How to Polish Silver at Home
Silver is one of the most striking of the ornamental metals, most commonly used as decorative art pieces, serving dishes, silverware and jewelry. However, the downside of owning silver is that it quickly tarnishes, losing its natural bright white color and changing to yellow or black, which is a chemical reaction of the silver interacting with sulfurs in the air. Commercially prepared silver polishes contain strong solvents that can cause kidney and liver problems, nervous system disorders, birth defects and even cancer after long-term exposure, according to the University of Florida. The good news is that you can polish your silver just as effectively using natural ingredients that won't pose any risk to your health. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wash your silver with a mild soap and water to remove any debris and dust from its surface.
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Choose a pot large enough to hold the silver piece you wish to polish. Line the bottom and sides of the pot with aluminum foil.
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Add to the pot 2 tsp. of baking soda, 1 tsp. of salt and enough water to completely cover the silver pieces you wish to polish. Stir the mixture until the baking soda dissolves. Turn on the heat and bring the water to a rolling boil.
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Place the silver into the pot of boiling water. Make sure the silver is completely submerged in the hot water and touching the aluminum foil. The baking soda and hot water will begin removing the sulfur from the silver, turning the aluminum foil black. Use tongs to gently stir the silver pieces in the pot, being careful not to scratch them. Turn off the heat and allow the silver to soak in the hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.
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Use the tongs to carefully lift the polished silver from the pot. Rinse the silver in water to remove any excess baking soda and polish it dry with a clean cloth.
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Tips & Warnings
For larger silver pieces that won't fit inside a pot, make a paste out of water and baking soda. Apply the mixture to a clean sponge and gently massage it into the tarnished silver. Rinse with warm water and polish dry using a clean cloth.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit utensils image by cherie from Fotolia.com
