It might not seem like a delightful way to while away a day than polishing your silver. You won't have to worry about it again for a very long time, though, if you do it correctly. You can quickly get your silver shining again with only a few simple items during house cleaning in Near Southeast. Here's how to maintain, clean, and polish your silver so that it always looks brand-new.
What Leads to the Tarnish of Silver?
Silver tarnishes when exposed to light and sulfur in the environment. If you reside in a location with a high humidity level, your jewelry may tarnish more quickly since moisture can speed up the process. Keep your silver away from chlorine, another substance known to react with silver, to avoid tarnishing. This means that before diving into any indoor or outdoor pool, you must take off any silver jewelry.
Prior to silver cleaning and polishing
Before immersing your complete collection in one of the cleaners listed below, we advise trying your selected cleaning procedure on a small patch of fabric or a single item.
At the first sight of tarnish, you might be tempted to get some gloves and clean your silver, but exercise moderation. You may really clean silver too much because the polish is naturally abrasive. Two to six light scrubs each year should be plenty.
Three Ways to Polish Silver
There are numerous efficient and affordable silver polishing products available. However, you can use products from your home, when applied with a soft cloth, to remove the tarnish and leave your silver sparkling. You can ask your housekeeper to polish them first before storing them.
1. A hand sanitizer
Nowadays, the majority of people keep hand sanitizer close at hand. You can also use it to buff silver. Rub away any tarnish or dirt on your items with a dry cloth and a few drops of sanitizer.
2. Cornstarch
Cornstarch isn't just for cooking, like baking soda. Make a paste out of 3 parts water and 1 part cornstarch in a small basin. For this technique, you should apply the paste to the tarnished portions of your silver goods using a moist cloth. When the mixture has dried, rub away with a terry cloth towel or another more abrasive material (though nothing that might scratch your pieces).
3. Toothpaste
Another item from the home that serves two purposes is toothpaste. It may polish your silver the same way it shines your teeth. However, a word of caution: Be careful whatever toothpaste you use as some varieties are quite abrasive. A tartar-controlling toothpaste should be tried since it contains hydrated silica, which cleanses your teeth. Avoid whitening products since they could include overly harsh substances.
After cleaning your silver with toothpaste and a dry cloth, rinse it with warm water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.
Use this technique less frequently than others, and test a small area of your silver beforehand to make sure it won't get scratched.
Three Ways to Keep Silver Clean
1. Avoid storing silver in plastic.
Your silver jewelry will become permanently discolored as a result of the chemicals in plastic. The best place for silver to be kept is in a dresser or cabinet drawer in a cool, dry space.
Silver should be wrapped in tissue, paper towels, or fabric before being placed in a plastic bag if you must store it there to prevent tarnishing.
2. Never put silver in an oven.
Your silver won't become cleaner if you believe this will do so. If you leave your silver in the oven for too long, it can melt, leaving you with a huge mess.
3. Be considerate of it
Silver is readily scratched, so test the polish on a small area first if you're not sure. When deep cleaning, be gentle with your silver so that it will last a lifetime.
Further Questions
How frequently should silver be polished?
When you polish silver, you take the metal out of the object. So, if you use natural cleaners, you need only polish silver twice a year, or up to six times a year.
Will vinegar tarnish silver?
Because vinegar is inherently acidic, it is an excellent cleaner for silver. This indicates that when it comes into contact with tarnished silver, it will cause a chemical reaction that is favorable. Your best weapon against tarnish will be pure distilled white vinegar because it's compatible with other widely used deep cleaning agents like baking soda.
If you need help in cleaning, polishing, and maintaining your silver, you may look for professionals for house cleaning in Los Angeles that offer that kind of service.
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3 Steps to Professionally Clean Area Rugs
General FictionMaggy House Cleaning Services Los Angeles offers expert tips on cleaning and polishing silver using common household items. They emphasize the factors that cause silver tarnishing, such as exposure to light, sulfur, and humidity, and advise against...
