Silver Cleaners

Miracle Silver Cleaner
This is terrific for cleaning a lot of silver quickly through a simple chemical reaction that removes the dark patina—even from crevices—so it might be unsuitable for intricate designs.
1 large glass baking pan
1/2 cup baking soda
aluminum foil
1. Boil enough water to fill the baking pan.
2. Meanwhile, line the baking pan with aluminum foil.
3. Place the silver to be cleaned in the pan. It’s important that the silver touch the foil.
4.Distribute 1/2 cup of baking soda over the silver, then completely immerse the silver with the boiling water.
5. Soak for about 5 minutes.
6. Rinse and dry the silver.

Silver-Polishing Paste
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup water
1. Place the baking soda in a nonreactive glass container.
2. Add 1/4 cup of water and mix well. If the paste is too stiff, add more water.
3. Lightly dampen a soft cotton cloth and work a generous amount of paste onto the surface. Rub the tarnished area, then rinse and dry.


 Silver Dip

As silver oxidizes it will tarnish. This layer of oxidation can be removed without polishing and scrubbing by simply dipping your silver in this non-toxic electrochemical dip. Another big advantage to using a dip is that the liquid can reach places a polishing cloth cannot.

What You Need

• Sink or glass pan
• Hot water
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Aluminum foil
• Tarnished silver

1. Line the bottom of the sink or a glass baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Fill the foil-lined container with steaming hot water.
3. Add salt (sodium chloride) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to the water. Some recipes call for 2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt, whereas others call for 2 tablespoons each of baking soda and salt. Personally, I wouldn't measure the amounts... just add a bit of each substance.
4. Drop the silver items into the container so that they are touching each other and resting on the foil. You will be able to watch the tarnish disappear.
5. Leave heavily tarnished items in the solution for as long as 5 minutes. Otherwise, remove the silver when it appears clean.
6. Rinse the silver with water and gently buff it dry with a soft towel.
7. Ideally, you should store your silver in a low-humidity environment. You can place a container of activated charcoal or a piece of chalk in the storage area to minimize future tarnish.

Tips:

1. Use care when polishing or dipping silver plated items. It is easy to wear away the thin layer of silver and cause more harm than good through over cleaning.
2. Minimize exposing your silver to substances which contain sulfur (e.g., mayonnaise, eggs, mustard, onions, latex, wool) as the sulfur will cause corrosion.
3. Using your silver flatware/hollow ware or wearing silver jewelry helps to keep it free from tarnish.
4.  Avoid using rubber gloves; rubber promotes tarnish.
5. Consider storing silver pieces in silver cloth or airtight containers to make the next cleaning easier.

  Other recipes

recipe #1 o make this, you will need 2 cups of whole milk with 5 tsp of cream of tartar and a plastic bowl. Instead of tartar you can use same amount of vinegar or lemon juice as well. Make this mixture and place the pieces of silver in this. Leave it overnight in the mixture. Next morning, wash it with cold water. Wipe with clean, soft cotton cloth to have a shining silver piece right there.

Recipe #2
Toothpaste is one of the best ways of cleaning your silver items and making them classy as before. All you need to do is take any of the regular white colored toothpastes. Avoid using those gel type toothpastes. Apply this all over the silver item. Make sure you cover the entire silver surface. Wait for 10 minutes and take a soft bristle toothbrush. Scrub the surface gently and then wash off with cold water. Use a clean and very soft cloth to buff the surface and give it a lustrous appearance.

Recipe #3
This recipe requires ammonia (non-sudsing type), liquid vegetable based soap and liquid bluing, 1/2 cup each. Also, take a cup of hot water. You can find liquid bluing in any grocery store, usually in the laundry section. Now mix these ingredients in a plastic bottle and close the cap. Shake well and keep it for cooling. Once the liquid cools to room temperature, shake it well and apply it on the silver items using a clean soft, lint-free cloth. Rub the cloth gently and ensure that entire surface is covered with this polish. Now wash off with cold water and wipe using soft cloth. Buff it with non-linting cloth and see the result.

Recipe #4
Here's an easy recipe that will give an ultimate shine to silverware and other silver items. Take 1 quart of water, 1 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tbsp of salt. You'll also need a glass pan and an aluminum foil, enough to cover its inner surface. Firstly wash the silver items with water to remove dust. Now line the pan with aluminum foil to cover its inner side. Place the item in this foiled pan and pour water to cover the item. Add baking soda to this water and turn on the heat. As water starts boiling, turn off the heat. Leave it for about an hour. Once you see that the silver is clean, take it out and wash with cold water. Wipe and buff it with a soft, clean cloth to have an ultimate piece.
By Mamta Mule