Silverware, jewelry or other silver antiques get after some time a black layer of tarnish — in professional circles also called silver sulfide. Domestic staff used to be needed to polish and restore the silverware objects to their splendor. But today, one uses several simple means to help replace the polish by a chemical action. Our guide shows how to clean silverware with aluminium foil.
Clean silverware with aluminium foil: materials
- 1 pot
- 1 liter of water
- 6 tablespoons of cooking salt
- 1 piece of aluminum foil (slightly larger than the pot)
How to do it
- The pot is first filled with 1 liter of water and 6 tablespoons of sodium chloride are added. This solution is heated until it boils.
- Now put the aluminum foil (not too tightly crumpled) in one piece into the water.
- Then the silver cutlery, on which silver sulphide tarnish has spread on the surface, is placed in the pot, with each piece not touching any of the others. When cleaning, it is especially important that the object gets in contact with the aluminum foil. Within a short period of time, the black layer disappears and the silver cutlery regains its original shine.
When you clean silverware with aluminium foil, the sulfur compounds formed during the cleaning are noticeable by an unpleasant smell (rotten eggs or garlic). The aluminum foil discolors and turns black. The reason probably lies in the fact that no decomposition takes place with metals alloyed with aluminum.
More tips for silverware so it stays nice and clean.
- By acidification of the above solution with acetic acid, citric acid or dilute (!) Sulfuric acid action means the cleaning can be intensified. But hydrochloric acid should never be used!
- In order to delay the formation of silver sulfide as much as possible, a dry storage of silver objects is indispensable. In addition, the silver cutlery can easily roll into cotton fabrics. Another alternative is to place a piece of chalk in the cutlery drawer. The best alternative is definitely the daily use, as the subsequent cleaning prevents tarnishing.
- Nowadays a dishwasher is used in many households. Silver cutlery and stainless steel cutlery should be cleaned in a separate hand wash and rinse — and never in the dishwasher. Otherwise, the danger of starting more tarnish on the silver cutlery is great.
- It is definitely recommended to polish silver by hand. Do not use a buffing tool as this can remove layers of the silver.
