Restoring silver's shine: Effective home cleaning methods
Silver is a beautiful but demanding metal that loses its luster over time. Learn how to restore its former glory with home methods and avoid costly visits to specialists.
Silver, although elegant and stylish, gradually loses its shine. The dark tarnish that appears on its surface results from chemical reactions that occur upon contact with air. Sulfur oxide, present in the atmosphere, reacts with silver, causing it to darken. Regular cleaning of silver is crucial to maintaining its beauty for longer.
Improper storage of silver is one of the main causes of tarnishing. Items made of this metal should be kept in dark, well-sealed places to limit their exposure to air. It's also important to remember that air pollution in cities can accelerate the tarnishing process.
How to clean silver cutlery using home methods?
Before the holidays, we often take out cutlery that has been forgotten for a long time. Even the most beautiful spoons and forks lose their charm when covered in stains and deposits. Instead of reaching for chemical agents, you can use white toothpaste. Thanks to the gentle particles in the paste, you can effectively remove discolouration and restore shine to the cutlery. All you need is toothpaste, a soft brush, and a few minutes of patience to make the spoons, forks, and knives look like new.
Another effective method is using salt and aluminium foil. Line a bowl with aluminium foil, add 75 mL of table salt, and pour over 1 litre of boiling water. Put the cutlery inside and leave it for a few hours. With this method, even heavily soiled cutlery will regain its shine. Cleaning silver cutlery with salt and aluminium foil relies on a chemical reaction that transfers discolouration from the silver to the aluminium foil.
Another method is using baking soda and vinegar. Start by washing the cutlery under warm water to remove the largest dirt. Then boil 3 litres of water, add 60 mL of baking soda, and 75 mL of vinegar. Submerge the silver cutlery in this solution and leave it for at least 30 minutes. After this time, rinse the cutlery under water and polish them.
How to take care of silver cutlery?
To keep our silver cutlery pleasing to the eye as long as possible, remember a few rules. First of all, avoid washing them in the dishwasher, as strong detergents can damage the delicate surface of the silver. Instead, wash them by hand using mild cleaning agents.
It's also good to regularly polish the cutlery with a soft cloth, which will help remove small dirt and restore shine. Also, remember to store silver cutlery in a dry place, away from moisture, which promotes tarnishing.
