Blackens silver: reasons and methods of cleaning

Silver is a noble metal that has been used since ancient times in the manufacture of jewelry, cutlery, religious items and more. In the days of Ancient Egypt, warriors were healed by applying the thinnest plates of this metal to them, and among the peoples of India, from time immemorial, it has been considered the main decoration and is passed down from generation to generation.

Argentum is resistant to corrosion and aggressive environmental factors, but it happens that silver turns black. In our review, we will try to find out what is the reason for this phenomenon, and how to return the metal to its original shine.

Even in ancient times, people associated the darkening of the metal with the actions of evil forces. Then it was believed that silver takes away all external negative energy, thereby protecting its owner from it. So, a blackened cross on the body was associated with an imposed curse or damage, and a darkened ring on a woman's finger meant serious problems in the heart, sometimes even a celibacy crown. And if a man's ring changed its color, it was directly connected with the effect of a love spell. The silver chain that had lost its luster, as well as blackened earrings indicated contact with a strong energy vampire, and the change in the color of the cutlery was attributed to the action of the lining or the appearance of evil spirits in the house.

In ancient legends, people very often used metallic silver objects to fight dark forces, and today many sincerely believe that this metal protects against envious people and the actions of negativity.

Believe it or not in such signs is a personal matter. For those who do not like such legends, there are other versions. Some of them attribute the blackening of silver to the deterioration of the health of their owner.

So, excessive physical exercise cause increased sweating. As a result, hydrogen sulfide is released, this substance enters into a chemical reaction with silver, which over time leads to the oxidation of the metal. In addition, clouding of silver can cause changes in the acidity of the skin.

Any hormonal disruptions and endocrine system disorders entail an increase in sweating, and a sharp blackening of the metal often indicates pathology of the kidneys, liver and gallbladder.

The chain around the woman's neck changes its color during pregnancy - this is also due to hormonal changes in the body. It happens that taking some medications causes a change in the composition of the blood, and this can also become one of the possible reasons for the discoloration of the metal, therefore, jewelers are advised to remove jewelry during illness.

Of course, in official medicine, a method for diagnosing diseases using silver does not yet exist. However, if your silver jewelry begins to darken rapidly, then it does not hurt to consult a doctor.

Pure silver is a fairly soft metal, so to increase its strength, some impurities are added to it, in most cases it is copper. Compounds of platinum and gold are less common - they rarely darken. If the manufacturer has gone too far with the proportions, then the alloy turns out to be of low quality, respectively, it quickly turns black. First of all, silver items with small fineness are subject to changes. Despite the fact that copper weakly undergoes oxidation, when interacting with sulfur from the air, a thin layer of silver sulfide is formed — it, and gives the items a black tint.

Jewelry and other silver items can darken even if not worn - this happens if there is little air in the storage area.

It is known that the ions in the composition of Argentum have pronounced antibacterial properties - protecting the air from viruses, they are able to change the color of the substance.

The use of shampoo, soap, cosmetics, and household chemicals can lead to blackening of the metal. Many of them contain sulfur and some other oxidants that have an adverse effect on the metal. That is why it is not recommended to wear silver jewelry in the bathhouse, swimming pool, as well as for sports and fitness, when the exercise is accompanied by the release of sweat on the skin.

Besides, Argentum turns black with constant contact with clothing.

It is known that crystals of silver and copper do not react with acids at room temperature. That is why the beloved by many lemon and vinegar, which prove to be excellent cleansers, in the case of silver will not give the desired effect without preliminary heating. But the alloy reacts well to alkaline compounds.

There are two main ways to clean blackened silver - at the jewelry shop or at home. It is the second method that we will consider in more detail.

It may sound strange, but one of the best Argentum purifiers is female lipstick. It contains titanium dioxide, as well as a lot of fat - they not only effectively remove plaque from silver, but at the same time give the jewelry a beautiful shine. To clean the product, you should smear it with lipstick, then take a brush and rub the metal almost until it squeaks. Do not hesitate - your jewelry will brighten just before our eyes. However, keep in mind that this method is only suitable for smooth objects without precious metal inlay.

Surely every housewife in the house will have baking soda. It can also be used to save your favorite chain, pendant or bracelet. To clean the metal, it is necessary to boil water, add soda to it in a proportion of 50 g per liter of water, after which the silver jewelry is wrapped in foil and dipped in a boiling solution for a quarter of an hour. Then all that remains is to thoroughly rinse the products and dry them.

Very good cleaning effect Toothpaste. This substance contains abrasive microparticles that effectively remove patina from the metal surface. To clean the jewelry, you need to apply toothpaste to a soft-bristled brush and polish the product thoroughly, after which it must be rinsed in cold water and wiped with a soft microfiber cloth.

Our ancestors used to clean table silver egg yolk. It not only returns the color of the metal surface, but also protects it for a long time from the appearance of a new plaque. To clean, soak a cotton pad in the yolk and rub the surface of the product thoroughly. Decorations treated in this way must be left, and when the yolk dries, rinse.

High performance is given by ammonia, today this method is one of the most reliable for use at home. To clean silver jewelry, you need to pour a little ammonia into the container and put the blackened items there for 15-20 minutes.

In conclusion, here are some tips to help keep your silver jewelry from getting darkened prematurely.

Periodic boiling in sulfuric or hydrochloric acid allows you to significantly reduce the presence of copper in the surface layer of the metal. As a result, the products become lighter. Any decorations and cutlery can be periodically clean with clean Argentum.

For the storage of antique items and antiques, it is better to turn to varnishing, which protects them from external adverse factors. However, keep in mind that if you are covering cutlery or jewelry in this way, then you should not use them, as the varnish can harm your body.

Protecting silver from the action of negative elements allows thin wax layer - this method is called passivation. Just like varnishing, it is used mainly for storage. Any silver jewelry is best store in a sealed box, preferably on a piece of linen or cotton cloth.

After removing the product, wash it with soap and warm water and wipe dry. From time to time it is recommended to wipe silver items with a soft cloth.

Nowadays, most of the silver items presented in jewelry stores are covered with rhodium. It effectively protects the metal surface and gives it maximum wear resistance. However, if such a product is soldered, then the spraying becomes blue-black. To return it to its original appearance, it is necessary to remove the coating and apply a new one.

You can get acquainted visually with the methods of purifying silver in the next video.