Tarnish is a kind of oxidation that happens when silver comes into contact with sulfur-containing gases, which could be present in air molecules or emitted by certain substances. The resulting chemical reaction produces a silver sulfide compound, which coats the metal's surface with a thin, black-colored film.
I can assure you it is not because your Sterling (925) Silver is “bad”. Long-term wear and your chemical body compound gradually dulls or darkens the silver's shine. Your silver will also tarnish sitting unloved on your dresser.
Laundry detergent is also an old and popular remedy to remove tarnish. You just need to pour one small cup of detergent into a bowl of hot water and place the silver jewellery inside. Leave it for 5 to 7 minutes, remove and rub with a cloth. The laundry detergent reacts with the water creating a foamy substance.
This is key: warm water + baking soda + aluminum foil = a chemical reaction that causes the silver sulfide (tarnish) to change back into silver, freeing the sulfur atoms to migrate and attach instead to the aluminum foil.
Sterling silver tarnishes when exposed to salty air, chlorine, sulfur, humidity, perspiration, cosmetics, household bleach and other strong chemicals.
What should you not clean silver jewelry with? Ingredients that contain sulfur can damage sterling silver, including mayonnaise, mustard, and onions. Chlorine damages silver, so don't wear it in a chlorinated pool. Most skin and hair products can be harmful to sterling silver as well.
The silver article becomes black after sometimes when exposed to air because silver reacts with sulphur which is present in the atmosphere and then forms silver sulphide. Thus the layer of this silver sulphide is formed on the surface of the silver article so they appear as dull or black.
The Magnet Test
"If your magnet sticks strongly to the piece, it has a ferromagnetic core and is not silver." Fake silver or silver-plated items are generally made of other metals. This is an easy test that can give you a good idea of whether your item is real silver.
What's the difference between sterling silver and silver? Sterling silver is an alloy made mostly of silver and a small percentage of copper and zinc to strengthen it. It can last a lifetime and be passed on for many generations if properly cared for. Silver is soft and not as durable as sterling silver.
Many day-to-day items such as soaps, facial cleanser, shampoos, perfumes and foods such as onions and eggs, also contain sulfur compounds. So, if you wash your jewelry in sulfur-rich water or use skin products made with sulfur can all lead to the quick tarnishing of silver.
Real silver jewelry tends to tarnish and turn black. To test this theory, rub your silver jewelry with a white cloth. If no black residue appears on your cloth, it's likely not silver.
You can use Coke to clean silver, but it's best for small pieces. Tarnish is removed by the acid in the Coke. It should only take a few minutes to work, so keep an eye on it and remove the silver as soon as it looks clean.
Tarnish is a kind of oxidation that happens when silver comes into contact with sulfur-containing gases, which could be present in air molecules or emitted by certain substances. The resulting chemical reaction produces a silver sulfide compound, which coats the metal's surface with a thin, black-colored film.
One of the most popular methods for cleaning sterling silver that has turned black is using aluminium foil. This method is effective because it uses a chemical reaction to remove the oxidation from the silver.
Sulfur compounds can also cause Sterling Silver to rapidly tarnish producing a layer of an unsightly black mineral called silver sulfide. Found in hot springs, some vegetables and seafood, cleaning products and some swimming pools, sulfur and silver should be kept well apart.
A piece of blackened or oxidized silver is true sterling silver, but it's surface has been intentionally darkened through by introducing it to a chemical process. This patina, a surface color that occurs when the silver is introduced to sulfides, is a sped up version of the natural tarnishing process.
For cleaning and polishing
A mild dish soap: The pros recommend using citrus-free and phosphate-free dish soaps like Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. Cotton balls, pads, or swabs: These are best for applying hand sanitizer or polish to your silver to remove tarnish.
Cleaning silver with Vinegar
Even the most tarnished pieces of silverware can come back to life just by using vinegar. The combination of bicarbonate of soda, aluminium foil and vinegar make for a deadly foe to tarnish and will leave your silverware looking beautiful once more.
Silver polish or cream
Better quality silver polishes should generally be more gentle, but they still won't be as gentle as silver dip, electrochemical cleaning or a silver polishing cloth. This is why we recommend using them on jewellery only occasionally and generally for more heavy tarnish.
Sterling silver tarnishes, especially when exposed to salt air and products containing sulfur, such as rubber bands and some papers.
Place your silver items on a non-magnetic surface and slowly bring the magnet towards them. If your pieces repel or don't react to the magnet, they're likely to be real silver coins or bars. If they're pulled to the magnet then they could be silver plated items with other metals underneath.
Final Verdict. Wright's by Weiman Silver Cleaner and Polish Cream is our overall best silver polish pick. It's safe to use on most, if not all, surfaces, and the cleaning results really shined. If you're looking for a silver polish for jewelry specifically, we recommend the Connoisseurs Dazzle Drops.