How to Clean Tarnished Silver Keychains at Home

Silver keychains are lovely, bright, and durable. Unfortunately, they do lose their shine over time. When silver is exposed to air, moisture, and chemicals, it develops a dark surface layer known as tarnish. Tarnish is a natural process; however, it can make your beautiful silver ugly and dull.

The best news is there is no need to buy expensive products or hire a professional to clean up your tarnished silver keychains. With a few simple steps and items you can find at home, all you need is a little time to revive the shine of your keychain and make it look good as new.

Why Does Silver Tarnish?

Before starting to clean, it is important to understand that silver tarnishes because when the silver comes in contact with sulphur from the air, the silver will react and create a black or brown coating to create tarnish. This coating is not harmful to the metal, but it will hide the silver's natural shine. 

Silver keychains can tarnish faster if they come in contact with perfume, sweat, dirt and pollution, rubber, and some cleaning products. Even just having them in the air without proper storage can lead to tarnish.

Basic Cleaning with Soap and Water

If your keychain is only slightly tarnished, cleaning with only a mild soap and water may do the trick. 

Grab a bowl of warm water and add some gentle liquid soap with a few drops mixed in. Dip a soft cloth or sponge in the water, then wipe your silver keychain lightly without rubbing too hard. Just make sure you don't use anything harsh that could scratch it. 

After you clean the keychain, rinse it off with plain water and dry it thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth, and make sure there's no moisture left on it, because any water left can leave marks or even tarnish it further.

Using Baking Soda and Water

Baking soda is one of the best household remedies to clean silver. It's safe, inexpensive, and simple.

To clean your silver key chain, create a thick paste using two parts of baking soda and one part of water. Using a soft cloth or sponge, apply the thick paste onto the keychain, gently rubbing in a circular motion to remove the tarnish.

When you are finished rubbing, rinse the keychain under running water and dry it completely. The silver should look cleaner and shiny.

Cleaning with Toothpaste

Another household item that will work well on tarnished silver is a non-gel white toothpaste, as long as it doesn't have any harsh chemicals or whiteners in it. 

Put a small amount of toothpaste on a soft cloth or your fingers. Rub it gently along the silver surface. Let it sit for a minute or two before you rub it again to remove the dirt and tarnish. Depending on how much dirt and tarnish is on your silverware, you may want to repeat this process 2 or 3 times for it to look its best. Rinse it thoroughly with water and wipe it dry. 

Toothpaste is most effective on lightly tarnished silver, and it achieves a nice shine.

Foil and Baking Soda Method

For silver keychains with heavy tarnish, this method works wonders.

Take a bowl and line it with aluminium foil, shiny side up. Place your silver keychain in the bowl. Sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of salt over the keychain. Now pour hot (not boiling) water into the bowl until the keychain is covered.

Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. The tarnish will transfer to the foil due to a natural chemical reaction. After the time is up, take the keychain out, rinse it, and dry it with a soft cloth.

This method is safe and powerful, especially for old or very dark silver.

Using Lemon Juice and Salt

If you prefer a natural cleaner, try lemon juice and salt.

Mix equal parts of lemon juice and salt in a bowl. Dip a cloth into the mixture and rub it gently on the silver keychain. The lemon’s acid helps break down tarnish, while the salt adds mild scrubbing power.

Rinse the keychain well and dry it. Avoid using this method on jewellery with stones, as lemon may damage some gems.

Tips to Prevent Tarnish

Cleaning silver is easy, but prevention is even better. Here are a few simple things you can do to keep your silver keychains shiny:

• Store them in a cool, dry place.

• Keep them in a soft cloth pouch or airtight box.

• Avoid wearing them while swimming or showering.

• Don’t let them touch perfumes, lotions, or sprays.

• Wipe them with a soft cloth after use

By following these small steps, you can slow down tarnishing and reduce the need for frequent cleaning.

Final Thoughts

Silver keychains are relatively inexpensive and serve a utilitarian purpose; however, they're also fashionable, can represent experiences and are often given in love. They can be tarnished, and that is not a concern but can be cleaned up quite easily at home using common household products such as baking soda, lemon juice and toothpaste. 

Using proper care and gentle cleaning, and by storing them correctly, you can have silver keychains that look smart and fresh for many years. Therefore, the next time your silver keychain looks tired and drab, don't dispose of it; just lovingly clean it at home!