How to Remove Metal Tarnish

Tarnish is actually a very old word deriving from as far back as Proto Germanic and means to darken. Tarnish is when oxidation occurs on metal surfaces and causes them to lose their shine. Exposure to air over time can cause metal items to go from shiny and sleek to dull and course. A little routine care for metal objects around the home can go a long way. Tarnish is impossible to prevent, but very easy to clean.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum dish or aluminum foil Baking soda Soft clean cotton cloth Cabbage leaves Flour Salt Vinegar Dish soap Lemon Lipstick White toothpaste

Instructions

For Silver Items

1. Place the silver items in a shallow aluminum dish or a plastic dish that is lined with aluminum foil.

2. Sprinkle a ½-cup to a 1-cup of baking soda over the items.

3. Pour enough boiling water over the items to completely cover them.

4. Remove the items from the tray once the tarnish is gone and the water is cool.

5. Buff the items with a soft cotton cloth.

For Pewter Items

1. Take a cabbage and remove the outer leaves.

2. Rub the pewter with the outer cabbage leaves to remove all of the tarnish.

3. Buff the item with a soft cotton cloth.

For Copper and Brass Items

1. Mix 1 tbsp. of flour, 1 tbsp. of salt and 1 tbsp. of vinegar into a paste.

2. Apply the paste to the tarnished area.

3. Allow the paste to sit on the area for five minutes.

4. Rinse the item with hot water and dish soap.

5. Buff the area with a soft clean cloth.

More Ideas

1. Rub the tarnished areas of copper and brass with a lemon that has been cut in half and dipped in salt. Wipe the tarnished area with a soft clean cloth to remove residual tarnish and restore the shine.

2. Mix ¼-cup of vinegar and 1 tsp. of salt in a shallow dish. A plastic dish is preferable. Dip the items into the solution and rinse well under running water. Dry the items with a soft clean cloth. This method will work on any metal.

3. Rub any lipstick onto a paper towel or cotton cloth and rub a silver item free of tarnish.

4. Apply white toothpaste to a soft clean cloth and polish silver items to remove tarnish. Use a separate soft dry cloth to buff and restore the shine.

Tips & Warnings

• Tarnex and Brasso work very well for removing tarnish and can be purchased at a local home improvement or grocery store.

• Never wash sterling silver and stainless steel together or clean sterling silver in a stainless steel sink or container. This will cause a chemical reaction between the two which can damage the silver. Copper that isn't rinsed thoroughly will develop a blue green finish that can rub off onto clothes.