We all have a silver cuff, chain, ring, or pair of earrings that we love. But eventually, it becomes tarnished by time or by neglect. No matter how it got there, Anne Marie Helmenstine, who has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, has a recipe for removing the tarnish and resurrecting your silver jewelry.
She writes, "As silver oxidizes, it will tarnish. This layer of oxidation can be removed without polishing and scrubbing, by simply dipping your silver in this non-toxic electrochemical dip. Another big advantage to using a dip is that the liquid can reach places a polishing cloth cannot."
Ingredients:
- Sink or glass pan
- Hot water
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Aluminum foil
- Tarnished silver
Directions:
- Line the bottom of the sink or a glass baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil.
- Fill the foil-lined container with steaming hot water.
- Add salt (sodium chloride) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to the water. Some recipes call for 2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt, whereas others call for 2 tablespoons each of baking soda and salt. Personally, I wouldn't measure the amounts... just add a bit of each substance.
- Drop the silver items into the container so that they are touching each other and resting on the foil. You will be able to watch the tarnish disappear.
- Leave heavily tarnished items in the solution for as long as 5 minutes. Otherwise, remove the silver when it appears clean.
- Rinse the silver with water and gently buff it dry with a soft towel.
Just a word of caution: take care with any silver or gold cleanser, especially when your piece has porous gems like pearls, amber and turquoise. A harsh chemical may make your silver shine but dull your gemstone.
