Bob Vila shows how to make your own homemade silver cleaner and silver Polish.
Some of the silver pieces you have collected over the years are hidden in a drawer or on a shelf.It is true that silver benefits from regular use.I didn't want to commit to the constant cleaning that I thought it would need.
I thought it would be hard to keep my silver clean and polished.I decided to use my silver more after giving it a good cleaning.When I see tarnish, I choose to clean my silver with natural, easily accessible products from my cupboard, and fortunately, the chore is much easier.
I would like to share what works and what not to do.Hopefully, you will get inspired to get your silver cleaned so that you can use it more often.
It is easy to clean your silver.The process remains the same once the tarnish has had time to build up.
You can wash your silver separately from the sudsy water.If you place silver in the dishwasher or sink, you run the risk of damaging the delicate metal.To prevent a build-up, polish the silver when you notice the tarnish.
You can get tarnish off silver with one of our solutions.Our cleaning tips will show off your silver.
The simplest way to clean lightly tarnished silver is to drink lemon-lime soda.The acid in the soda works as a natural silver cleaner, leaving your silver sparkling clean without harming the metal.
The soda should be poured on the silver in the container.After soaking for an hour or more, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.The lemon base is used to create a powerful yet mild cleaning solution.
This is an easy solution to clean silver.To fill a container, line it with aluminum foil and heat it up.
To create a very salty solution, add a lot of salt to the water.Put the silver in the container with the salt water.When the tarnish is gone, remove the silver.
The silver will be shiny in no time at all.The silver needs to touch the foil to be effective.If the silver is dirty, rinse and buff it with a soft cloth.
Many different household items do the job efficiently, so you don't have to buy expensive silver polish.No matter what you choose, the process stays the same.Mild abrasive action and acidic ingredients are used in some polish replacements.
Don't use harsh cleaners or toothpaste if you want to be gentle with your silver.To get into deep crevices, remove tarnish from intricate designs with a soft brush and polish.
Put some of the household ingredients on a wet cloth and rub the silver with long, straight movements.Remove tarnish by rinsing it and buffing it with a soft cloth.
Some of these solutions can be used for how to age brass if you have brass pieces that you want to look antique.You can get that aged appearance with just a few simple steps and ingredients by taking a look at our recipes.
To clean small silverware and how to clean jewelry, soak them in baking soda and distilled white vinegar in a large bowl.Use a large bowl to prevent a mess because the homemade all-purpose cleaner will foam a little.
Allow the silver to sit in the mixture for two or three hours, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth.If your jewelry has stones or other ornamentation, be careful with this solution.Before using it for cleaning silver, make sure they are safe.
This mixture can be used to clean a sterling silver chain.If there is a lot of sweat on the piece, you may have to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to get into the crevices.
It is always a good idea to take extra care when cleaning jewelry as you don't want to damage it.You can consult5 Easy-to-Make Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Recipes.
If your silver pieces are tarnish free, try to keep them that way.It works well with silverware and jewelry, but maybe not for special occasion items.
If you want to keep silver wrapped in cotton cloth, put it in a plastic bag.The plastic causes the tarnish by keeping out air that carries sulfur.
Don't wear silver jewelry when swimming, doing dishes, or cleaning.Silver tarnishes because of chlorine in water and cleaning supplies.Since wool encourages tarnish, don't wear a silver necklace with wool when cooking.
It is risky to use toothpaste as a silver cleaner.Some toothpaste is non-abrasive and will do the job well, while others contain harsh ingredients that can scratch silver.The components of the toothpaste could cause harm.
I recommend that you only use toothpaste if the tarnish is extreme and unresponsive to other methods.If you want to use an abrasive, use a paste of baking soda and water on a soft cloth or sponge.
Rub the baking soda on the piece and let it sit for an hour, then rinse and repeat if needed.Dry with a clean cloth.
vinegar is an incredibly versatile product.It can be used in cooking and for cleaning.The acidic properties of vinegar can be used to clean a lot of things.You can use a soak to clean your silver.