Removing Tarnish from Silver
How to banish the "gray monster" from your silver jewelry
In the last article, "What Causes Silver to Tarnish?" we discussed what tarnish is and why it happens. Now we'll discuss what can be done to remove tarnish from silver and how to avoid tarnish from occurring.
There are number of products on the market that can remove tarnish. What you use is dependent on how severe the tarnish is. If the tarnishing is mild, mostly light yellow in color, you can remove it by buffing it out with a polishing cloth. Severe tarnish, that dark grey or black color, will require the use of some chemical method.
One product that I've had a lot of success with and use in my jewelry studio is Tarni-Shield Silver Polish by 3M. You simply rub the polish on your tarnished silver piece, rinse with water and buff to restore the shine. I've found it especially useful in restoring badly tarnished pieces. In addition to removing tarnish, Tarni-Shield also helps to prevent tarnish from returning. If for some reason you're unable to submerge your jewelry in the baking soda solution, you can remove the tarnish by hand by using a polishing cloth and a good amount of elbow grease.
Once you clean your jewelry, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble by preventing tarnish from forming in the first place. As discussed in the last article, tarnish is caused when silver comes in contact with hydrogen sulfide. To minimize the possibility of exposure, wipe down your jewelry with a soft cloth after you wear it. This is especially important if you've done any cooking or intense physical activity while wearing your silver jewelry. Store your silver in a cool, dry, place like a well-lined jewelry box or velvet bag. Avoid prolong contact with materials that contain a high amount of hydrogen sulfide like rubber, latex, and paint. If you are going to store your jewelry for a long period of time, enclose the piece in a zippered plastic bag.
There are also some anti-tarnishing agents that you can enclose with your jewelry to absorb any hydrogen sulfide that might be present in the air. Another product I use a lot of in my studio are Tarni-Shield® Strips manufactured by 3M. You place these strips in with the plastic bag or jewelry box you're storing your jewelry in and the strip will keep your silver tarnish free from anywhere to six months to a year. There are also tarnish-resistant jeweler's tissue and tarnish-resistant velvet bags out in the market in which you can use for the long-term storage of your jewelry. You can usually find these products in jewelry supply catalogs.
With a bit of maintenance and careful storage, you can successfully banish the "gray monster" and keep your favorite silver pieces shining for years to come.
Photo by El Ramon
