Can I Clean Silver Jewelry With Toothpaste? Does it Harm Silver?

Despite how much you look after your silver jewelry and utensils, they will lose their shine. Silver, used or unused, gets black very often. People, instead of visiting a jeweler, tend to clean their silver items at home. Some rely on regular soap and water cleaning, some use lemon, while a lot of people swear by Toothpaste when cleaning Silver Jewelry.

It is a common misconception amongst people that Toothpaste is effective in cleaning Silver Jewelry. A lot of people rely on this home remedy, but Toothpaste can actually damage your Silver items.

Effect of Toothpaste on Silver Jewelry

Toothpaste, when scrubbed in a circular motion, will clean off the tarnish from Silver Jewelry. However, since Toothpaste is abrasive, it can leave starches behind on the jewelry piece. Toothpaste, regardless of its type or brand, isn’t the right product to clean diamonds, gemstones, gold, and Silver.

On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the hardness of various Toothpaste is around ¾. The Mohs Scale of Hardness ranges from 1 to 10; the hardness of Toothpaste is high. This hardness/ abrasive nature is ideal for cleaning teeth enamel but not metals like Silver. Not only due to the abrasive nature of Toothpaste but active compounds, chemicals, and oils in Toothpaste can harm Silver jewelry. All of these ingredients are corrosive to metal, including Silver.

In addition to Silver, one should never even touch Toothpaste on their opals or pearls. Once a single wipe and it will damage the elegance forever. Even metals and gemstones that are notedly hard on the Mohs Scale of Hardness aren’t safe to be cleaned using Toothpaste.

Cleaning Silver Jewelry At Home Effectively

Here are some quick home remedies that you can follow to clean your Silver jewelry at home.

For Silver flatware or heavily tarnished Silver jewelry pieces:

1. Take a heavy bottom aluminum pan and fill it with water.
2. Keep the pan on flame and allow it to boil. Once the water comes to a boiling state, dip your silver jewelry, some crushed aluminum foil balls, and a teaspoon of Baking Soda. The aluminum foil balls must touch the Silver jewelry for the success of the remedy.
3. Allow all the things to boil for 10 minutes, and then turn off the flame. Let it rest until the water is safe to dip hand.
4. Lastly, remove all the Silver pieces from the pan, rinse them under cold water and wipe nicely. This process will probably remove all the tarnish from your Silver jewelry.

Or

1. Take a big glass bowl and empty 2 to 3 cans of lime soda into it.
2. Allow your tarnished silver jewelry to soak into it for an hour or so. Later, remove the jewelry pieces and wipe them off with a microfiber cloth.
3. Instead of lime soda, you can also use lemon, rub it nicely on your tarnished silver jewelry and leave it for half an hour. Later wipe the jewelry pieces with a microfiber cloth and wash them under cold tap water.
4. Vinegar is another effective ingredient in your kitchen pantry for this hack.

Or

1. Take a big bowl, fill it with tap water and mix a soft dish liquid into it. Form bubbles using your hand.
2. Now dip your tarnished silver jewelry and allow it to soak for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Further, taking a microfiber cloth, rub the piece of Silver.
4. Lastly, rinse the jewelry under cold tap water, dry them with a soft cloth and use it like before.

The Correct Way Of Storing Silver Jewelry Pieces

One of the major downsides of Silver is that when exposed to air and light, it tarnishes very easily. For someone who has an extensive collection, it is very important to store the pieces nicely. Whether it is a Silver jewelry piece, Silver kitchenware, or an artifact, the hack is how to keep the piece.

The best way to store Silver items is in a box lined with felt.

Felt is a textile made with rolling and pressing wool or another suitable textile. While making Felt, along with different textiles, the application of moisture or heat also plays an important role.

When you store your Silver jewelry in a box lined with felt, the felt textile will absorb excess moisture and prevent the jewelry from premature tarnishing. Additionally, some small sachets of silica gel will also help in soaking the access moisturizer.

Or you can also keep your Silverware wrapped in a silver polishing cloth. The idea is to ensure limiting the exposure to light and air. Also, keep your Silverware away from direct sunlight since exposure to UV rays can tarnish this metal.

Another great tip to keep your Silver Jewelry clean and shining is not storing them with other jewelry or metal. In fact, it is important to keep two Silver Jewelry pieces separate in order to ensure both of them do not scratch each other.

Wrapping Silver jeweler pieces in acid-free tissue paper or unbleached cotton muslin also helps.

According to the International Gem Society, a few pieces of old white chalk, when stored with Silver, keep it from tarnishing very early.

Summary

In addition to cleaning, it is also important to polish your Silver jewelry. If you own a precious collection, consider getting your Silver jewelry cleaned at a jeweler. Instead of damaging your Silverware with Toothpaste or any such other abrasive material, get quick to any nearby jeweler. These professionals will clean your Silver jewelry without scratching or damaging it. However, some toothpaste can damage Silver’s shine and smoothness for life.