What tarnish is
Silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air and forms a dark layer on the surface. Humidity speeds it up, so does a warm bathroom, so do rubber bands and certain papers stored nearby. It is chemistry, not neglect.
Why the dark bits sometimes stay
On an oxidised or antique-finish piece, the recesses are meant to be dark. That contrast is what makes the pattern read. Strip it all off and the piece goes flat and lifeless. So we ask what you want before we start, and on a patterned piece we clean the raised surfaces and leave the depth where it belongs.
Home remedies to avoid
Toothpaste is abrasive and leaves a haze of fine scratches. The foil-and-baking-soda trick strips every bit of oxidisation including the intentional kind. Both work in the sense that the black goes. Both can leave you with a piece you like less.
Keeping it bright
- Wear it. Silver worn regularly tarnishes far more slowly than silver in a drawer.
- Store it in a sealed bag with the air pressed out.
- Keep it away from rubber bands and away from the bathroom.
- A soft silver cloth once in a while, rather than a dip.
Questions we get asked
Can black tarnish be removed?
Yes, nearly always. It is a surface layer rather than damage.
Will you strip the dark detail out of my patterned piece?
Not unless you want us to. On antique-finish pieces we keep the depth and clean the raised surfaces.
Is toothpaste safe on silver?
We would not. It is abrasive and leaves fine scratches.
How do I stop it coming back?
Wear it, store it sealed, keep it out of the bathroom and away from rubber bands.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.