Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
-----
Silver Damaged by Hydrogen Peroxide
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!?
Connie Fletcher- Southern Pines North Carolina USA
May 1, 2024
Pandora Jewelry on eBay or Amazon
A. Line the container with aluminum foil, then fill it with the hot water and baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (you can use vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] 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 ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (you can use tooth paste or precipitated chalk ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] too. There are some You tube videos on that subject .
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
May 8, 2024
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
December 27, 2024
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. I want to know if Sterling silver have any reaction to hydrogen peroxide ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ? Recently I had left my earrings in peroxide overnight and they turned black.
Amrik Singh- Greensboro, North Carolina
2003
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: try the washing soda ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and aluminum foil procedure described in thread no. 4785, Bruce.
A. Yes, hydrogen peroxide does react with ANY type of silver.
It will oxidise it very quickly.
- fenton Michigan usa
2005
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 bleach gold.
Fiona Shand- Edinburgh, Scotland
July 17, 2017
A. Scrub the silver jewellery with toothpaste and toothbrush for 5 mins; it come back to normal
SALMAN THOUFIQ MEntrepreneur - Pudukkottai, India
March 15, 2024
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread