How to clean a silver cross?

A lot of people are accustomed to complement their own image with any jewelry: rings, chains, earrings, crosses - all this is very common, like silver, from which a considerable number of these products are made. This metal is quite beautiful, and its reasonable cost makes silver quite affordable. That is why a believer often prefers a pectoral cross made of silver.

Despite the positive aspects, the owners of this item often encounter an unpleasant problem - a gradual darkening of the surface, due to which the appearance is badly damaged. When this happens, people either turn to specialized workshops for paid help, giving unfairly large amounts for this, or cope with pollution on their own at home.

Both the causes of the appearance of browning and the methods for their elimination, which may be suitable for certain cases, differ. The most common perpetrators of spoilage are as follows:

• Low quality alloy, which does not correspond to the desired sample upon purchase.
• Oxidation of copper - one of the components of solid silver. This happens to her, for example, with increased humidity or from an excess of hydrogen sulfide.
• Frequent contact with chlorine, i.e. taking a shower, bath or going to the pool.
• Cosmetics, perfumes, shower gel, shampoo - all this, getting on the cross, provokes the gradual appearance of oxidation.
• Out of storage rules. The habit of putting all kinds of jewelry in one box is extremely harmful and wrong, since there are corresponding reactions between different metals, which spoils each jewelry.
• Slight damage caused by frequent friction, due to which silver loses its protective layer, subsequently oxidizing and darkening.
• Lack of prophylaxis in the form of constant cleansing of external dirt, which also includes sebum and sweat of the owner.

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 grandmother-witch. There is no need to explain for how long such a judgment is erroneous. It does not matter to the metal how his surroundings relate to the owner, and he cannot feel the bad energy. This superstition has nothing to do with the truth, and if the cross is blackened, it 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 one 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 a fatal error, you must study the entire list of suitable tools.

Surprisingly, the most ordinary table vinegar is able to restore the original shine to the cross. In addition to it, you only need cotton wool or any other soft cloth that needs to be moistened with vinegar and rubbed on the surface of the product, then wiped 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 the 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 the extreme method involving 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, instantly eliminates any dirt, however, it can easily scratch the surface, because this option should be the last in line.

This tool is very effective and able to cope even with the most inaccessible places. For him, you need only 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 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. True, it is less safe for low-grade metal, whose quality may only worsen.

If a serious renovation has begun in the house or its owners have just recently moved, it is quite possible that they will not have all the funds listed in the kitchen and first-aid kit. Then ordinary toothpaste will come to the rescue. It is only necessary to apply it to the toothbrush and carefully 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 can not 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. Acid with water (1: 5 ratio) in a metal bowl should be brought to a boil and placed in a liquid decoration, 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 is no secret that cleaning silver requires caution, neglecting which is easy to damage it and can no longer cope with the consequences.So you don’t have to throw out your favorite jewelry, It’s useful to learn about a few additional features:

• If we are talking about cleaning silver products, this is a separate matter. It is highly discouraged to take the risk of combining cleansing, for example, silver with gold. They are completely different in composition, and each of them must be approached individually. Even if the method of removing contaminants is the same, it is better to act separately, preventing the reaction.
• Although hydrogen peroxide is not able to react with silver, it does not bypass other alloy impurities, therefore its use is a dangerous business.
• Abrasives are considered unacceptable for silver jewelry, so their use in order to eliminate darkening is best left for hopeless cases.
• Do not underestimate the wiping stage, since it does not allow the blackening to return again. It is necessary to dry thoroughly, without leaving even a drop of moisture.

About what other means you can clean a cross made of silver, see the next video.