Cleaning blackened silver

How to clean blackened silver, which is one of the most noble and famous metals? Since ancient times, people believed that blackened silver has magical properties. Our ancestors believed that silver protects them from evil spirits and evil spirits.

The methods of creating this metal became known and were widely used in Ancient Russia, five hundred years before our time. Rich people of that time considered it very prestigious to buy blackened silver. Cutlery, jewelry and household items were made from this expensive metal, which have survived to this day. Nowadays, blackening silver is replaced by other methods of blackening. This method is called oxidation. The metal is covered with a special film that gives a blackening effect. This method is not durable. Silver wears off quickly. Therefore, it is better to use old proven methods.

Blackened silver and oxidized - what is the difference

Oxidized products are too smooth in appearance, smooth to the touch, not much dark color. When the metal undergoes real blackening using sulfur, copper and lead, the appearance is different. This is a rich black color in places, light in places. Such products have deep, clear and noble patterns. When cleaning oxidized silver, light spots may appear. Blackened silver is more resistant to polishing and cleaning, loses its blackness in the case of long boiling or when immersed in acid.

Care

In order for your jewelry to maintain its original appearance, it needs to be cleaned periodically. What not to do? Do not use: ammonia, abrasive materials, under no circumstances should we boil the product or scald it with boiling water. The following method will do:

• Having prepared the soap solution, add a little salt, put in your chains, earrings and rings, and leave for 20-30 minutes. After this, rinse thoroughly and leave to dry;
• Another way. Place your decorations in water with peeled potatoes and leave for 4-5 hours. Then rinse with water and dry;
• You can clean the product with a regular eraser, which is also a very effective method;
• We use toothpaste and a soft cloth. Apply toothpaste to the product and very gently, slowly, clean the metal. The main thing in this method is to choose a toothpaste with a minimum amount of abrasives.

Very rarely, owners of such products use the services of specialists. But in vain. Of course, the best cleaning results will come from a jeweler. Using a bur machine and special products, he will clean your jewelry, and it will be as good as new. The main thing is not to forget to warn the master that the blackness remains.

If your jewelry has stones, cleaning is the same as for items without stones. The only thing you need to pay attention to is that we wipe the stones with a cotton pad, or in hard-to-reach places with a cotton swab, after moistening them in ammonia or cologne.

Many people think that silver products do not require special care, but this is not true. Silver is stored separately from other jewelry. Stay away from items containing sulfur, as sulfur is the enemy of silver.Systematically clean products from dirt and dust. Remove during water procedures and housework. Household chemicals can have a detrimental effect on the appearance of the metal.

Blackening methods

Over the years of using this metal, many methods and methods of blackening it have accumulated. Can be done at home or by specialists.

• Galvanic method - requires special equipment, is performed only in specialized places;
• Mechanical method - you need to take graphite, mix it with iron oxide and turpentine. After receiving, the mixture is as thick as sour cream. Applied to the product. You need to wait until it dries and wipe with a soft cloth or brush. After this, we wipe it with alcohol and admire our work;
• The chemical method is the safest and most long-lasting. You need to fill the patterns on the product with a mixture consisting of silver sulfide, sulfur, copper and lead. After complete drying, clean the product well with a brush.

Blackening silver at home

You can try the blackening procedure at home. What do we need for this?

• Boiled egg, plastic container, thread and fishing line. Before starting, thoroughly clean your product. Then, cutting the egg into two parts, place it in a container. We hang the silver item on a rope, and seal everything tightly with a lid for half an hour or longer. Periodically turn the product over for uniform blackening;
• Blackening with iodine and sulfur ointment also gives the desired result. Apply iodine to the entire product and leave to dry. After complete drying, wipe thoroughly with a cloth. Sulfur ointment - the same process. Just need to dry it with a hairdryer.If the metal turns purple during drying, then everything is correct. After drying, wipe off the ointment completely.

If you do everything as we recommended, you will get a beautiful piece that will look like antique jewelry.

How to clean silver from blackening

If you want to clean your silver from blackening, you can use the following methods:

• You need a container, line the bottom with foil and place the product. Sprinkle baking soda on top, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and pour boiling water over everything. Leave for ten minutes, then rinse everything with warm water and dry well;
• Take a pan, cover the bottom and sides with foil, and place your decorations. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of soda on top, pour boiling water and put on fire. Wait for it to boil. Wait for it to cool completely, remove the product and rinse well under running water;
• Mix a lot of chalk and ammonia. Carefully clean the metal with a small brush. When you see the color begin to change and become whiter, leave it for half an hour. Then rinse thoroughly with water and dry.
• You can also use citric acid or even lemon itself. Apply a few drops of juice or acid to the product. You need to wait until the surface begins to lighten. After this, wash and polish with a soft cloth.

If you see that the product has not whitened enough, you can repeat it again. Such simple methods are available to everyone. You will not have the problem of cleaning your silver jewelry.

Benefits of silver products

Each of us chooses the decoration that we like and that you can afford. Gold is more expensive than silver. But this is not a minus, but a plus. In addition to price, silver has many advantages:

• We wrote about the price above. This is a profitable purchase;
• Silver goes very well with various stones;
• Silver products are suitable for various clothes;
• Silver is even used for medical purposes, as it has an antibacterial effect.

Since ancient times, silver has been endowed with magical qualities. It was believed that wearing such jewelry would help ward off evil spirits. Table sets are not only beautiful, but also healthy. Take care of your jewelry and products made from this noble metal, and they will serve you for many years.