The only drawback of silver items is that they darken over time. This happens due to silver oxidation. A coating of silver sulfide appears on it, which gives the metal a dark shade: first brown, then black.
Therefore, many housewives ask: how to clean silver? How to restore its noble shine?
There are several ways to clean silver. Some were used by our great-grandmothers, and before them by countless generations of silver item owners. But what a tedious task cleaning silver was! In wealthy homes, maids did it.
If you want, you can try this role yourself by cleaning silver items with soda or tooth powder. You can also mix tooth powder with ammonia. And – gently rub with a fluffy cloth. Rub, rub, rub... Tired?
Today, there are simpler ways to remove the dark coating from silver. Household chemicals greatly simplify silver care and reduce the time needed for cleaning.
The cheapest method is using ordinary dish soap. The recipe: add 1 tablespoon of dish soap to a liter of water, then add a tablespoon each of soda and salt. Place an aluminum pan with this solution on low heat, put the silver in it, and boil for about half an hour.
A more modern and reliable way to clean silver effectively is using professional household chemicals specifically designed for this purpose. One of the most well-known products is HG silver polish cream. Such products are used in jewelry stores, but you can also buy them for home use. These products not only clean silver but also cover it with a thin protective film, which helps items stay tarnish-free longer.
Another advantage of special silver care products: they can be used to clean jewelry with stones (soda, powder, or boiling with dish soap should not be used in this case). 925 sterling silver is also recommended to be cleaned with special chemical agents, for example, the same HG silver polish cream.
_
