If you discover blackened and oxidized silver jewelry in your jewelry box, it means that we have not taken care of it so that it is always in the best possible condition. So, clean it and everything is present in the kitchen.
The care of your silver jewelry is not complicated, so you can keep your bracelets, rings, earrings, etc. like new, so they can be worn at any time, on the other hand, there is a risk that they will darken and take on a dark hue if you do not.
Blackened and oxidized silver: causes
But why does silver turn black and oxidize? Silver does not oxidize like other metals, but over time it loses its luster, or as they say, “turns black.” Silver is a precious metal, so it does not react like other elements and cannot oxidize. However, when silver sulfide comes into contact with air, it reacts with the sulfur present in the atmosphere and forms a compound that is deposited on our jewelry and after a while it becomes darker.
It should be noted that the fact that silver darkens does not mean that it is of poor quality, nor that it is damaged. It is just something completely normal when it comes to this metal. Other factors that can darken silver are the products we apply to our skin: perfumes, makeup, creams, etc., or sweat itself. Constant contact with the metal can eventually cause it to darken. And also factors that affect darkening are prolonged exposure to sunlight, artificial light or the sea on our jewelry. In addition, abrasive cleaning agents can cause silver to tarnish. In addition, the PH (acid index) of our skin may have peculiarities that cause silver to darken quickly. For this reason, some pieces may turn black on us and not on our friend.
Methods of cleaning silver jewelry
Among the many systems for cleaning blackened and oxidized silver, some that are economical and safe at the same time include the use of table salt. All you need is a basin in which we poured a little warm water and salt. Instead of salt, we can also use baking soda. Let our silver items soak for a few minutes and then rinse them under water. Then they can be polished again with a dry cloth. In short, our jewel will shine again as in the past.
If you rub lemon juice and baking soda on the blackened silver jewelry, traces of dark patina will also be removed, indicating the type of jewelry. In fact, care must be taken to avoid stones or pearls that could be damaged by the acidity contained in the lemon. Many chains or inlays in jewelry can cause difficulties during cleaning operations. In this case, we can use toothpaste to clean them with an old toothbrush. In this way, we can easily reach every recess of the object with a slightly abrasive product that will not cause any damage.
How do I store silver jewelry?
To avoid oxidation, it is important that we store our jewelry in a cool, dry place. And if possible, that the closure is hermetic. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a jewelry box but choose one that is lined with soft canvas on the inside. This way, your jewelry will be much more cared for. The goal of such jewelry preservation is to keep the silver from coming into contact with the outside world to avoid the oxidation mentioned above. Similarly, it is important that you store many different pieces of jewelry in individual bags. In this way, we prevent them from scratching each other due to friction. In addition, we must try to expose the silver as little as possible to external agents such as alkaline substances, perfumes, creams, chlorine, etc..
