The majority of people think that cleaning it is the right thing to do. If left for a long enough period of time, it will eat the surface and create pits. To clean silver quickly, use hot water, baking soda, and a piece of aluminum foil. Place your items in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them sit for 15 minutes then rinse under cold water. The heat will loosen any dirt that isn't attached to the item.
If you want to really get rid of bacteria or germs, though, you'll need something stronger. There are several products on the market that can remove bleach from your clothes in an efficient manner. Some examples include: Oxy-Clean, Stain Out, and Magic Eraser. These should always be used in conjunction with washing your items regularly so they don't leave any residue behind.
Antique silver should not be cleaned with chemicals. This includes soap and water as well as other household cleaners. If you do decide to wash it using water, only use a soft brush to scrub the surface. Do not use metal scouring pads because they will scratch the item.
There are some people who believe that silver should never be washed at all. This is completely unnecessary and will only wear down your piece over time. If you are concerned about bacteria or germs, there are many ways you can clean it without actually washing it.
This article has had 737,882 views. Baking soda and aluminum can be used to clean sterling silver. In an aluminum-lined pan, combine baking soda, hot water, and vinegar to remove tarnish off silver. To remove stains, soak your silver in hot water for around 30 seconds before cleaning it. Then, pour over a small amount of baking soda and heat in the oven for about an hour at 200 degrees F.
Baking soda is also effective at removing grease from pots and pans. Simply mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water and let sit for 10 minutes before washing as usual. This recipe will help get rid of any leftover odor too!
Vinegar is also useful for cleaning silver. Put 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a bowl of hot water for five minutes, then rinse under cold water until cooled down. The acid in the vinegar should help remove oxidation from your silver.
Should you eat silverware? Yes, but only stainless steel or plastic silverware is safe to eat after being in contact with acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits. Aluminum cooking utensils should not be eaten as they could cause harm if swallowed.
Large Silver Item Cleaning:
It is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It's also less expensive!! Silver may be readily cleaned with aluminum foil, baking soda, and hot water. Allow the tarnished silver to soak in the solution for a time, and very corroded silver may just require mild polishing. When cleaning gold jewelry, use a different method.
The Easiest Way to Clean Silver Jewelry
Make a thick paste with 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 teaspoons water to remove built-up tarnish from your silver. Use a moist sponge to apply, then gently massage, rinse, and buff dry. To polish gold jewelry, apply a little layer of baking soda, then pour a small amount of vinegar over it and rinse clean. Repeat until shiny.
Both the baking soda paste and the vinegar rinse are easy ways to keep your jewelry looking new. As for the baking soda—it's cheap and there's no need to get fancy with ingredients; just make sure you use cold water when washing your hands so as not to burn yourself. The vinegar will prevent further oxidation of the metal if you choose to go down this route again later.
If you only want to clean your silver without polishing it, try our homemade recipe below. It works really well to remove soap scum and other stains from your silver without dulling its shine.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice (this helps dissolve any dirtier items such as food dye used to color craft projects)
1/4 cup baking soda
Water, for mixing
Eggshell for cleaning brushes
Natural bristle brush, for brushing paint off your hand tools