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How to Clean Silver

By Jirasak Phuriphanvichai

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 06Jul2009 Word count: 418 Viewed: 286 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

First let us Note, what are the enemies for the Shinning Silver items, and how to avoid them.

Enemy of Silver:

Tarnish is silver's enemy. Silver tarnishes when it's exposed to air and certain chemicals. Outside of regular cleaning, you can keep silver tarnish free by following these general rules of thumb:

NEVER let silver come in contact with rubber. This includes dish mats, placemats, silver wear holders, and rubber bands. Rubber contains sulfur, which will cause your silver to corrode.

Do not allow stainless steel flatware to come in contact with fine silver or silver plated flatware. When the two metals touch, silver becomes damaged and stained. Don't wash or store the two different metals in the same area.

DON'T expose fine silver to foods for long periods of time. Never leave flatware inside serving dishes containing eggs, mayonnaise, or mustard. The sulfur in these foods will corrode silver.

USING silver prevents tarnish. The more you use and handle your silver flatware, the less chance there'll be for tarnish to buildup. So, don't hide your good silver away for safe keeping!

MAKE YOUR OWN SILVER CLEANING SOLUTION:

When silver oxidizes, it tarnishes. Tarnish dips work to repair and remove tarnish from quality silver. Most commercial dips are used when heavy, dark colored tarnish cannot be removed with traditional pastes or polishes. Chemical dips are wiped on silver with cotton balls and specialized applicators, and then submerged in a chemical makeup of acid and a complexing agent. You can make your own chemical dip by following these instructions: 1. Fill the sink or basin with steaming hot water.

2. Mix 2-tablespoons salt and 2-tablespoons baking soda in bowl.

3. Add mixture to sink of hot water.

4. Dip the silver items. Most tarnish will dissolve. For stubborn stains, allow them to stay for up to 10-minutes at a time.

5. Rinse well.

6. Dry.

7. Store your silver correctly. Other than frequent cleaning, the best way to preserve your silver is to store it correctly. Make sure all pieces are completely dry before storing it. For silverware, wrap each piece in tissue paper or anti-tarnish paper. You can also wrap pieces in flannel (special flannels are made just for this purpose). Seal the wrapped silver pieces in an airtight plastic bag. Whether you put away your silver in a bag or you put it in a display case, a canister of silica gel placed nearby can help reduce humidity and ward off tarnish. Never store silver where it can contact rubber, stainless steel, or paint.

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