Homemade Silver Cleaner
Earl Proulx had a simple solution for practically everything — including household chores. His instructions to make a homemade silver cleaner that uses the electrolytic method is easy, uses common household staples, and doesn’t require gloves or messy chemicals.
Ingredients for Homemade Silver Cleaner:
- 1 quart of hot water
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 sheet of aluminum foil
- non-aluminum dish
Instructions for Using Homemade Silver Cleaner:
- Line bottom of non-aluminum dish with a sheet of aluminum foil
- Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a quart of hot water
- Soak for a half hour — time may vary depending on degree of tarnish
- Buff with clean, dry cloth
The subject: a heavily tarnished spoon
The process: soak tarnished silver in a water/baking-soda bath.
The result: a spoon free of tarnish
NOTE: Do not use this method for cleaning silver on pieces that have a raised design or on cemented pieces.
Read more of Earl’s dos and don’ts of polishing silver and other household tasks at: YankeeMagazine.com/home
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My mother passed on her secret to me of using toothpaste. It works fast and does a beautiful job!
Just curious – why can it not be used on pieces with raised design?
(My pattern is Repousse, and that just put an end to trying that method!)
Lorraine — there’s a chance you could lose the dark accents that have built up over time around the raised design.
You shouldn’t use this method on pieces that are low-lighted with tarnish….such as a bracelet or ring with a detailed design that looks GOOD with the tarnish in the nooks and crannies. That’s the only reason to not use this method.
Would it damage the stones in silver mounted jewelry – turquoise, specifically – that is very difficult to clean any other way? Thanks.
Do not ever clean turquoise that way, or submerge in anything. It is very porous and should only be cleaned with a soft cloth. So use a silver cleaner on the silver part and protect the turquoise.
I’m a silver restoration and conservationist ?