How to clean a silver cross?

Silver is an attractive, but rather vulnerable metal. Over time, jewelry made from this noble material, get a dark patina and lose their original appearance.

The main reason for the blackening of the silver cross is the reaction of the metal with hydrogen sulfide contained in the air, as well as its interaction with nitrogen and sulfur released by the human body. Since the silver cross is often used as a wearable, the most frequent are the biological reactions that occur on the surface of the product when it comes into contact with the body. The presence of sulfur and copper atoms in the silver molecule contributes to the oxidation of the metal, which occurs when it interacts with water vapor and oxygen atoms.

Regular visits to the pool with chlorinated water also contribute to the rapid darkening of the cross.

To clear the silver cross of blackness, you can use the popular and professional methods. Professional cleaning involves the use of expensive ultrasound equipment. It requires contacting the jewelry workshop. At home, you can use proven methods using the following tools:

To clean the product, dilute the vinegar to a six percent solution, and, wetting the sponge in it, carefully wipe the cross.

To prepare the mixture, it is necessary to mix water with soda in a proportion of 1:50, then thoroughly mix the resulting solution. Then you should put a cross in the resulting composition and leave for 1 hour, then remove the product, rinse under running water and wipe with a soft cloth. Use of undiluted soda is not recommended.: so you can scratch the silver surface. You can wrap the cross in foil, put it in boiling water for 5 minutes by adding a teaspoon of soda.

To obtain the necessary solution, you need to mix both substances in equal parts. Next, you should put a cross in the prepared composition, leave for half an hour, after the time has elapsed and wipe dry with a soft cloth. The use of peroxide is permissible only if there is complete confidence in the composition of the product.

For cooking means you need to mix 0.5 liters of water with one teaspoon of citric acid. It is necessary to bring the resulting solution to a boil and place the product in it. After 25 minutes of boiling over moderate heat, the cross should be taken out, rinsed in cool water and carefully wiped with a napkin.

To clean silver items from dark scurf, it is enough to place the product in a small container with a drink at night. In the morning you should rinse the silver and wipe dry.

To properly dilute the solution, it is necessary to take one article. a spoon of ammonia and mix it with one liter of soapy water. Soap must be used for household (without fragrances and cosmetic additives). In the resulting mixture should lower the product and hold it for 10-15 minutes.Then wipe the cross, wetting a napkin in the same composition, then rinse with cool water. You can mix the crushed chalk with ammonia at the rate of 1: 1 and smear the silver cross with the mixture obtained. After 10 minutes, the solution must be removed and the silver washed thoroughly.

To clear the cross from blackness, you need to put a little paste on the toothbrush and carefully handle the metal. The brush should have a soft bristle. This will avoid scratches and scuffs on the surface of the product.

To prepare the working solution, you must drop 2 tablespoons of salt in a glass of water. The mixture should be boiled and placed in the product. Five minutes later, you can get a cross and wash it under warm running water.

When working with silver, do not use gold cleaners. These metals have completely different compositions and require different cleaning methods. It is not recommended to leave the silver product in wet condition after processing. This will immediately blush the surface immediately after drying.

Special care should be taken when rubbing dry silverware. Even seemingly soft and delicate fabric can leave scuffs and stripes on the surface of the cross. This is especially true for polished glossy surfaces. For such purposes, you can use soft table napkins. It is necessary to wipe only with the front side: it is softer and will not scratch silver.

When inlaying a cross with precious stones, cleaning at home is not recommended. This can spoil the look of the stone. Store silverware separately from medical supplies and rubber items., due to the immediate reaction of silver to their components. Cleaning is recommended at least once every 2-3 months, regardless of the degree of browning.

Special tools can be purchased for cleaning the cross with precious stones. "Leuchtturm" or "Silver quick", produced by Johnson. Such compositions are sold in jewelry stores, they allow you to professionally clean silver jewelry without leaving your home. To do this, put the decoration in the finished solution, and then get it (the time is indicated on the packaging means). The disadvantage of this method is the high cost of the composition with a small volume of the bottle. Proper and regular care of the silver cross will give the product freshness, brilliance and aesthetics, will allow to keep the original appearance for a long time.

How to clean the silver at home, see the following video.