Quick & Easy way to polish your silver tea set
Quick and Easy Silver Polishing
In less than an hour I gathered my tarnished silver pieces, prepared the baking soda and salt hot bath, cleaned all my silver, and put it away. Then enjoyed a cup of hot tea.
This is the after photo, all shining, clean and ready for a quick polish. |
This sugar cube server is tarnished & dull. |
After the soda & salt water dip it is clean. |
As
silver oxidizes it becomes tarnished. This layer of oxidation can be removed
without polishing and scrubbing by simply dipping your silver in this non-toxic
electrochemical dip. Another big advantage to using a dip is that the liquid
can reach places a polishing cloth cannot.
I polish with a cloth while watching TV.
But when I have larger jobs, or pieces with loads of tarnish I dip the
pieces in this baking soda and salt bath.
It really works. (I first read about cleaning silver this way on MarthaStewart.com in 2008.)http://www.marthastewart.com/273003/diy-silver-polish
I used a soft cloth to dry the silver |
Here you see the tea pot is cleaned and the base is not |
What You Need
·
Clean your sink and plug
drain
·
Boiling hot water
·
1-2 tablespoons Baking soda
·
1-2 tablespoons Salt
·
Aluminum foil
·
Tarnished silver
How To:
2.
Fill the foil-lined sink with
the boiling hot water. Enough to cover pieces.
4.
Drop the silver items
into the container so that they are touching each other and resting on the
foil. You will be able to watch the tarnish disappear. It’s amazing!
5.
I then remove each piece
as I see the tarnish is gone. Leave
heavily tarnished items in the solution for as long as 5 minutes. Otherwise,
remove the silver when it appears clean.
6.
Rinse the silver with
water and gently buff it dry with a soft towel.
7.
Ideally, you should store
your silver in a low-humidity environment. I place a piece of chalk in the buffet
area to minimize future tarnish.
Tips:
1.
Use care when polishing
or dipping silver plated items. I do only 4-5 small pieces at once then dip a
few more.
2.
It is easy to wear away
the thin layer of silver and cause more harm than good through over cleaning.
3.
Minimize exposing your
silver to substances which contain sulfur (e.g., mayonnaise, eggs, mustard,
onions, latex, wool) as the sulfur will cause corrosion.
4.
Using your silver
flatware/hollowware or wearing silver jewelry helps to keep it free from
tarnish. So get it out ladies and invite
someone over for tea.
5. Use untreated cotton gloves or form-fitting nitrile gloves when handling
silver – finger prints contribute to tarnishing
6. Keep silver out of the dishwasher
7. Hand wash the
pieces with a non-lemon-scented phosphate-free detergent and dry them
immediately to avoid spotting.
8. I still use
polishing silver paste or liquid cleaners.
Polishes and cleaners are listed here can be found in your local
hardware or department store, or can be bought from distributors
Closeup of my spoons |
I store odd silverware in these old bread pans |
Resources:
Before it goes into the water |
Blitz Silver Polish
Blitz Manufacturing Company, Inc. / Web site
263 America Place
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
812/284-2548
Blitz Manufacturing Company, Inc. / Web site
263 America Place
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
812/284-2548
In the water no more than 5 minutes |
Goddard's™ Long Shine Silver Polish
Northern Labs, Inc.
5800 West Dr.
Manitowoc, WI 54220
800/558-7621, 920/684-7137
Twinkle® Silver Polish
S.C. Johnson Wax
Racine, WI 53405
800/558-5252
Weiman Silver
Polish
Weiman Products, LLC 755 Tri-State Parkway
Gurnee, IL 60031800/837-8140
Weiman Products, LLC 755 Tri-State Parkway
Gurnee, IL 60031800/837-8140
Another resource Silverguard
http://silvermatecompany.com/ is another cleaner that you use as a dip. I have not tried it, have any of you?
Silver is back in my china cabinet. That's an antique pearl collar I like to display on the tea pot. |
My tea service I will leave out so I can use it. I love the small tea strainer next to the tilting stand tea pot with warmer |
This grouping I decided not to clean. I like the worn look. That's a clip earring on the toast keeper. I like the way it make it look more regal. |
Now go make yourself a cup of tea. You deserve it! |
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