How to clean silver earrings at home

Throughout centuries of history, women around the world have valued silver jewelry for its elegance and grace.

A pair of silver earrings, when properly cared for and cleaned, is a good investment for many years to come. They will not go out of fashion and can be easily combined with both everyday and evening outfits. Silver jewelry remains timeless and is suitable anytime, anywhere. But silver is a metal with character. And if you don't care for it well, it will quickly turn black and lose its former shine.

In this article, we will look at ways to clean silver earrings yourself and preserve their original attractiveness.

Why does silver jewelry darken?

Silver items can become blackened due to many factors, even air.

This is due to the oxidation process that occurs when silver interacts with various substances. Here are the reasons for the appearance of black plaque:

• Chemical composition and air humidity. The air contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and upon contact with silver jewelry, a chemical reaction occurs, which results in a dark coating on your favorite earrings or rings. With increased humidity, the oxidation process occurs faster.
• Cosmetics and detergents contain many different impurities that negatively affect silver. Therefore, before cleaning and cosmetic procedures, it is better to remove jewelry.
• Sweat and sebum. These are also irritants for silver. Sweat contains sulfur, which oxidizes silver and leads to the appearance of a black coating.

If you notice blackness on your accessories, this is not a reason to throw them into the far corner. You can fix everything and clean your silver at home.

Types of silver contamination

The main reason for the darkening of silver is the oxidation of the metal under the influence of adverse environmental factors. Jewelry loses its shine due to:

• high humidity;
• contact with cosmetics or detergents, perfumes;
• exposure to human sweat, earwax;
• wearing the product for a long time without cleaning;
• improper care and storage.

Even those jewelry that “lie idle” in the box need regular care.

Features of cleaning silver

Silver requires a careful approach to cleaning, especially if the jewelry has inserts. You need to choose a method for removing blackness and strictly monitor the processing time. Under no circumstances should you increase the cleaning time for silver items. This can lead to irreversible consequences.

But don't be alarmed, follow our instructions and you can clean your favorite silver earrings quickly and easily.

Cleaning algorithm and methods

The procedure for cleaning silver is approximately the same in each case.

Preparation

This stage helps to clean the products from grease, dirt, and even lighten the surface a little.

Treatment

The cleaning procedure is carried out according to the instructions, with strict adherence to time and step-by-step actions.

Rinse

It is a mandatory step after cleaning to rinse off the product completely. Residues of the substance used may damage the surface upon prolonged contact with it.

Drying

Drying requires certain requirements.

After cleaning, you need to dry your silver earrings, especially if they have stones.

This procedure will allow you to consolidate the effect for a longer period.

Preparing for cleaning

Most often, it is the earrings that are inlaid with stones. This imposes certain restrictions on the choice of cleaning methods. Therefore, before you start fighting blackness, you need to prepare the accessory.

• Examine the earrings from all sides. Pay attention to the clasp, the stone and its fastening, and the surface of the metal. If there is any damage to the fastenings, contact a jeweler.
• Assess the level of pollution. It often happens that grease, dust and dirt have accumulated in the decorative elements of earrings. And to restore their former shine, just leave the earrings in a soap solution for 15-20 minutes.
• Prepare the necessary funds. After choosing a cleaning method, prepare a soaking container, a soft, lint-free cloth (a flannel or microfiber cloth will do), and your metal cleaning products.

Only after you have examined the jewelry and chosen the most suitable method, you can get down to business.

General recommendations

In order to quickly clean gold earrings with stones at home, follow the basic rules and recommendations:

• do not use aggressive chemicals for cleaning to avoid clouding the crystal and darkening the metal;
• do not use hard brushes, rough sponges or products with abrasive particles, otherwise you will get scratches that spoil the aesthetic appearance of rings, earrings and chains;
• if possible, use special compounds that are designed for cleaning gold items;
• You should not clean items made of white or yellow gold with laundry soap, as it leads to darkening and clouding of the metal;
• When choosing a cleaning product, consider the nature of the stone and its density.

Do not use the boiling or soaking method for products with glued stones. The glue will become soggy in water and the decorative element will be easy to lose.

Effective quick cleaning products

There will be no hard-to-find or expensive products here. Most likely, you already have all the most effective remedies at home.

Soap solution

A simple, popular and fairly gentle method. Dilute a soap solution in a container using liquid soap or shampoo. And soak the silver earrings in it for 20-30 minutes. Well, then walk over the surface with a soft cloth, remove any remaining grease and dirt, and finally wipe with a dry cloth to avoid soap stains.

Baking soda

This option is more “tough”. Although baking soda is excellent at removing blackness, you need to be careful with it. Rubbing silver even with a mixture of baking soda and water can leave micro-scratches on the surface of the jewelry. If you are afraid of damaging your earrings, make a solution from soda.

• Dissolve one tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Then place a piece of foil and silver earrings at the bottom of the glass. Leave for 15-20 minutes.

Ammonia

An inexpensive and effective product for removing black from silver earrings. We do this: leave the earrings in an ammonia solution (1 tablespoon of ammonia per 1 liter of water) for 20 minutes. Then rinse in water and polish until shiny.

But be careful: you cannot clean silver with a large amount of impurities of other metals, with pearl inserts and precious stones with ammonia.

Toothpaste

Whitens and restores shine to your favorite earrings. For cleaning, it is better to use toothpaste without granules and a soft toothbrush. Apply a little toothpaste to the brush and gently brush over the surface of the earrings. This method will help clean hard-to-reach places and recesses.

Raw potatoes

A non-standard way, but it works. Grate raw potatoes on a fine grater and mix the resulting mass with warm water. It should be a thick paste. Place silver earrings, rings, chains there and leave for about 20 minutes. Then let the jewelry dry on its own and only then go over it with a cloth for shine.

Vinegar

This method will take more time than others. Soak the silver and black in the vinegar solution and leave for an hour. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly under the tap and polish until shiny. Vinegar is not suitable for cleaning silver items with stones.

Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide itself is not used, but is used in tandem with ammonia. Mix peroxide and ammonia in 1:1 proportions and add the same amount of water. Leave the accessories for 10-20 minutes. If the blackness remains, try boiling for 10 minutes in this solution.

Ash

Another unusual way. Oddly enough, ash has cleaning properties and effectively removes dark deposits on silver. Try mixing ashes and lemon juice and leaving your silver items in the mixture.

You can also add ashes to boiling water and put silver earrings in there for 10 minutes.

Coca Cola

Cola not only works well against rust, but also perfectly removes blackness from silver. Pour Coca-Cola into a container and place the earrings there, boil for 5 minutes. Then rinse and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Pomade

Regular lipstick is often used as a means to clean silver earrings with stones. Apply lipstick over the entire surface of the jewelry in a thick layer, wipe gently, and then rinse.

Pomade is a gentle way to remove blackness and is suitable for both simple silver and jewelry with inserts and stones. But cleaning methods for earrings with stones is not limited to lipstick alone.

When to use ultrasonic cleaning

The method allows you to update the appearance of the product in a short time.
This method helps clean dirt in hard-to-reach places. Products of any size are processed. Ultrasound is effective for contaminants of the following nature:

• from creams to perfumes lotions;
• natural skin secretions;
• corrosion products;
• inorganic compounds of blood, sugar, protein.

How to clean earrings with stones

Silver becomes covered with a black coating, and stones become cloudy over time. To restore your jewelry to its former shine, you need to choose the appropriate cleaning method. As a rule, means for removing blackness from silver are selected based on what kind of stone is inlaid into the product.

With topaz

Earrings with topaz can be cleaned with ammonia. Add 4-5 drops of ammonia to 1 liter of water and immerse the earrings in the solution for 30 minutes. Afterwards, wipe them well. Remember that topaz is a fragile stone and cannot be cleaned with abrasive agents (for example, soda, salt, etc.).

With amber

A gentle organic stone that also does not tolerate abrasive substances and harsh cleaning methods. And in this case, even a mild soap solution will not help. Modern soap contains chemical compounds that amber simply cannot tolerate. When interacting with them, the stone can quickly become covered with a whitish film and it will be impossible to remove.

Therefore, in order not to damage the stone and at the same time effectively remove blackness from silver, use ammonia. Add 10 drops of ammonia to a glass of water, leave the earrings with amber in the solution for 8 minutes and you’re done.

With turquoise

A beautiful sky-blue mineral that is “afraid” of chemicals. Even dishwashing detergent can be “dangerous” for such a fragile stone. Ideally, it is recommended to wipe the stone with a simple damp cloth. Then wipe thoroughly dry. Turquoise does not tolerate moisture, so do not leave objects with turquoise in water. Silver earrings with turquoise can be polished with a special polish for silver, avoiding contact with the stone, and the turquoise can be wiped with a damp cloth.

With cubic zirconia

An elegant semi-precious stone, similar to a diamond, ceases to shine over time. To restore it to its former shine, you can use a soap solution. Remember, cubic zirconias “do not like” products containing ammonia and chlorine. Also, remove earrings with cubic zirconia during cosmetic procedures. And don't forget to clean it every 1-2 months.

With pearls

Precious stone and precious metal combine to create an elegant, timeless piece of jewelry. But even such elegant things as silver earrings with pearls require care and cleaning. Let us remember right away: pearls do not tolerate abrasive substances, and immediately turn yellow from alcohol products. Therefore, we choose only gentle cleaning methods. For example, soap solution. Leave the earrings for 10-15 minutes, and then wipe well with a soft cloth.

With amethyst

Amethyst also does not tolerate cleaning with abrasive substances and does not tolerate hot temperatures. A safe way to clean amethyst earrings is with the same soap solution. Don't forget to dry your jewelry afterwards.

Precautionary measures

To avoid damaging your earrings, follow the recommendations for processing silver jewelry:

1. Hard brushes and aggressive chemicals can damage the coating.
2. Special cleaning products can deform jewelry because they contain abrasive substances. It is necessary to follow the instructions for using silver care products.
3. If it is heavily soiled or there are stones, it is better to entrust the restoration to a professional who will prevent damage to the jewelry and return it to its 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.

Jeweler's cleaning tips

Many problems with improper cleaning of gold jewelry can be avoided if you follow the advice of professionals:

• If you have ever heard somewhere that you need iodine to clean gold earrings, know that this is not true. Iodine leaves ugly stains on soft metal that cannot always be removed even by polishing. Using iodine is a very bad idea, especially for jewelry with stones;
• Do not use chlorine-containing liquids (bleaches or cleaning products). Trying to clean gold earrings with chlorine will result in whitish spots, cracks or delamination of the inlay, clouding and loss of shine. In general, the earrings will be damaged, and even a professional jeweler will not be able to restore them;
• Another terrible product that for some reason is persistently used to clean gold jewelry is potassium permanganate, or potassium permanganate. Forget that this product cleanses anything at all (except the stomach, of course). The jewelry will be disfigured with dark uneven spots, the stones will be damaged.

Remember: if you have even the slightest doubt about your abilities, it is better to take your gold earrings to a workshop, where they will be professionally cleaned and all minor defects will be eliminated (stone fastenings and clasps will be corrected). You should not engage in amateur activities. It’s better to pay once for proper cleaning than to pay for repairs.

Cleaning earrings with organic inserts

Natural elements combined with silver look great and are suitable anytime, anywhere. But cleaning earrings with organic inserts requires a delicate approach.

Natural elements can be shells, ivory, petals sealed in resin, stones (amber, coral, mother-of-pearl), wood, etc. It is best not to wet such jewelry, or gently wipe the silver part with soapy water or use a school eraser, and the organic insert treat with a soft cloth. It is strictly forbidden to use acids, alcohol, ammonia, soda, etc., on such jewelry.

What is prohibited in cleaning gold?

Like any other polished surface, gold is resistant to abrasives, strong acids, alkalis, processing with hard brushes or other rough materials. The formation of scratches, uncharacteristic darkening and color changes on the surface spoil the aesthetic appearance of the product and make it unpresentable.

When planning to clean gold jewelry, choose the cleaning method wisely, based on the degree of contamination and the foreign materials used in the gold item.

21.03.21