How to clean tarnished jewelry made from cheap yellow metal, how to clean dirt from jewelry

Reasons for darkening of jewelry

To make jewelry, metal is used, which often oxidizes. This occurs if the product is constantly in contact with human skin, which secretes fat and sweat. This is also facilitated by interaction with oxygen. As a result of oxidation, the jewelry becomes covered with a dark coating. Blackness also appears on them if they are exposed to aggressive detergents.

How to clean a silver chain?

A democratic noble metal, silver reacts to external influences even more actively than gold. Therefore, over time, silver chains (especially those worn daily) develop a black or greenish coating. The significant copper content in the silver alloy oxidizes in response to sweating, humidity, and cosmetics. Therefore, silver jewelry must be cleaned quite often.

Today, choosing what to clean your silver chain with is not difficult. The safest way is to use professional products discussed above. Special wipes and solutions allow you to avoid microscopic scratches that may appear as a result of home cleaning, for example, with tooth powder or paste with the addition of soda.

Among the effective home remedies for cleaning silver chains are ammonia , citric acid , soda solution , soap solution (or dishwashing detergent), and vinegar . After cleaning, the product must be thoroughly rinsed and dried with a soft cloth.

When choosing a means of cleaning a silver chain, it is important to know if there is any “chemical” coating on it . Gilding, oxidation, rhodium plating and similar coatings are applied in a thin layer and require careful handling. If the layer is too thin, then after a while the coating will begin to wear off. However, such treated chains require an order of magnitude less maintenance (including cleaning) than chains made from a conventional alloy.

How to determine the material of decoration

Before you clean jewelry from darkening at home, you should determine what alloy was used to make it. In most cases, the following materials are used:

Nickel silver (zinc, copper, nickel). The decorations are characterized by white color with a green or blue tint. This alloy rarely corrodes.
Brass (zinc and copper). The products are yellow in color, reminiscent of gold. The alloy has a fine-grained structure.
Cupronickel (manganese, nickel, copper, iron). The appearance resembles silver.
Pewter (95% tin, the rest - bismuth, copper, antimony). The jewelry has a gold or silver finish.

Professional chain cleaning methods

When trying to clean a gold chain with home remedies, you must be aware that there is always a risk of damaging it. In addition, it is almost impossible to clean dirt that is deeply ingrained into joints and grooves. Therefore, you can take your favorite piece of jewelry to a jewelry workshop (where it will be thoroughly cleaned, even with ultrasound), or use special professional products for caring for gold items.

They usually come in the form of a liquid, balm, wet wipes soaked in a cleaning component, dry wipes for polishing, and tablets for preparing a solution. The solution allows you to clean even the most difficult to reach places. Balm and polishing wipes restore shine to chains. The market offers trademarks of various manufacturers of care cosmetics - for example, domestic Talisman, Aladdin, Thurman, Dutch HG International, German Sillbo, and others. As a rule, in their assortment, manufacturers offer products for cleaning gold, silver and platinum or universal ones for cleaning products made from any precious metal. And also - means for cleaning jewelry with inserts made of different materials. You can purchase these products in specialized stores for jewelers (for example, “Ruta” in Moscow).

Cleaning methods

In order for your jewelry to return to its original beauty, you need to choose the right product.

Metal jewelry

There are several ways to clean metal products:

You can clean darkened metal jewelry with a set designed for jewelry. It consists of tonic or paste (GOI), as well as a special cloth for polishing.
Often a mixture of tooth powder and chalk is used. To do this, mix 1 tbsp. l. such components and add water. The product is applied to a metal item using a soft brush, washed off with water and treated with a woolen cloth.
Toothpaste helps remove rust from an object. It is applied to darkened areas and wiped with a hard brush.
You can use a paste made from baking soda. This substance is added to a small amount of water so that a paste-like mass is formed. The product is treated with the product and removed with a toothbrush.
Ammonia helps clean yellow metal. To do this, apply a small amount of ammonia to a napkin and wipe the jewelry. Then use a dry cloth, which polishes the products until they shine.
Dark plaque is well removed by salt and whey. These components are taken in a 1:1 ratio and mixed. Earrings or a chain are cleaned of dirt with a rag soaked in such a solution.

Copper jewelry

Copper cleaning options:

To clean copper jewelry, use 9% vinegar and salt. These components are combined and the resulting paste is rubbed onto copper jewelry. Then the products are washed with water and dried with a soft cloth.
You can get rid of dirt with garlic. Take 2 garlic cloves, chop them and add a pinch of salt. The resulting product is applied to the jewelry for 2-3 minutes and washed off.
For the next remedy, take baking soda and salt in equal quantities and mix. Add a little lemon juice. You should get a thick mass that is used to process the jewelry.
Another method is to dissolve 5 tbsp in 1.5 liters of water. l. alcohol, 4 tbsp. l. turpentine and 40 g of oxalic acid. Rub the product with the solution and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Whey gives a special shine. Add 3 tsp to 100 ml of fermented milk product. salt and stir. Use this product to wipe tarnished jewelry, rinse and wipe dry.

To clean gold jewelry made from copper, gentle methods are used:

Prepare a soap solution in which the jewelry is placed. After 5 minutes, take it out and polish it until shiny with a soft cloth.
Soak a napkin in wine vinegar and wipe the chain or earrings. They are then rinsed and dried naturally.
Pour 1 liter of water into a basin and add 3 tsp. ammonia. The darkened item is placed in the prepared solution, after which it is wiped dry with a rag.

Glass and rhinestones

Costume jewelry often has inserts containing rhinestones, beads or glass. It is quite simple to rid them of darkening. For this:

Add a little washing powder to 1 liter of warm water.
Pour in 1 tsp. glycerin heated in a water bath.
Decorations are placed in the liquid for 15-20 minutes.
To restore shine to rhinestones, clean them with a soft sponge, rinse and wipe.

If you want to restore your Czech beaded bracelet to its former beauty, you should wipe the beads with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Natural and artificial stones

You can clean jewelry with stones from darkening in the following ways:

A rubber bracelet with amber is processed using the dry method. The rubber is wiped with a damp cloth, and the stone is cleaned with a dry suede cloth.
Natural pearls are washed with soapy water. The remaining product is washed off with water. If the stone is artificial, it is simply polished with a soft cloth.
If the silver-plated bracelet has a moonstone, it is wiped with a cotton pad, which is moistened in a solution of alcohol and water, taken in equal proportions. The bracelet itself is cleaned with a soft cloth.
Aquamarine is washed only with water and rubbed with felt.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste perfectly restores metal jewelry (gold-plated):

Just spread the paste on a toothbrush that you haven’t brushed your teeth with for a long time, and use it to clean toilets and tidy up. Important! The softer the bristles of the brush, the better.
Brush over beads and metal stones.
Rinse off the paste with running water.
Well, wipe the beads and ring with a dry cloth.

Jewelry that imitates gold items that has begun to darken should never be cleaned with abrasives. They will erase all the pseudo-gilding (spraying) - you’ll just have to throw away the cute trinkets.

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Rules for storing jewelry

To ensure that jewelry does not lose its attractive appearance longer, it must be properly cared for and stored. It is best to keep jewelry in a special box that has compartments for such items. In this case, they will not touch each other, which eliminates their darkening. You can't let brilliant green (or iodine) get on your jewelry. Such substances can completely ruin jewelry.

Before storing rings, chains and other items, dry them thoroughly. Otherwise, after some time the coating will darken and peel off. The box should be stored in a dark place. You should not leave such products in the bathroom. If possible, you should clean the jewelry with suede or flannel.

Care instructions

In order for jewelry to be beautiful and used for many years, it must be properly stored and cared for. Once you’ve figured out how to clean your jewelry, it’s important to follow a few care recommendations.

Store in a dry place away from moisture.
It is better to remove jewelry during cosmetic procedures.
Avoid contact of jewelry with cosmetics: perfumes, hair sprays, deodorants. The chemical composition of the products may cause a reaction, which may cause the product to darken.

Costume jewelry is easily vulnerable jewelry. For long service, you should follow simple storage and care rules:

Accessories are afraid of water and household chemicals. They need to be removed before housework.
It is recommended to remove and put items in the box before visiting the sauna, shower, or taking a bath.
Products should be put on last: avoid contact with perfumes, hairsprays, deodorants, and creams.
A separate box or fabric bag is required for storage. Each item is given its own place so that there is no contact with others. Humidity in the storage should be minimal. You cannot leave things in the bathroom.
It is recommended to dry the products thoroughly after processing and polish if necessary.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with what to do if the white fur has turned yellow.
It is important to remember: it is easier to preserve than to repair or buy again. A line of industrial products for jewelry or accessible recipes allow you to properly maintain accessories at home.

We recommend that you read: How to clean gold plate.

Cleaning depending on the type of decoration

Products can be made of yellow or white gold, and also decorated with stones. Each case will require special care.

Since rhodium plating is often used for white metal, this type of jewelry can only be cleaned with soft, lint-free cloths.

The following methods are used for the procedure:

Shampoo and ammonia are mixed in water, and then the product is placed there for half an hour. After this, it must be dried and washed in the usual way.
Mild soap is dissolved in water and the accessory is kept in the solution for 15 minutes. At the same time, all accumulated contaminants are washed away.

Products with stones also have their own characteristics. Most often they are glued, so the chain cannot be soaked. Cleaning is done with cologne. An alcohol solution is also used. Then it is wiped and dried. If the decor is too dirty, you can use a toothbrush. Next, rinse in cold water and dry with a cloth.

Chains with a matte surface require special care. To make a soft paste you need to mix lime, soda, salt and water. It should sit for three days and then it can be used for cleaning.

There is also such a remedy. Vaseline, chalk, laundry soap and toothpaste are mixed in water. You can prepare a mixture of chamomile decoction and a piece of tar soap. The soap must be completely dissolved in the infusion. The decoration is placed in this composition for several hours.

You can also purchase a special cleaning agent in specialized stores. In addition to rags, various brushes and sponges are used.