Easy Way to Clean Silver (Sterling or Plate)

[michaelman2]

I decided to try a method to clean some silver flatware and pieces my mother and grandmother had given me using the formula below. I had heard about this via a caterer years ago and decided to try it:

Fill a plastic bin with very hot water, boiling works best. Add enough water to cover the pieces of that you are cleaning. Usually a gallon.

Add 2 cups of Baking Soda (Washing Soda works as well), 1 tsp Table Salt, 1 tsp dishwashing liquid. Mix Well

Crumple a sheet of regular Aluminum foil and place it in the hot water....add the item(s) to be cleaned.....

You will smell the sulfur and see a chemical reaction
however, it will not damage the item as NO silver is actually removed in the process. Most polishes are a bit abbrasive and other types of dips are very damaging and actually remove a small amount of the silver with each use.

It is okay to leave the piece being cleaned in the solution for as long as needed ...can be repeated as well

This method is totally safe...and works!....No more mess!

PS: this is the same principal that you see used at antique markets and flea markets where a metal plate is sold for the same purpose.....the Aluminum foil works,,and is cheap!

 

[petek]

It does work well, we've been cleaning our real silverware (my tiaras, bracelets, earrings LOL) that way for decades. You can use plastic or glass so long as the tub holding the hot water isn't metallic. For the aluminum I don't crumple it into a ball I lay a sheet of it on the bottom and lay all the silverware on it.. the silver must touch the aluminum.

 

[michaelman2]

lol, Petek...I have never tried it with any of the items you suggest....lol I am sure it keeps them so nice....

On a serious note, you are right, I failed to mention that the pieces do need to touch the Aluminum foil.

 

[58limited]

I've used this method before and it works well. Learned how to do it in chemistry class in college.

 

[perc-o-prince]

You can also use an aluminum pot! BEWARE!!!! If you have antique silver with a good patina then you can easily wipe it out as well as the value. I collected colonial silver for many years and was warned to not use any cleaner that will strip off the patina. Patina on silver takes many, many years to get and once it's removed it never looks the same. This aluminum trick WILL strip patina as well as Tarnex !!

I have used the aluminum trick and it works great on the new silver

Rich

 

[michaelman2]

Hey Rich, you are correct, the patina is actually a small portion of tarnish left at times in the crevices in ornate pieces. This process is ENTIRELY different than Tarnex. Tarnex is an acid that is very damaging to all types of silver. You are right, it removes everything...including patina and a portion of the silver itself. The method above does not remove any silver.

Another tip that haved learned is to put regular chalkboard chalk inside the silver chest or container inwhich it is being stored.....something about it keeps the silver from tarnishing while being stored. I put things in Ziplock bags or even Saran Wrap them...to keep the air from hitting the pieces.