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In a small pot (the pot's size depends on what you're cleaning), place water to where it will cover the item being cleaned. Add 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, and a capful of white vinegar. Then place the silver (silverware, etc.) on top a piece of aluminum foil with the shiny side down in pot, submerge it, then bring pot to a boil. Turn the silver or whatever it is on the other side, and you should see beautiful shiny silver on the side that was submerged. Don't ask me how it works but it really does.
By Ms_Thrifty from Houston, TX
Do not use this on silver plated items, it will remove the silver plating. This is only safe for sterling silver.
Here's a recipe for cleaning silverware.
Soak 1 hour. Then wash.
By Robin from Washington, IA
This is a guide about cleaning silverplate flatware. Silver flatware tends to get tarnished over time and with general use. There are various ways to clean it.
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I have a few pieces of old silverware. How do I clean them?
Several people here have asked the same question. There is one very easy way to do this.
In a pot on your stove, add 1 liter of water, a piece of aluminum foil, and 2 Tablespoons of baking soda. Bring to a boil.
Turn off the stove and use a pair of tongues to dip the silverware into the water mixture. Leave for 30 second to a minute and remove. This removes all the tarnish on the silverware.
Please, is there an easy way to clean silverware without using Silvo? Thank you.
By Carolyn from Australia
Here are some home made remedies to clean silverware.
Baking Soda
Use baking soda to do a quick, easy polish on silverware. Make a paste of baking soda and water, and use it to polish away tarnish. Rinse the silverware and dry with a clean cloth. Add a bit of salt or lemon juice to the paste to increase the cleaning power and make the piece smell nice.
Toothpaste
Use a paste (not gel) toothpaste and a soft toothbrush or cloth to restore shine to silver. Rinse thoroughly, especially in crevices or etched decorations
I found this site to be very helpful.
Read more: Home Remedies for Cleaning Silverware | eHow.com http://www.ehow ml#ixzz0woAegt5x
I hope these ideas help you! : )
My good silverware that we use daily looks dingy and tarnished. What is the best way to clean silverware?
By Betty
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I had a mouse in my silverware drawer. The mouse is gone, but not the droppings. I need a way to clean my silverware without bleach, but I want to disinfect everything. Would vinegar and baking soda tarnish my silverware? Thank you for your help.
By HEATHER KNEEAND from Boston, MA
I use glass stove top cleaner. Wash afterwards and then dry well before storing. (02/16/2010)
By Myrna
Whatever you do, do NOT use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your silver. It will turn it black and you won't be able to get it off! (You won't have any mouse poop germs though :^) (02/19/2010)
Just wash the silverware in hot soapy water, either in the dishwasher or by hand. Wash out the drawer with hot soapy water as well. There is no need to do anything else. Soap and hot water are better disinfectants than vinegar and/or baking soda, and certainly better than the combination of them, as when you mix them, all you get is salt water. (02/21/2010)
By Louise B.
How do I clean my old silverware? It was not taken care of and was stored in the garage and basement until I received it. I don't know how old it is, but it has been passed down on my husband's side.
Zena from Mandan, ND
Store the silver (when cleaned) in Atlantic Cloth, which has a tarnish attracting chemical (if I am not mistaken, it absorbs the sulfur in the air).
Fabric stores sell it by the yard and customized zippered pieces are sold at The Container Store. (12/18/2006)
By Holly
Buy TarnX at the local hardware store or grocery or drugstore. (12/19/2006)
Do not use the aluminum and sodium bicarbonate method to clean silver. It will remove the silver plate right off your items. If you are cleaning sterling, eventually it can remove the ornate decorations. My restaurant has used Silvermate silver cleaner for years. It is a safe, ecofriendly liquid that cleans and polishes in just a few seconds without polishing your knuckles blue. It's mild enough to use without gloves. (04/27/2009)
By Marcus
The best way to clean silver is to line a sauce pan with aluminum foil and fill it with water. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda for each 2 cups of water in the pan. Heat the water until boiling and remove from heat. Then lay the silver items in the pan so that they are touching the aluminum foil. Remove the items from the pan, rinse, and polish them lightly. The foil attracts the tarnish so make sure that the tarnished parts of the silver make contact with the foil.
With this method you are playing with fire. If you leave the silver in the solution too long, it will pit the silver thereby ruining it. And, remember just how wonderful it is just making your silver look nice by polishing it piece by piece. Do a little at a time then it is not a chore. Do NOT use this method on silver plate as it will take the silver off leaving either copper behind or some androgenous other material. (09/10/2005)
By Lucy330.