How to Restore Green Silver to Its Original Shine: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover how to clean and restore silver that has turned green due to tarnish or corrosion from a chemical reaction with moisture and sulfur in the air. Follow our detailed step-by-step guide to revitalizing your silver pieces and understanding why they turn green in the first place.

Materials Needed

Baking soda White vinegar or lemon juice Soft cloth or microfiber cloth Toothbrush (optional) Aluminum foil (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Silver

Make a Paste

Mix three parts baking soda with one part water to create a paste. Alternatively, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice mixed with baking soda. This paste will help remove the tarnish and green discoloration.

Apply the Paste

Use a soft cloth or a toothbrush to apply the paste onto the green areas. Gently scrub in circular motions to help breakdown the green corrosion.

Rinse

Rinse the silver under lukewarm water to remove the paste. Ensure that all residues are washed away to prevent any remaining paste from causing damage to your silver.

Dry

Use a clean dry cloth to thoroughly dry the silver to prevent further tarnishing. Drying is crucial to maintaining the shine and preventing oxidation.

Polish (Optional)

To add that extra shine, you can use a dedicated silver polish or a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. Then buff with a soft cloth to achieve a high-polish finish.

Additional Method Using Aluminum Foil

Line a Bowl

Line a bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up, to catch the chemical reaction.

Prepare Solution

Fill the bowl with hot water and add a tablespoon of baking soda. This solution will help lift the tarnish from the silver.

Soak the Silver

Place the tarnished silver in the solution, ensuring it touches the aluminum foil. Allow it to soak for a few minutes to let the chemical reaction take place.

Rinse and Dry

After the soaking process, remove the silver, rinse it well under lukewarm water, and dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Tips for Maintaining Silver

Avoid using abrasive materials that can scratch the surface of your silver. Store your silver in a dry place, ideally in anti-tarnish bags or cloths, to prevent future tarnishing.

By following these steps, you should be able to restore your silver to its original shine and beauty, whether it’s due to simple tarnish or more complex copper carbonate corrosion. Silver may have a natural tendency to turn green due to the presence of copper, but with the right cleaning techniques, you can keep your silver looking like new for years to come.

For more severe cases of copper carbonate corrosion, consider soaking your silver overnight in acetone, followed by a thorough rinsing and drying. Acetone is more effective at removing stubborn corrosion than distilled white vinegar, which can cause surface pitting in some cases. For flat areas, gently rub with a Flitz cloth, and for difficult areas like jewelry with granulation, use a toothbrush under running water to clear out the corrosion.