Readying your silver for the festive season

With Ganesh Chaturthi around the corner, buying jewellery is one of the first things that people consider. From gold ornaments to silver items used in decorating the idol, jewellery plays a very important role during the festival. Because silver articles are prone to oxidation if left untouched over a certain period of time or it can even tarnish if any liquid drops on them during aartis and poojas. So, here are a few tips to help regain the sheen of your silver!

Things to use

• the liquid magic

    For dirt accumulation or tarnished surfaces you will have to use special silver cleaners that are easily available in the market. The best way to use the solution is to pour a small quantity in a cup and place the ornament inside the liquid. The result is quick.

•  Brush strokes

    Cleaning paste can be used by scooping a small amount over a toothbrush or a piece of cloth. Start by working through the crevices of your jewellery and then move to the rest of the surfaces.

• Toothpaste

    Toothpaste is also used very commonly to polish silver articles. Using a soft, damp sponge or a damp cloth, spread the paste and gently rub over the silver, in straight, back and forth motions. After washing the silver item, you will be able to see sparkling results!

•   Baking Soda

    For those stubborn stains that refuse to go away, use baking soda. But exercise caution  while using this because too much of it can damage silver too.
Things to avoid

Keep in mind that silver is a very soft metal and can bend easily on the application of mild force.

 Never keep silver along with other metals or leave it in an ornament box. The ideal way to store silver ornaments is by placing them in a small zip-lock bag. This will prevent other jewellery from rubbing against the silver and also protects them from tarnishing.

Do not leave your silver jewellery on wooden surfaces. Wood contains acid that can affect the surface of the metal. So, you cannot keep them in small cardboard boxes or even in paper packages, since both paper and cardboard are wood products.
 

Never use any kind of synthetic material for cleaning your jewellery, as they will scratch the surface and do more harm than good to the silver. Always use a soft bristled toothbrush for cleaning the intricate patterns of jewellery.

Avoid making circular motions while cleaning silver, as it can cause severe scratching. Once dry, use a clean cloth to remove any remaining cleaning substance. You can also use warm water to rinse the silver item and then dry it properly.

—Compiled by Nivedita Niranjankumar