Silver articles definitely need a good care. Once you leave them untreated they will get tarnished and even your new piece of silver will look old. So it’s better to clean your silver regularly. When the silver comes in the contact of the dust and water it gets tarnished. There are various ways to remove the stains from the silver. The easiest among all is to ask your jeweler to polish them. If you do not want to do so then follow the below-listed remedies to clean silver.
Different Ways to Clean Silver:
1.) Aluminum Foil to Clean Silver
One of the best remedy to clean tarnished silver is aluminum foil. In an enamel pot boil one liter of water, add one tablespoon of baking soda and a piece of aluminum foil into it. When this solution boils add the silverware into it. Leave it for a few seconds. After a few seconds, you will see that the tarnished material from your silverware is removed and you will get a new looking silver piece. Remove the silver article from the utensil and wipe it off with a washcloth. However, if the tarnished residue still persists then make a thick paste of water and baking soda. Dip the silverware into it and clean it with the sponge. Then clean it with a cloth. This will remove the buildup.
2.) Hand Sanitizer to Clean Silver
Another remedy that you can use to clean your silver articles is hand sanitizer. The silver article is left without cleaning it gets a yellowish cast that is known as tarnishing. If it is not treated for a longer time it turns brown in color and gets darker day by day. To avoid this you need to clean the silver regularly. For regular cleaning hand sanitizer can be used. It will remove the germs and dirt like it removes from the hands and give you sterling silver. Spray some hand sanitizer on the silver articles and rub the soft cloth on that article. The hand sanitizer works as a great silver polish and you will get sterling silver.
3.) Corn Starch to Clean Silver
You can also clean your silver article with the cornstarch. Prepare a thick paste of cornstarch and water. Dip a damp cloth into this paste. And, apply it on the entire silver article. Leave the article for 10-15 minutes or until it dries completely. When it dries rub a rough towel or something that is mildly abrasive. This will help you to remove the stains from the silver articles. Instead of corn starch, you can also use cream of tartar or baking soda. It also has the same effect.
4.) Lemon Soda to Clean Silver
If you want a sterling shine from your silver articles then just clean them with lemon soda and the result will definitely amaze you. It is one of the best remedy or ingredients that you can use to clean silver. It removes the yellow stains from the articles and bring backs its shine. All you have to do is dip the silver articles in the bowl of lemon soda. Leave it for a few minutes and then rub it off with the towel. In this way, you can clean your silver jewelry and silver utensils.
5.) Vinegar to Clean Silver
You can also clean your silver articles with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. It treats the tarnishing and removes the dark stains of the silver article. In a bowl add half cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Mix it thoroughly and dip the silver articles into it for a couple of hours. After the 2-3 hours rinse it with the cold water. Wipe it off with the cloth.
6.) Ammonia to Clean Silver
Ammonia might smell bad but it gives the wonderful result. It remove the stains from the articles cleanse the articles and give you sterling silver. In a bowl mix warm water and the half cup of ammonia. Soak your silver article into it then gently wipe it with a towel. However, ammonia is not readily available. This remedy is good for the people who work in a chemistry lab. They can use it to clean the silver utensils and tools.
7.) Lemon Juice and Salt to Clean Silver
A mixture of lemon juice and salt will do wonders. Apply the mixture on the silver articles and leave it overnight. Next morning rinse it off with cold running water. Another way of using lemon to clean silver is, dab a lemon peel on the ash and rub it over the silver articles. This will also clean the articles and give you give a new look to your silver article. It is one of the easiest ways of cleaning the silver since lemon is readily available.
8.) Laundry Detergent to Clean Silver
You can also use laundry detergent to clean your silverware. All you have to do is a take a bowl and wrap an aluminum foil on the inner side of the bowl. Add hot water to it and mix a tablespoon of laundry detergent into it. Mix it and soak your silver article into it. You can also use an aluminum bowl. Leave the silver article in it for a minute or 2 then rinse it off with the clean water and pat it dry.
9.) Ketchup to Clean Silver
Yes, you read it right, it’s ketchup! If you want to remove the tarnishing then just apply the ketchup on the areas which are tarnished. Rub it off with the paper towel. However, if the stain is reluctant or you want to make your silver article shine then leave the ketchup on the silver articles for 15-20 minutes and then rub it washcloth. And if you want to clean the items that have textured details then use a toothbrush to clean the crevices. Dip a toothbrush into the ketchup and gently rub it off on the articles.
10.) Toothpaste to Clean Silver
One of the easiest ways to clean the silver and remove the yellow stains is to brush them with your white toothpaste. Line a washcloth in the wash basin and place your silver articles into it. Now one by one brush your articles with the toothpaste, rinse them with water and keep them beside.
11.) Window Cleaner to Clean Silver
You might find it weird but yes event window cleaner works. All you have to do is sprinkle a window cleaner on the toothbrush or laundry brush. Rub the brush on the silver articles gently. This will help you to remove the stains from the silver.
12.) Boiling Water Method to Clean Silver
If nothing works then this will definitely prove beneficial for you. This method has been used from the ages to clean the silver utensils, jewelleries and other pieces of silver. Boil water in the aluminum utensil, add baking soda and salt into it. When the water is about to boil, plunge the silver articles into it. Leave it for a few minutes. Remove the silver articles from it and rinse it off with water and pat it dry.