How to Eliminate Tarnish on Silver Necklaces

Give your old jewelry a new lease on life.

If you have a drawer full of tarnished silver jewelry that has seen better days, you can bring those old pieces back to life with a few simple ingredients and some elbow grease. Once you have removed the tarnish from your jewelry, you will be proud to wear them at even the most formal occasions.

Things You'll Need

• Tarnish remover
• Cotton balls
• Soft cloth
• Sauce pan
• 1 quart water
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Towel

Instructions

Commercial Tarnish Remover

1. Lay the silver necklaces out on a solid surface. Turn the necklaces so that the tarnished spots are clearly visible.

2. Dip a cotton ball or soft cloth in a commercial tarnish remover. Make sure the cotton ball or cloth is fully soaked in the tarnish remover solution.

3. Hold the cotton ball or cloth against the jewelry firmly, and rub the solution into the grain of the metal. Continue to rub the solution into the metal until you see the tarnish fade. You may need to change cloths or cotton balls frequently as they become soiled.

4. Hold the cloth in one hand, and thread the silver chain through the cloth to remove the tarnish. This method works best if you have a silver chain instead of a piece of jewelry with a large silver pendant.

5. Dampen a soft cloth with cool water, then use it to remove the remaining solution. Dry the jewelry thoroughly before putting it away.

Electrolysis

1. Place a glass or enamel pan on your stove. Cover the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil.

2. Pour 1 quart water, 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt into the pan. Bring the solution to a boil, then place the tarnished silver pieces into the pot with a pair of tongs.

3. Boil the pieces for a minimum of five minutes. Remove the jewelry with the tongs; place them on a towel to dry.

References

• Ever Brite Coatings: Silver Cleaning