How to deal with S925 silver jewelry turning black
Due to its exquisite and diverse styles and low prices, silver, as a common precious metal, can meet the market demand of consumers and is deeply loved by a large number of consumers. Compared to gold, silver has a hard texture and is not easily damaged. But silver also has a disadvantage, which is that it can easily turn black and ugly over time. It is usually troublesome to clean at a jewelry store, and if silver washing water is used, it can corrode the surface of the silver. In fact, we can also clean silver jewelry at home ourselves. The necessary tools are usually available at home, and the method is simple and will not damage the silver jewelry. Let’s learn about it together.
The reason why silver jewelry is prone to blackening is that it easily reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the air, producing black silver sulfide. Therefore, smuggling by relatives means washing off the black layer of silver sulfide on the surface. As long as the correct method is mastered, it can be easily cleaned off without harming the silver jewelry.
Firstly, clean the toothpaste. Cleaning with toothpaste is generally suitable for plain silver jewelry with a smooth and even surface. Dip a waste toothbrush in a small amount of toothpaste and repeatedly scrub the areas with black hair until the surface of the silver jewelry is as smooth as new. After scrubbing, rinse with clean water. This method is effective for cleaning collars and flower free bracelets, but it is not recommended for cleaning carved or engraved silver jewelry due to poor results.
Method 2: Prepare a small bowl and cover the bottom with large aluminum foil, with the shiny side facing up. Then put the silver jewelry that needs to be cleaned in it and pour salt into it. The salt must cover the jewelry.
Finally, pour in boiling water and stir with chopsticks. Wait for a few minutes, and you will find that the phenomenon of silver jewelry turning black and black has disappeared. If there is no tin foil in the house, aluminum foil can also be used as a substitute. Tin material is aluminum, which provides an electrolyte environment mechanism together with salt. After heating with boiling water, a chemical reaction occurs, and silver sulfide is reduced to its original elemental form through the electrolyte environment. Therefore, our jewelry naturally becomes as shiny as new. Cleaning silver jewelry in this way will not harm it, the method is simple, and the materials are easy to find. However, it should be noted that this method cannot be used to clean silver jewelry embedded with alloy jewelry, otherwise it is easy to damage the jewelry and the losses outweigh the gains.
Method 3: Alcohol or ammonia water. You can prepare a clean piece that does not require alcohol or ammonia to scrub and react with black oxides. This method is relatively mild.
Silver jewelry is not only important for daily maintenance and cleaning, but also for wearing. If used improperly, the oxidation rate of silver jewelry will accelerate. When we take a shower or sleep, it’s best to remove silver jewelry and avoid contact with sulfur soap softeners, perm agents, and other items. When not wearing silver jewelry, be sure to seal it with a plastic bag to prevent oxidation reactions caused by excessive air contact.