance for a long time, you need to follow simple rules:

1. Store in a cool, dry place, preferably in a canvas bag.
2. Remove the ring when cleaning, washing and cooking.
3. Remove jewelry before washing your hands.
4. Rinse the ring with running water every 3-4 weeks and rub with a soft cloth.
5. Silver rings do not like high humidity. If the weather outside is like this, it’s better to wear something more practical.

What to do if the ring darkens while doing housework? It is necessary to soak it for 5-10 minutes in a warm soapy solution and carefully brush the surface with a toothbrush.

It is enough to clean silver jewelry 2-3 times a year so as not to spoil the surface of the product.

Cleaning silver with mineral semi-precious stones

Silver is an excellent setting; precious and semi-precious stones are common (diamonds are an exception). Ruby, garnet, sapphire, aquamarine, turquoise, opal, moonstone - the list goes on. The methods for cleaning silver with these stones are different, since they differ in their physical properties - density, i.e. resistance to scratches.

Quick cleaning of garnet, topaz and ruby

Pomegranate

Topaz

Ruby
Although these precious stones are highly durable, it is not recommended to subject them to unnecessary stress, especially in hot water. Therefore, they are cleaned in the following way:

1. Pour a small amount of cool water (15–20 C°) into a glass or other small container.
2. A ring or earring is tied to a thread.
3. Rinse in water (5–10 min).
4. The stone is wiped with a cotton rag or soft sponge.

If contamination cannot be removed, then a small amount of glycerin can be used.

Careful care of turquoise, malachite and opal

Turquoise

Malachite

Opal

Earrings and rings with inserts made from these materials can be cleaned with slightly alkaline solutions. To do this proceed as follows:

1. Prepare an aqueous solution with soap or shampoo: 5 ml of detergent per 100 ml of water.
2. Soak the product in soapy water for about 10 minutes.
3. Rinse with clean water.

Cleaning with ammonia is also allowed:

• A cotton swab is moistened with ammonia.
• They wipe the pebble.
• Rinse with clean water.
• Wipe with a soft cotton cloth.

Cleaning silver at home

Effectively combats stains on emeralds, aquamarines and sapphires

Emerald

Aquamarine

Sapphire

The Mohs hardness of these stones is more than 7, which means that fine-grained abrasives can be used for cleaning.

1. Tooth powder or paste is mixed with water. To reduce the risk of damaging the polishing of stones, kerosene is used instead of water.
2. For a ring, brooch, etc. Apply the resulting paste and rub it with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. The cleaning agent is washed off with warm water.
4. Wipe with a soft cloth.

Cleaning methods

To clean silver, you can use professional products or resort to traditional methods. In the second case, several recommendations that are common to all methods should be taken into account:

1. Cleaning is carried out with a soft cloth or sponge that will not scratch the metal. You can use a toothbrush, making sure the bristles are soft.
2. To ensure more effective cleaning results, it is recommended to pre-soak the jewelry in a soapy solution.
3. All work is carried out in warm water, prepared in advance, so that the product is not exposed to temperature changes.
4. Final polishing is done with suede.
5. Cleaned jewelry must be wiped dry.

Laundry soap

The method is considered universal. This way you can clean not only silver, but also other jewelry metals. To work, you will need 2 tablespoons of soap shavings dissolved in warm water. The resulting mixture is washed with a soft sponge or rag.

Afterwards, the jewelry should be dried thoroughly, especially if it has a stone. If dirty spots remain on the surface after the procedure, it is recommended to clean it again using a different recipe.

Baking soda

For mild contamination, simply pour a little baking soda into your palms and moisten with water. Use the resulting mixture to clean the jewelry, then rinse with clean water. If there are deeper or older stains on the surface, you can make a baking soda solution in a shallow bowl and leave the item in it for several hours. The following recipe is considered the most effective:

1. Bring water to a boil in an aluminum pan (you can take a container made of another material, first covering the bottom with foil).
2. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and stir until completely dissolved.
3. Dip contaminated jewelry into the mixture and leave there for 15-20 minutes.
4. After cleaning the products in this way, rinse them and dry them with a paper towel.

The method is not suitable for earrings or pendants with gems: exposure to boiling water may cause the stones to fade, become cloudy, or even burst.

Lemon acid

A 10% solution of citric acid or 6% vinegar also works well for removing stains on silver. To work, you will need to pour the liquid into a small container and place the jewelry in it. For preventative cleaning, simply moisten a soft cloth in citric acid and clean the surface of the product.

Toothpaste

To clean the jewelry, you will need to squeeze a little paste onto a damp soft cloth and wipe the product. In the case of silverware, you can use tooth powder diluted with water or a solution of ammonia to a paste-like state. However, this method should be used carefully, since solid particles of powder along with dirt can erase part of the silver layer.

Liquid detergents

Add a little dishwashing detergent to a plate of warm water and mix well. Silver jewelry is placed in the solution for 15-20 minutes and then washed with clean water. You should make sure that there is no soap residue left on the surface, especially under the stones in the nests. At the end of the procedure, the cleaned jewelry is thoroughly dried and then polished with a soft cloth or napkin.

Ammonia

Ammonia for cleaning jewelry can be used in several ways:

1. Mix alcohol with water and place silver items in a container for 15-20 minutes.
2. Wipe the jewelry with a cloth moistened with a mixture of water and alcohol.
3. Mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts. Immerse the product in the resulting mixture for 15-20 minutes.
4. Earrings and rings, as well as other small jewelry, can be cleaned with a mixture of ammonia and chalk.

Remember that if the jewelry is inlaid with stones, the concentration of ammonia should be reduced.

Soap solution

Soapy water is often used to clean silver. It is prepared once a week by adding a few drops of ammonia. As a result of regular use, the metal does not lose its shine and beauty.

Medical alcohol

For cleaning, a solution of hydrogen peroxide and medical alcohol is made. Dirty jewelry is placed in it for 20 minutes. Then they need to be taken out and wiped dry with a cloth.

Chalk

To work, white chalk is without the use of dyes and is ground into powder. The resulting chalk dust is applied to a cloth, which is then used to rub the contaminated areas. To restore shine to cleaned products, it is recommended to add a little ammonia to the chalk.

Salt

A solution of table salt also returns a beautiful shine to silver jewelry. To do this, add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm liquid and stir thoroughly. If you clean the surface with dry crystals, scratches will form on the silver and the jewelry will lose its attractiveness.

Eraser

Erasers that effectively remove pencil marks from paper also work well with stains on silver. To do this, you need to rub the stain well with it. The disadvantage of this method is that an eraser will not be able to clean hard-to-reach places, for example, if the product has a relief pattern or there are several slots for stones on it.

How to clean silver with organic stones

As for inserts of organic origin, this is a more delicate material. The porous structure of materials of this kind requires appropriate maintenance. Failure to follow the rules of care and cleaning may result in loss of the natural color of this material. Organic stones include coral, ivory, amber, precious woods and pearls.

How to clean silver earrings

The best way to clean a silver amber pendant

1. Soap solution in the proportion of 200 ml of water to a teaspoon of liquid soap.
2. The pendant is soaked for about 10–15 minutes.
3. Wipe the product with a soft sponge.
4. Wash with warm water.
5. Place on absorbent fabric and allow the pendant to dry.

Accelerated drying is unacceptable - radiators and convectors are contraindicated for amber.

It should be noted that ivory products are cleaned in a similar way. The difference lies in the duration of soaking - in this case the time is no more than 5 minutes.

Delicate coral cleaning

It is strictly not recommended to expose coral, as well as valuable wood, to water. The best way to clean such products is to use them carefully. The only thing allowed to maintain the appearance of products made from such materials is to treat them with a dry velvety cloth.

In this case, silver is cleaned with a cotton swab and a toothpick in any suitable way (it is recommended to use a thick soda paste).

The best way to clean silver and pearls

Pearls are capricious. Alkaline and acidic environments are contraindicated for it - from them it “grows dark”, loses its shine and attractiveness.

If the pearls are significantly soiled, they are cleaned with starch paste - thus, they are also polished:

1. Prepare the paste: 1 part starch, 1 part water.
2. Treat with a toothbrush. The soft pile of the latter is the main condition.
3. Wash with warm water.
4. Place on a cotton towel. The pearls must dry on their own.

If the original shine is lost, you can use another method:

• The beads are placed in a cloth bag along with sea salt.
• Rinse the pearls in a bag in warm water until the salt is completely dissolved.
• Rinse with water and dry on a towel.

Salt water is the native penate and there the pearls restore their original appearance.

How to clean silver earrings without stones

The difficulty of cleaning silver earrings most often lies in their ornate shape and the presence of various decorative elements. But this can be easily overcome if you choose the appropriate cleaning method. If you have silver earrings without stones, then any of the methods described above will do. The most effective and proven means for getting rid of blackness are soap solution and ammonia. But remember, it is important to observe the soaking time and proportions of products. And for prevention, it is recommended to clean silver earrings once a month.

Special care products for silver with stones

Salt, soda, ammonia are folk remedies. The means of combating pollution do not end there. The market can offer its own options - they are also very effective and their cost is reasonable.

Among the most popular are the following industrial products:

• Flurin, price 350 rubles;
• Aladdin, price 250 rubles;
• Adamas, price 300 rubles;
• Town Talk, price 220 rubles;
• Sano Silver, price 500 rub.

Flurin

Aladdin

Adamas

Town Talk

Sano Silver

Ammonia and peroxide

A 1:1 mixture of ammonia and peroxide is another classic recipe. It is enough to soak the silver in the solution for 15-20 minutes. We only recommend doing this in a tightly closed jar, otherwise you will have to enjoy all the “delights” of the pungent ammonia smell.

— Ammonia in its pure form is suitable for cleaning silver and clouded stones. It's not as effective as a mixture, but it's not as aggressive either;

- But peroxide cannot be used in its pure form - the bleaching effect is too strong. There is a high risk of ruining the jewelry, especially if the composition contains any impurities or coatings. A coating or cloudiness may appear. This applies not only to silver, but also to other valuable metals.

How to save your cleaning results

No matter what jewelry is made from, they all require maintenance sooner or later. However, you can increase the period without cleaning, you just need to use and store your jewelry correctly. To do this, you need to know why silver darkens and how to neutralize this process.

Causes of silver contamination:

• presence of metal in rooms with high humidity;
• contact with saline solutions, cosmetics, household gas, etc.

If you eliminate these reasons, you won’t have to clean your jewelry often. To do this, you need to follow the recommendations:

• store silver jewelry separately from gold and other jewelry;
• taking a shower, visiting a swimming pool, sauna, bathhouse, etc. remove jewelry;
• prevent the ingress of household chemicals, including their evaporation - when cleaning, remove precious items;
• do the same when playing sports.

If you follow these simple recommendations, your jewelry will always look great and delight you with its aesthetic appearance.

What not to clean silver

1. When choosing a method to clean silver, you must remember that it is a fairly soft metal, and treating it with abrasive agents is strictly prohibited.
2. If granular components are used (soda, salt, etc.), they must first be thoroughly dissolved in warm water.
3. Do not use toothbrushes or hard sponges in the procedures, as they can easily scratch the surface of the cleaned metal.
4. All operations are carried out only manually. Dishwashers are not allowed, especially for items containing precious stones.

Baking soda and aluminum foil

Boil the same half-liter saucepan with 2 tablespoons of soda. Place a strip of food foil in the pan - you can even tear it off the chocolate packaging. Then lower the silver and leave the miracle mixture for 15-20 minutes.

As with copper, the reaction of silver with aluminum is important here, which helps remove any blackness. At the same time, you will forget about cloudiness and layers. The shine will be as good as new! It’s not for nothing that this recipe is the most effective. But it is better to avoid dry soda for cleaning - it is too aggressive an abrasive for soft and delicate silver.