Has your silverware lost its beautiful shine? Don’t panic, this is a completely normal phenomenon called oxidation. It occurs with the action of air, of light, but above all of the time on money. Fortunately, you will be able to clean your silverware with an ingredient that is surely in your kitchen: baking soda. How to proceed?
Bring your silverware to life with a brush and baking soda
This very simple method will allow you to make your silverware shine with just a toothbrush and baking soda. All you need to do is sprinkle a few pinches of sodium bicarbonate on your silver coins and rub them gently with a previously moistened toothbrush.
This process will allow you to gently remove oxidation marks that tarnish your silverware. However, it has its limits. For example, it is not effective against the most stubborn stains. In addition, if you have to clean a large number of objects, the method can quickly turn into a chore. Fortunately, a more effective solution is available to you, and with it, you won’t even need to scrub.
For this method you will need:
- of a saucepan;
- aluminum foil;
- some water ;
- cooking salt;
- baking soda.
Washing silverware in the dishwasher: is it possible?
To start, cover the bottom of your pan with the foil and fill it with water. Then heat everything to a temperature of at least 60 ° C. It is best not to let the water boil.
Remove the pan from the heat and then add a tablespoon of cooking salt and a tablespoon of the essential baking soda to it. Now immerse your silverware in the solution and leave to act for about an hour. Finally, remove your items from the water and dry them with a very soft cloth.
It is possible to carry out the operation with a fire. But in this case, you should be careful to immerse your silverware for only a few seconds. Then remove the objects with kitchen tongs at the risk of burning yourself.
If some strains are resistant to treatment, you can remove them using a damp sponge and a paste of baking soda. To achieve this, you just need to mix ¼ cup of sodium bicarbonate with two tablespoons of water.
Our tips for cleaning your silver cutlery
Warning! if this process has the advantage of being radical against the oxidation of silver, it nevertheless has a major drawback. He is, in fact, quite aggressive. It is therefore not suitable for jewelry with precious stones. In addition, it is likely to damage the patina of very old silverware or collector’s jewelry. This could therefore cause them to lose part of their value. It is therefore best to practice a test on a single object before you start.
You now know how to make your silverware shine without investing in expensive and not necessarily effective cleaning products. All you have to do is try it out and judge the result for yourself.
