lemons, let me count the ways

[skankykiwi]

I'm prone to really stupid accidents. About a month or so ago I left one of my favorite necklaces on my vanity, not realizing that I placed it on top of a pile of those hair rubber bands. The rubber stained the necklace REALLY badly. I was moderately sure that the necklace was made of silver, so today I decided to give it a lemon cleaning

Comments

[iplaywifmatches]

1. How the hell does rubber stain silver? I didn't know that was possible!

2. That's AWESOME. I've gotta try that. Also--a tablespoon or so of household soda (not baking soda) in a glass dish with hot water and a piece of tinfoil in the bottom works too. That's how I clean all my silver jewelry with little crevasses in it...just let it sit and take it out! The tin activates hydrogen or something and it cleans all the crap off.

[skankykiwi]

I'm assuming it's either from an oil they put in the rubber, or just since rubber decomposes as soon as it's made.

Be careful that what you're working with isn't silver plated, because the acids can strip it away and turn it pink/copper.

[turtlegirl082]

OH MY GOD this is the best thing ever! I need to clean my necklace and don't have cleaner/wont buy it. I love you(and lemons)!

[madeofmeat]

Lemon juice? What the hell? I've heard of scrubbing with half a lemon dipped in salt, but just a soak? Gees.

The superquick solution I usually use is toothpaste, but that doesn't work so well on bits with lots of concavities, of course.