How to clean a silver cross?

Many people are accustomed to complementing their own image with some kind of jewelry: rings, chains, earrings, crosses - all this is very common, like silver, from which a considerable number of the listed items are made. This metal is quite beautiful, and its reasonable cost makes silver quite affordable. That is why a believer often prefers a neck cross made of silver.

Despite the positive aspects, the owners of this item often face an unpleasant problem - a gradual darkening of the surface, due to which the appearance deteriorates greatly. When this happens, people either turn to specialized workshops for paid help, paying unfairly large sums for this, or they cope with pollution on their own at home.

The reasons for the appearance of darkening differ, as well as the ways to eliminate them, which may be suitable for certain cases. The most common culprits for spoiling jewelry are:

• Poor quality of the alloy, which does not correspond to the sample desired upon purchase.
• Oxidation of copper - one of the constituents of solid silver. With her, this happens, for example, with high air humidity or from an excess of hydrogen sulfide.
• Frequent contact with chlorine, such as showering, bathing, or going to the pool.
• Cosmetics, perfumes, shower gel, shampoo - all this, falling on the cross, provokes the gradual appearance of oxidation.
• Storage outside the rules. The habit of putting all kinds of jewelry in one box is extremely harmful and wrong, since the corresponding reactions occur between different metals, which spoils each piece of jewelry.
• Small damage caused by frequent friction, due to which the silver loses its protective layer, subsequently oxidizing and darkening.
• Lack of prevention in the form of constant cleansing from external dirt, which also include sebum and the owner's sweat.

There is an opinion that a silver cross can darken when its owner is jinxed. Many people tend to believe this, so they believe that the product will magically return to its previous appearance if you remove the evil eye and run to some witch grandmother. It doesn't take long to explain how erroneous such a judgment is. The metal does not care how the environment treats the owner, and he cannot feel bad energy. This superstition has nothing to do with the truth and the cross, if it turns black, should be cleaned not spiritually, but physically.

In no case should you overdo it in the process, and this is one of the main rules. The second says that it is necessary to use only certain means that can really help, and not give the opposite effect. In order not to make an irreparable mistake, it is necessary to study the entire list of suitable means.

Surprisingly, ordinary table vinegar is capable of returning the cross to its former shine. In addition to it, you only need cotton wool or any other soft cloth, which you need to moisten with vinegar and rub the surface of the product, then wipe it with a wet cloth.

Another product that is almost always found in the kitchen is baking soda. It (in the amount of two teaspoons) is added to 100 ml of water, and then a cross is lowered into the container for a while, after which the decoration is dried with any cloth.

In the case of a truly terrible state of silver, you can try an extreme method with the participation of the same soda: here the proportions of water and soda should be 1: 1, forming a relatively thick mass, which is applied to the product. Such a procedure, of course, will instantly get rid of any dirt, however, it can easily scratch the surface, therefore this option should be the last in line.

This tool is very effective and is able to cope with even the most difficult to reach places. It only needs one tablespoon of alcohol and a liter of soapy water. A cross is placed in this liquid, remaining there for several hours, after which it is wiped off with a damp cloth.

You can use another similar method: take 1: 1 alcohol and hydrogen peroxide and do the same, only leaving the product to soak for only 30 minutes. Truth, it is less safe for low-grade metal, the quality of which may only get worse.

If a serious renovation has begun in the house or its owners have recently moved, it is quite possible that they will not have all the funds listed in the kitchen and in the first-aid kit. Then ordinary toothpaste will come to the rescue. You just need to apply it to the toothbrush and gently rub the surface of the cross, doing this with the utmost care so as not to cause harm.

This method will take a little longer than the others and it cannot be classified as particularly harmless, because the acid and high temperature water needed here are very serious things and you will have to show all possible vigilance. Bring the acid and water (proportion 1: 5) in a metal bowl to a boil and place the decoration in the liquid, and then cook for another 15 minutes. Next, it remains to extract the silver, rinse it with warm water (most importantly, not cold, so as not to arrange a strong temperature drop) and dry it.

It is no longer a secret that cleaning silver requires caution, neglecting which it is easy to damage it and no longer cope with the consequences. So that you don't have to throw out your favorite jewelry, it is useful to know about a few additional features:

• If we are talking about the purification of a silver item, this is a separate matter. It is highly discouraged to take the risk of combining cleaning, for example, silver with gold. They are completely different in their composition, and each of them must be approached individually. Even if the method of removing the contaminants is the same, it is better to act separately to prevent reaction.
• Although hydrogen peroxide is not capable of reacting with silver, it does not bypass other alloy impurities, therefore its use is dangerous.
• Abrasives are considered unacceptable for silver jewelry, so their use for anti-tarnishing purposes is best left to hopeless cases.
• Do not underestimate the wiping stage, as it is precisely this step that prevents the blackening from returning again. It is necessary to dry thoroughly, without leaving a drop of moisture.

For information on what other means you can use to clean a silver cross, see the next video.