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How should I clean off verdigris??

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by Lunamana, Jul 28, 2025.

  1. Lunamana

    Lunamana Member

    IMG_2942.jpeg I am not sure if I should take it to jeweler, or keep trying to clean it myself.

    I tried to clean with distilled white vinegar and mild dawn soap and water, but there are tiny nooks and crannies that is impossible to clean. I used toothpicks and baby toothbrush.

    necklace is victorian bohemian garnet, I think the metal is tombak or some kind of brass alloy.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2025
    Any Jewelry and kyratango like this.
  2. Lunamana

    Lunamana Member

  3. Lunamana

    Lunamana Member

  4. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    As long as it's inactive, I'd probably just leave it alone. Think Statue of Liberty vs something that looks darker green and gunky and comes off on a fingernail.
     
  5. mirana

    mirana Well-Known Member

    You've done everything i would do. You might do repeated soaking to loosen things, but if it's what you can do then sometimes you have to call it good enough.
     
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  6. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Vinegar is an acid and will corrode the metal.

    On ancient or even 17th, 18th century copper coins that have verdigris, I soak them in virgin olive oil.
    Really stubborn verdigris can take up to 6 months soaking, but it works.
     
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  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I use rice bran oil (very thin oil) for problem verdigris that won't go away with vinegar. Leave it on for a day or two, clean it and check. If necessary repeat the process.

    (I have also been known to leave the oil on, as long as it doesn't look 'oiled':shame:)
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2025
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  8. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Hope you can find a solution or live with as is. That necklace is a stunner.
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2025
    mirana and Lunamana like this.
  9. Lunamana

    Lunamana Member

    Thank you!
     
  10. Lunamana

    Lunamana Member

    ill try that thank you very much!
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  11. Lunamana

    Lunamana Member

    After vinegar I made sure to wash it with soap and water and dried it right away. Hopefully it doesn’t come back
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  12. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    I have old coins with verdigris and I took your advice and they've been soaking in virgin olive oil since the fall with no luck! Coins vs. jewelry is probably different so it might work fine on jewelry
     
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