Many people love silver accessories not only for its affordability but also for its flexibility for intricate designs. A silver bracelet is popular because it’s casual and a defining accessory. However, the greatest challenge in having silver is tarnish.
Why does silver tarnish? Silver is usually mixed with copper. Copper makes the silver harder. However, it’s the copper that makes the silver tarnish when exposed to harmful elements. If you are a fan of silver, you should know how to best care for your accessories.
How to Care for your Silver Bracelet
1. Avoid chemicals – Chemicals like ammonia, alcohol and sulfur cause silver to tarnish. These can be found in perfume, acetone, lotions, salt and hairspray. Rubber should also be avoided. Remove your silver bracelet when taking a bath or shower since bath chemicals could also harm your silver.
2. Avoid abrasive cleaners – Contrary to popular household cleaner recommendation that toothpaste should used to clean silver, toothpaste and toothbrush can scratch and damage your silver accessory. Do not use toothpaste and toothbrush no matter how soft these are. In addition, be sure to only use a soft cloth when wiping your silver. There is also a special cloth used especially for cleaning silver. This silver cloth contains no harmful chemicals instead it is made out of 100% cotton flannel that is gentle on silver.
3. Use silver cleaners — If you don’t mind spending some to be absolutely safe on what you use to clean your silver bracelet, use a commercial silver cleaner. There are some silver cleaners available and tested to give satisfying results.
4. Air tight storage — When keeping your silver bracelet, avoid storing it in a cardboard box, paper or tissue. These materials also cause your silver to tarnish. Place it in an air tight storage or cabinet. Place it in a plastic box or lay in on soft cloth.
5. Baking Soda and Aluminum – For those who want a less expensive household solution for cleaning your silver, there is a way: aluminum foil.
Aluminum attracts and magnets the sulfur away from your silver.
a. What you need: pan, water, baking soda, aluminum foil and soft cleaning cloth.
b. Wash your silver bracelet with soap and water.
c. Boil water with baking soda in the pan.
d. Remove pan from the heat after boiling.
e. Put your silver bracelet and other accessories in the water.
f. Make sure that they are fully submerged.
g. Get the aluminum foil and place it on the surface of the water where your silver bracelet is submerged.
h. Wait for some minutes. If you see the stains floating on the water or on the aluminum foil, then it means that it’s working.
i. Get your silver accessories with a tong. Again, wash your accessories with soap and water to remove any remaining dirty particles.
j. Finally, dry your accessories with soft, cotton cloth.
Silver can be a good accessory if you know how to take care of it. Just follow those easy suggestions and you’ll have a glittering silver collection in no time, any time!
