How to clean silver using foil and baking soda?

The loss of the original shine of silver items is explained by several factors: the formation of an oxide film due to exposure to oxygen, the influence of chemicals (shower gels, cosmetics, chlorinated pool water), and the clogging of small jewelry elements with particles of dust and dirt. Cleaning silver with soda and foil effectively removes all of the listed types of contaminants. It belongs to the category of chemical, as it is caused by the reaction of aluminum and soda with water.

This method is not suitable for cleaning blackened silver. Dark areas will become faded, and white areas may appear stained from an oxide film that has settled on them.

How it works?

The recipe requires only 3 ingredients:

• baking soda;
• baking foil (aluminum);
• water.

Soda plays the role of a cleansing and bleaching component. In addition, it enters into a chemical reaction with aluminum and water, during which atomic hydrogen is released. It is he who restores metal from oxides. As a result, the oxide film from the silver is removed and cleaned. Sometimes it immediately dissolves in water, but more often after treatment the product needs to be wiped with a soft cloth to remove any remaining plaque.

Step-by-step instruction

The procedure will not take much time. It will take about 15 minutes to do everything. At the same time, no special knowledge or skills are needed - the method is absolutely safe for use at home.

So, how to clean silver using foil and baking soda?

1. Tear the foil into a deep bowl (for example, a mug), add baking soda and stir. For 200 ml of water you will need 2 teaspoons of soda and a piece of foil approximately 15 cm by 10 cm.
2. The next step is to place silver items in a container and pour boiling water on top. Be careful! A reaction will occur and foam will form, which may spill onto the table.
3. Without waiting for the water to cool, after 5-10 minutes you will need to remove the silver and wipe it with a soft cloth. After this, the products will sparkle like new.

During the cleaning process, an unpleasant odor of hydrogen sulfide will be felt. Don't be alarmed, it indicates that a reaction has occurred and the silver is actively being purified.

How to enhance the effect?

There are several options for using the recipe. Cleaning occurs even in cold water when soaking. However, in this case you will have to wait from 1 to 2 days. Many, on the contrary, strive to intensify the reaction so as not to wait, but to immediately get a clean, sparkling product out of the solution.

• To enhance the effect, the classic recipe includes laundry soap and salt. The proportions are: 500 ml water, 2 tbsp. spoons of soda, 1 tbsp. spoon of table salt, 2 tbsp. spoons of grated soap or the same amount of dishwashing detergent.
• Heating always speeds up a chemical reaction. Therefore, in order to clean silver as quickly as possible, the solution with the products can be brought to a boil over low heat. But no more than half an hour!
• Instead of regular baking soda, you can use baking soda for washing. It is more caustic, so the concentration must be halved (1 teaspoon per 200 ml of boiling water).

Using foil you can not only clean silver, but also store it. It protects the metal from darkening (oxidation).To do this, each product is wrapped in a thick layer of foil and stored in a dark place, for example in a box.

In conclusion, the foil and soda method is effective and allows you to quickly and effectively clean silver at home. However, it is better not to take risks with expensive products. It would be better to delegate this task to a professional jeweler or purchase a special product. To clean silver, wipes, washing and cleaning solutions are produced (Tableau, HG or other companies).