Learn 5 ways to clean silver with baking soda and even lipstick

It can be raw material for jewelry, cutlery, decorative objects, cups, plates… But it usually leaves the question: how to clean silver? As it is a chemical compound, it undergoes reactions that lead to oxidation, causing darkening. We have selected five practical ways to reverse the discomfort, presented in step-by-step videos. Check out!

How to clean silver with vinegar?

You will need:

vinegar toothpaste loofah

Way of doing

Mix vinegar and toothpaste. Dip the soft part of the loofah in the mixture and rub it on silver objects.

The tip comes from Giselle Renosto, presented in the following video:

Toothpaste cleans silver?

Yes it is true! “Toothpaste is mentioned quite frequently as a product associated with cleaning silver. This is because the detergent properties of its composition make it possible to remove the accumulation of dirt and grease that pollute silver. Toothpaste combined with sodium bicarbonate is even more effective for cleaning silver,” said the Waufen website.

You will need:

aluminum pan toothpaste water

Way of doing

Place the pan on the fire. Add toothpaste. Place the silver object on top of the paste and, using a spoon, completely wrap it in the product. It’s time to add water. Let it boil. After 3 to 5 minutes, remove the item from the pan and wash with water and detergent.

The suggestion is from the YouTube channel called Aprendindo Alternativas:

There is yet another way to clean silver with toothpaste:

You will need:

Way of doing

Put some toothpaste on the flannel. Rub the product onto the silver object until you get the desired effect.

Sodium bicarbonate

You will need:

baking soda salt bowl aluminum foil water

Way of doing

Line the bowl with aluminum foil. Place the silver item inside the container. On top of the object, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Then it’s time to add 1 teaspoon of salt. Finish with boiling water. Cover with the edges of the aluminum foil. Wait 10 minutes. Open the aluminum foil and remove the silver item, which will be clean and shiny.

See step-by-step details in the video on Pratas Barony’s YouTube channel:

How to clean silver with lipstick?

You will need:

cotton dark color lipstick

Way of doing

Apply the lipstick to a piece of cotton. Rub the cotton on the silver object.

Vivy Rodrigues warns: do not use lipstick on accessories with stones, because the color of the cosmetic may not come off. Watch the tips:

How to clean silver with coconut soap?

You will need:

liquid coconut soap water

Way of doing

Place the water and soap in a pan and turn on the heat. Add the silver object to the liquid and let it boil. After 2 minutes of boiling, remove the object from the pan and cleaning is ready.

Gisele Fer is responsible for this step by step, which you can check out in the video below:

Why does silver darken?

Two details can lead to changes in the appearance of objects in the material. The first of these are gases. According to Superinteressante magazine, they darken because a layer of silver sulfide (which is dark in color) forms on them, which appears due to the reaction of silver with sulfur compounds in the environment, generally gases. One of these compounds is hydrogen sulfide gas that appears when something is putrefying. Sulfur dioxide, originating from the burning of gasoline in cars, also causes the reaction.

In the case of jewelry, the effect also comes from sweat, as reported by chemist Atílio Vanin, from the University of São Paulo. “It is basically composed of water and dissolved mineral salts. The salts, mainly sodium chloride, help the surface of the jewelry to mix with hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfur dioxide, facilitating the reaction that forms the dark layer”, detailed the publication.

How to prevent jewelry from darkening?

Avoid applying perfume and other cosmetics to the area where the item is worn. Do not leave silver pieces in contact with cleaning products. Do not wear silver pieces when doing physical activity, due to sweat. Avoid exposing parts to very intense heat. Avoid going into the pool, sea or even taking a shower with 925 silver pieces. This is because some components present in the water can damage the color of the piece.