Why do silver coins Tarnish and turn black?

Tarnish is a chemical reaction that occurs when silver comes into contact with humidity and chemicals in the air which causes silver to lose its beautiful lustre. When the atoms of silver come into contact with oxygen, a layer of silver oxide is created as a protective barrier – much like rust. However, unlike rust, silver tarnish is self-limiting and the underlying layers are not affected by the outer layers of tarnish. This not only happens to silver, but also happens to copper, aluminium, brass and other similar, soft metals. Tarnishing is simply the product of process called oxidation.

What You Need to Clean Tarnished Silver

Container

This can be something as simple as a cooking pan or a plastic container. There may be some residue left from the tarnished silver so don’t use anything that shouldn’t get dirty.

Approximately 2 Cups of Warm Water

The reaction of the warm water, baking soda and aluminium foil will allow the tarnished silver to clean beautifully. The warmer the water the better, but waiting for boiling water to cool down before scrubbing the silver can be time consuming. Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water.

Aluminium Foil

Any aluminium foil will do, what you have laying around in your kitchen will work great. The aluminium foil is key to the reaction which removes the tarnish.

Paper Towels

This process can get a bit messy. Drying the silver when finished will help to remove any water or baking soda residue.

Baking Soda

Avoid using old baking soda, a new container of baking soda is worth the minor expense to help clean up unsightly silver.

Latex Gloves

These are great to help scrub silver. They are less abrasive than most other options and do a great job of protecting your hands.

How to Clean Silver Coins

Once you have gathered the needed items, here’s what to do next:

Step 1: Line Container With Aluminium Foil

Line the entire container with aluminium foil. Ensure that the container is completely lined with as few gaps as possible, multiple layers may be necessary.

Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda inside the container on top of the aluminium foil. Line the bottom of the container with baking soda so that you can barely see the aluminium foil on the bottom of the pan.

Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins

Add the tarnished silver into the middle of the container with the most tarnished side up. You may need to repeat steps if both sides are equally tarnished.

Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water

Cover the silver with baking soda, enough to totally obscure the silver. Fill the container with hot water until the silver is completely covered. After the water has been poured in, add more baking soda on top of the silver. This will need to soak for at least 5 minutes. Soak times may vary depending on the amount of tarnishing.

Step 5: Rub Away the Tarnish & Grime

Put on the latex gloves and begin to lightly scrub the tarnished silver with the baking soda and water mixture. Be careful to not scrub the silver too hard – scratching can occur. Thoroughly scrub all sides, including the edges, to remove as much tarnish as possible. Rinse the silver frequently to see any remaining tarnish and re-apply baking soda to those areas.

Step 6: Rinse Silver Coin With Cold Water

Rinse the silver off in the cold water, this step will help to remove any baking soda residue. Oftentimes, if this step is skipped, small white spots can remain on the silver as dried baking soda.

Step 7: Inspect Your Coins

Inspect the silver for any remaining tarnishing or left-over baking soda residue. Repeat steps 3 through 6 if necessary. Enjoy your like-new silver!