Silver jewelry is both beautiful and difficult to care for, and the same is true of silver cutlery. In a matter of brightness, with the passage of time, storage, and little or bad use, it is lost, stained, and worn; however, it is straightforward to revive the beauty of silver with a few tricks.
Many products, such as liquids or wipes, are responsible for polishing and removing stains from silver. However, in most cases, they are very expensive or difficult to obtain. If you're in a pinch for time and don't know what to do, we bring you a simple and inexpensive alternative. Keep reading this article in which we discover how to clean silver with toothpaste.
What Toothpaste to Use to Clean Silver
As it is called, the toothpaste or toothpaste is known worldwide for its cleaning effectiveness when it comes, not just for teeth and mouth in general. Thanks to the components that make up the toothpaste, it acts as a powerful cleanser, removing stains or dirt difficult to remove. In the case of silver, it can be effective to polish it but also to scratch it.
Read also: How to Clean White Gold Jewelry.
Before using this trick, it is important to identify what type of silver we want to clean since sterling or polished silver is more delicate than matte or satin silver, being more prone to damage or scratches from toothpaste.
Choosing a suitable toothpaste is very important to carry out this procedure since different types contain certain ingredients that can damage silver. The most recommended is to opt for a traditional toothpaste and not gel, since most of them are not as strong as to polish the piece.
In the same way, avoid all those containing additives such as bleach, mint particles of baking soda. That is, you can see the lumps, which can scratch the piece.
How to Clean Silver with Toothpaste-Step by Step
To use toothpaste to clean and polish silver, be it jewelry or fine cutlery, take note of these steps.
Also read: How to Clean Gold Chains.
- Apply a little water on the jewelry or silverware with the help of a spray filled with water. This will help you improve and facilitate the distribution of the toothpaste throughout the piece.
- Spread the toothpaste on the jewel; depending on the size of said piece, it can be more or less; however, do not overdo it with the amount. You can apply it with a cloth or cotton and, in tiny areas, help yourself with a cotton pad or cotton swab, like the ones we use to remove make-up and clean our ears.
- Rub the silver piece well with the toothpaste. For this procedure, you can use a sponge, cloth, paper, or a soft-bristle toothbrush. Make sure any of these instruments are wet. This will help reduce the risk of scratching the bracelet, ring, or silverware you are polishing. Keep in mind that as you polish, the cloth or napkin will become dark, do not be alarmed as this means that all the tarnish is being removed.
- Let it sit for about 5 minutes for the toothpaste to work on the most difficult to remove stains.
- Remove the toothpaste's remains with a clean cloth to see where there is more polish. If this happens, repeat the paste and rub process. Depending on how strong the loss of shine has been, the longer it will recover, be patient.
- When the piece is perfect, immerse it in a cup with warm water or place it under the tap to remove any toothpaste residue or dirt extracted from the jewel.
- Help yourself with a soft and clean cloth to dry and remove the water from the piece. You mustn't rub it, only that you pat it dry.
- Let it dry on top of the cloth for at least a day to ensure that every corner is perfectly dry and store it.
Tips to Prevent Silver from Losing its Shine
Finally, apart from having to clean the silver from time to time correctly, we give you some of the best tips so that the silver does not lose its shine :
- Avoid applying lotions, perfumes, or creams with silver jewelry already in place. In the case of rings, necklaces, or bracelets, the best option is to apply these products beforehand and let them dry well, remember that compounds and oils can damage or make the silver lose its shine faster.
- Store the silver in a suitable place where there is no humidity. Water and excess moisture are silver's number 1 enemies.
Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff
Sources: Uncomo
