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-----:Fix Silver Damaged by Hydrogen Peroxide
Quickstart:
Peroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent and will turn silver black.
Two suggested fixes are:
• Rubbing with toothpaste (see topic 437/74 for dozens of testimonials to toothpaste), or
• Chemical reduction of the oxidized silver with aluminum foil, hot water, and washing soda.
Read on ...
Q. I added hydrogen peroxide to Dawn dishwashing soap to soak and clean my Pandora bracelets. Left soaking for a couple of hours. Shocked to find them completely black!
Scrubbed with toothpaste, then baking soda. Worked somewhat, finishes are dull, not shiny. What else can I do!?
Pandora Jewelry on eBay or AmazonConnie Fletcher
- Southern Pines North Carolina USA
May 1, 2024
A. Line a container with aluminum foil, then fill it with the hot water and baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] (you can use vinegar ⇦ in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] instead of water too, or even salt/vinegar mix). Soak the silver in the mixture until all tarnish is removed. Then remove the silver, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth. Polish it with special silver polishing cloth ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] (you can use tooth paste or precipitated chalk ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] too. There are some You tube videos on that subject .
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
O. M.Gee! this actually worked !
I wish I had taken pictures of my necklace before doing the steps. I didn't have baking soda in the home. So I lined a small plastic bowl with aluminum foil, poured white vinegar and salt, let it sit for about 10 minutes, I think. When I checked on it, I noticed a weird smell and the vinegar turning brown. I let it set for another 5 minutes or so. Rinsed and everything was GONE!! I'm happier than a hog with two peters. Thank you for sharing the instructions.
- Dallas, Texas
Ed. note: Indeed, you don't actually need washing soda -- almost anything which makes the water highly conductive, including vinegar plus salt, may work. I prefer washing soda ⇨
or Spin and Span
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
because they are cleaners in addition to making the water conductive.
Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition 🙂
Q. I want to know if Sterling silver has any reaction to hydrogen peroxide ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] ? Recently I had left my earrings in peroxide overnight and they turned black.
Amrik Singh- Greensboro, North Carolina
2003
Ed. note: Peroxide, like bleach, is an extremely strong oxidizing agent and will turn silver black.
A. Yes, hydrogen peroxide does react with ANY type of silver.
It will oxidise it very quickly.
- fenton Michigan usa
2005
Q. I had a similar thing happen to my sterling silver ring. I left it in hydrogen peroxide (3%) a bit too long, and it turned the sterling silver black. Is there anything I can do to remove the tarnish & have the sterling silver shining again?
Bruce Simmons- Cameroon, West Africa
2004
Ed. note: Please try the washing soda ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] and aluminum foil procedure described here and in thread no. 47/85, Bruce.
A. Use toothpaste and a toothbrush to brush the black off. (Not tooth gel or charcoal. Just good old-fashioned tooth paste). Instant effects. This also works if you accidentally bleach gold.
Fiona Shand- Edinburgh, Scotland
July 17, 2017
A. Scrub the silver jewellery with toothpaste and toothbrush for 5 mins; it comes back to normal
SALMAN THOUFIQ MEntrepreneur - Pudukkottai, India
March 15, 2024
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