Unknown.
READ MORE ABOUT:
As you're readying your heirloom silverware for prime time this holiday season, hold off on spending your hard-earned legal tender on toxic store-bought tarnish removers. Here are a few au naturale ways to get your silver in sparkling shape with the contents of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
1. Toothpaste: Best for small jobs, a dab of toothpaste can be rubbed into tarnished pieces, and then rinsed off with warm water. Use an old soft-bristled toothbrush for stubborn stains or to get into intricate grooves. Polish with a soft rag to bring out the shine.
2. Baking soda: To use this kitchen multitasker, first make a paste of baking soda and water, then give your silver a rubdown using a damp sponge or cloth. For badly tarnished silver (or dull chrome and stainless-steel appliances), let the baking soda sit on the surface for an hour or so, before wiping down with warm water and drying with a clean cloth. 3. Vinegar: For corrosion caused by salt or food (such as eggs, onions, and peas, which react with silver), place your item in a mixture of 2 cups of hot vinegar and 1 tablespoon of salt. Allow the silver to soak for up to five minutes, then rinse and dry with a rag.
4. Aluminum foil: Line a pan with a sheet of aluminum foil, fill it with cold water, and add two teaspoons of table salt. Immerse your tarnished silverware in the solution for two to three minutes, before rinsing them off and drying. A molecular reaction known as ion exchange will attract the tarnish away from the silver.
Tip: To keep freshly cleaned silverware from tarnishing, store them on top of a sheet of aluminum foil. We've heard that a piece of chalk also does the trick.
Difficulty level: Easy
-
- {}
