How to clean a silver cross?

Silver is an attractive but rather vulnerable metal. Over time, jewelry made from this noble material acquires a dark coating and loses its 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 emitted by the human body. Since a silver cross is often used as a body cross, the most common are 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 clean a silver cross from blackness, you can use folk and professional methods.Professional cleaning involves the use of expensive ultrasonic equipment. It requires an appeal to the jewelry workshop. At home, you can use proven methods using the following tools:

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

To prepare the mixture, you need to mix water with soda in a ratio of 1: 50, then mix the resulting solution thoroughly. After that, place the cross in the resulting composition and leave for 1 hour, then remove the product, rinse under running water and wipe with a soft cloth. It is not recommended to use undiluted soda.: This can scratch the silver surface. You can wrap the cross in foil, dip in boiling water for 5 minutes, adding a teaspoon of soda.

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

To prepare the product, 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 removed, washed in cool water and wiped thoroughly with a napkin.

To clean silver items from dark deposits, it is enough to place the item in a small container with a drink overnight. In the morning, rinse silver and wipe dry.

To properly dilute the solution, you need to take one tbsp. a spoonful of ammonia and mix it with one liter of soapy water. Soap must be used household (without fragrances and cosmetic additives). The product should be lowered into the resulting mixture and kept for 10-15 minutes. Then wipe the cross, moistening the napkin in the same composition, then rinse with cool water. You can mix crushed chalk with ammonia at a rate of 1: 1 and smear a silver cross with the resulting mixture. After 10 minutes, the solution must be removed and the silver washed thoroughly.

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

To prepare a working solution, you need to dip 2 tablespoons of salt in a glass of water. The mixture must be brought to a boil and the product is placed in it. After five minutes, the cross can be removed and washed under warm running water.

When working with silver, do not use gold cleaners. These metals have completely different compositions and require different purification methods. It is not recommended to leave the silver item wet after processing. This will cause the surface to become cloudy immediately after drying.

Special care must be taken when wiping silver items dry. 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. You need to wipe only 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 appearance of the stone. Store silver items separately from medicines and rubber items., due to the immediate reaction of silver to their constituents. Cleaning is recommended to be done at least once every 2-3 months, regardless of the degree of darkening.

To clean the cross with precious stones, you can purchase special tools Leuchtturm or "Silver Quick"manufactured by the Johnson company. Such compositions are sold in jewelry stores, they allow you to professionally clean silver jewelry without leaving your home. To do this, you need to place the decoration in the prepared solution, and then take it out (the time is indicated on the packaging of the product). The disadvantage of this method is the high cost of the composition with a small volume of the bottle. Proper and regular care of a silver cross will give the product freshness, shine and aesthetics, and will allow it to retain its original appearance for a long time.

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