Cleaning a silver necklace at home can be done with a few simple items, such as a microfiber cloth and some dish soap or baking soda.While some jewelry can be cleaned at home, other pieces, such as antique silver, fragile necklaces, and necklaces with precious stones, should be left to the professionals.When cleaning at home, you can start with the soap and baking soda, then try other methods, like the toothpaste method and the aluminum bath.
Step 1: There is a cloth that doesn't scratch.
A microfiber cloth is ideal for polishing your necklace.Paper towels and tissues can scratch jewelry, but these cloths won't.You want something that is lint-free.You can get into small areas with a cotton swab.
Step 2: Start with a small amount of soap.
A bit of dish soap can be used to clean your silver necklace.Add a few drops of soap to the water.If you want to start polishing your necklace, wet your cloth with the solution.
Step 3: Rub along the grain.
The ideal polishing motion is circular.That can scratch your silver.Rub back and forth, making sure to go along the grain of the metal, which is less likely to be scratched.You can gently rub the chain between your fingers with the cloth.Continue to clean the cloth so that you don't add tarnish to the necklace.Try not to brush too hard and use a clean toothbrush for detailed areas.
Step 4: Don't oxidize details.
Some parts of the jewelry may have been darkened to highlight the details.You need to avoid polishing those areas if you have a piece like that.
Step 5: You can try other polishes.
You may need to get jewelry polish to clean your necklace if it is more tarnished.You can make a paste of baking soda and water and rub it into the necklace.A second option is half a cup of lemon juice with a small amount of olive oil.You can use toothpaste as well.The ingredient in the toothpaste that polishes the silver is hydrated silica, so look for that ingredient; tartar control toothpastes will have more of this ingredient.Regardless of what you use on your teeth, silver is likely to work.
Step 6: Apply the paste.
The paste should be put on the necklace.You can try to avoid the stone if you have precious or semi-precious stones on your necklace.You can always add more later if you choose.
Step 7: The silver needs to be scrubbed.
If you want to use your fingers, grab a microfiber cloth, but only if you're using a natural paste.If the chain is also tarnished, Rub the paste into it.You're using a paste instead of rubbing soap into the silver.One you're not going to brush with is a soft-bristled toothbrush.You can end up scratching it if you try to brush too hard.
Step 8: Put the silver in a container.
The necklace should be run under water once the tarnish is gone.The paste will look funny if you wash it off.If you didn't get all the tarnish off, you can repeat the process.
Step 9: The bath needs to be set up.
Start with an aluminum pie plate or a bowl.Add salt to the plate.Next, add a small amount of either water softener powder or baking soda.If it is valuable, it's better not to use this method on necklaces with precious or semi-precious stones.It's best not to try this method on antique or fragile silver.The process will remove all the tarnish, including the decorative areas.You can add 1/2 a cup of white vinegar at this point.Baking soda will react to vinegar, so watch for overflow.
Step 10: The solution can be created.
Next, drink the hot water.A cup will suffice.It doesn't need to be boiling.Make sure the salt and baking soda are in the water.
Step 11: The necklace should soak in the solution.
When the solution is ready, put the necklace in it.The tarnish will move from silver to aluminum if it is touching the aluminum.Allow it to soak for a few minutes.If the necklace is tarnishing, you can do more.
Step 12: The necklace needs to be removed.
To remove the necklace, use tongs or a fork.If there are areas on the necklace that need more work, use a microfiber to polish them.Be gentle with the more fragile areas.Put the piece away.