How to Clean Silver Chain at Home – Easy Methods That Shine
A silver chain shines differently on everyone, but only if it’s clean and polished. Over time, silver can lose its shine and look dull. Don’t worry! In this blog, you’ll learn why silver chains get tarnished, how to clean them at home, and the dos and don’ts to keep them sparkling like new.
Why Do Silver Chains Get Tarnished?
Silver is a reactive metal that easily forms a thick layer of silver oxide and resulting in the faded colour of any jewellery or ornament when it comes in contact with oxygen. Even if left untouched, this lustrous metal can react with the sulphur compounds in the air. In a polluted environment where sulphur dioxide elements widely found, the tarnishing process becomes faster and cleaning becomes harder.
Moisture & humidity can also be one of the major reasons why your silver jewellery might tarnish. Usage of skin care products like lotions, perfumes, or sunscreens can also affect the colour of silver accessories, as the chemicals present in such beauty products react and tarnish the metal.
Keeping your silver essentials near rubber or latex can also spoil their shine, as they contain high amounts of sulphur. This kind of tarnish can be tough, sometimes even leaving tiny marks or dents on your silver.
The tough part is that rubber is used with so many materials, like bands, pouches, etc., that it becomes difficult to keep it separated. Applying hair dyes while wearing silver could also be the possible reason for silver chains, pendants, and earrings getting covered by a rustic layer.
Proven Methods to Clean Silver Chain at Home
For ages, our ancestors have been polishing metals such as silver & gold by using DIY techniques. Learning from and observing them, we have come up with certain ways in which you can save your silver jewellery from getting tarnished. Baking soda is widely used as a cleaning agent for various purposes. Hence, make a paste— mixing baking soda and water. Apply this concentrated paste to your silver jewellery, but in 1 direction, not in circles, as it might result in scratches.
This method is great when it comes to removing thick, tarnished layers without using any harsh lotions or chemicals. Toothpaste can also be used as a great tarnish remover, as it contains a great amount of basic elements that help in the removal of corroded silver shine. A mixture of lemon juice and one teaspoon of olive oil also dissolves the oxidised layer over silver accessories; apply it gently on the jewels—lemon removes the tarnished layer, and olive oil adds a shine.
Cornflour acts as a lustre booster for many silver accessories that are affected by light oxidation; rubbing the solution with a microfibre will give your accessory an instant shine. However, this method shall be avoided over severely rusted jewellery, as forced rubbing of such a solution might damage the design and leave minute scratches. Commercial high-quality silver polish is best suited for cleaning silver accessories. It consists of the right proportion of chemicals that are required to dissolve the discoloured layer on silver.
Do’s and Don’ts While Cleaning Silver Jewellery
Prevent Moisture
The quickest manner in which silver jewellery becomes tarnished is when it's stored close to moisture. Hence, before swimming, bathing, or any activity water-sensitive, take them off and wear the dazzling shiny silver jewellery once you've done it.
Keep your silver accessories right
Zling silver jewellery does not rust, but all of these art pieces must be handled with the greatest care. Store each one of your silver pieces separately from standard man-made jewellery and lock them away in an air-tight container to keep them shining.
Remove Before Physical Activity
If you are going out on a bike ride, Gym, yoga, any kind of sport or exercise, it is advised to remove your silver jewels as sulphur particles present in the environment might fade away the silver shine.
Store in anti-tarnish pouches or zip-lock bags
Silver reacts with humidity, moisture & various materials that might result in faded polish of silver. Hence, it is very important to store your silver accessories in anti-tarnish pouches, air-tight containers or zip lock bags.
How Often Should You Clean Your Silver Chain?
If you are styling your silver jewellery daily, you should clean it 3-4 times in month or at least 3 times in 4 weeks. However, if you wear it occasionally, you can firmly polish it once in 2-3 months.
Conclusion
Silver jewellery is more than just trendy pieces to your wardrobe — it is both of monetary and metaphysical worth. Whether in ancient culture or modern styles, silver symbolised purity, strength, and protection. It is worn as a blessing or protection shield by some, or as a family heirloom or investment by others. With such dual worth, silver is truly ageless.