subject: How To: Clean Silver Chains [print this page] Silver is a favorite among jewelers and wearers alike. The color is appealing and it is affordable while still being very attractive. The only problem is that it does tend to tarnish and there is no way to stop that. Silver sulfate is the term professionals use when tarnish happens, it is because the silver oxidizes when it has a chemical reaction to the atmosphere. Wearing it every day is one solution, but impractical when you have more than one piece. Here are four popular ways people are choosing to clean their silver chains.
Investing in a good polishing cloth can work to your advantage, frequently rubbing the jewelry down with the cloth to remove any residue and buff it up. You can find some soft clothes with silver polishing agents and tarnish inhibitors already in the cloth, which adds extra protection to the jewelry. These cloths do remove dull areas and light tarnish very nicely.
Sometimes a cloth isn't enough though so a commercial product can come in handy. Silver cleaning polish is a liquid that cleans silver, all you need to do is dip the silver in and let it soak in the solution for a certain amount of time. This is a powerful solvent that removes tarnish, especially in the cracks and crevices.
A lot of people prefer to try a home remedy before purchasing a commercial cleaner. One that has been around for a long time is the toothpaste technique. You rub white toothpaste, not the get type, onto the chain. Then you use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently clean the silver and then rinse in lukewarm water when done. A soft cloth helps to bring the shine back after you clean. Jewelers don't like this method because the brushing can cause scratches on silver.
You could also try the aluminum foil and baking soda technique, this one rarely requires any scrubbing unless the black marks are really bad. You simply line a pie pan with aluminum foil, pour boiling water till it is halfway full, and add two tablespoons each of salt and baking soda. Stir that up really good till it is dissolved and then lay the chain in the solution. The chain needs to lay flat and touch the aluminum or it won't work.
Once the silver is in the pan, just let it soak for five to ten minutes, gently clean any stubborn spots. Afterwards you just rinse clean, dry, and buff. With this method, the aluminum, salt, and baking soda react to cause a magnet that pulls the tarnish from silver.
Nothing you do can stop the tarnish from eventually appearing, unless you wear it constantly, but that can be hard. Keeping your hands clean when handling it does help prolong tarnish from appearing. Next time you notice a favorite necklace is badly tarnished, don't throw it away, try one of these four methods above to clean your silver chain to make them look new again.
