Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Sulfur springs turned silver jewelry black. Fix?
Quickstart: Toothpaste is a simple answer to restoring the silver jewelry. Electrolytic cleaning with aluminum is another great tarnish remover.
A. I recently visited a hot springs and my ring also turned Black. I got home and cleaned it up, now it's back to New. I used gentle abrasive cleaning powder that brought the shine right back if not better.
TePaea- Auckland, New Zealand
July 24, 2022
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. Okay well there are hot springs where I live and I went in them and my silver neckless and two rings turned black. Is there any way I can get them clean again? Or at least not black?
Jess Clemonsstudent - Ventura, California
2007
A. Yes, easy. See thread 4785 for instructions on how to do a simple electrochemical process with aluminum foil and washing soda ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] that reverses the tarnishing process. This will work even on spots you can't reach to polish, and there is no loss of silver as there is in polishing process involved, it's conversion of the silver oxide/sulfide back to silver.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. Toothpaste! Get a cotton ball and squeeze some toothpaste on it and rub your jewelry. I would use a white toothpaste and something that is a stain removing paste.
Christina Bracewell- Deltona, Florida
July 25, 2016
Thanks for the tip. Cleaned my ring perfectly. I'll remember to take it off next time I take a mineral soak.
Charlene Mitchell- Oceanside, California
July 18, 2018
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