How to Clean Silver Charms

The thing about sterling silver, including a sterling silver charm, is that sooner or later it's going to tarnish. A black coating slowly builds up on the surface of the metal as the copper in the sterling silver reacts to the atmosphere. This black tarnish will have to be cleaned, or, in time, the silver will turn completely black. Here is a simple method for cleaning your silver charm. Chances are you already have everything needed your kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum foil pie pan
• Baking soda
• Kitchen spoon
• Boiling water

Instructions

1. Set the aluminum foil pan on the table, and place the charm inside.

2. Scoop a spoonful of baking soda out of the box with a kitchen spoon, and sprinkle the baking soda over the silver charm until it's well-coated.

3. Pour boiling water into the aluminum foil pan. The baking soda will foam up. Take the spoon and stir the baking soda on the bottom of the pan to dissolve it in the hot water. If the charm had a light coating of tarnish, it should be completely gone when you're.

4. Do two or three baking soda washes if the silver charm's coat of tarnish is especially thick. Pour out the old hot water and baking soda wash, and start with fresh baking soda and fresh boiling water.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care not to breath any of the fumes when the boiling water first hits the baking soda.

References

• YouTube: Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry