advertisement Silver jewelry is beautiful and offers great durability. However, with any exposure to humidity, silver will tarnish. This tarnish will quickly build, leaving you with a dark black coating in place of your shiny silver. Fortunately, there are several methods to quickly restore your silver to its original beauty.

Salt and Foil Method

You Will Need:

Aluminum foil

Water

Salt or baking soda

Soft cloth

Small jar or bowl (depending on size of jewelry)

The Cleaning Process:

Fill the jar or bowl about half full with hot water. (Be sure to use a jar or bowl that is heat safe.) Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the jar or a couple of tablespoons of salt to the bowl and mix to dissolve. Baking soda can be used instead of salt if preferred; it is a type of salt and will have the same result. Just look at the great result achieved by @Mrs.M.Life.N.Loves on Instagram using baking soda (bicarb) in the photo to the right! Add a few strips of aluminum foil to the jar or cover the bottom of the bowl with a sheet of aluminum foil. Now simply drop your silver jewelry in the water. You can shake it around in the jar or swish it around in the bowl. The aluminum with the salt acts as a magnet, pulling the tarnish off of the silver. Allow the jewelry to set in the saltwater/aluminum foil mixture for a few minutes. Remove and rinse under running water. Repeat as needed until the tarnish is removed. Dry with a soft towel.

Silver Cleaners (Pastes or Dips)

Silver cleaners come in two forms, either a paste or a dip, and can contain harsh chemicals. They should be used only as a last resort. Be very careful with any gemstones as the solutions may strip them of their protective coatings. Read all warnings and follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully.

You Will Need:

Soft cloth

Small bowl

Silver cleaner

Water

Soft bristled toothbrush

Rubber gloves

The Cleaning Process:

Begin by wiping off as much of the tarnish with the soft cloth as possible. Place a small amount of silver dip solution in the bowl. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and quickly dip the jewelry into the silver dip. Do not allow the silver to soak in the polish as the chemicals are too harsh for extended exposure. When using a paste, apply the paste using a soft cloth or soft bristled toothbrush, rubbing in a straight line motion. Remove it with a clean soft cloth. Do not rub in circles as the abrasives in the paste will scratch the surface of the piece. Rinse thoroughly under cool running water. Be sure to remove all of the solution or it will dry and leave a white residue that will be much more difficult to remove. Dry and buff with a soft cloth to restore the shine. Your silver should look good as new!

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