A time-stained silver cutlery set can ruin even the finest of meals. A normal wash cleans the silver, but the most stubborn residues of oil and other deposits can withstand even washing in the dishwasher, with the additional risk that over time detergent or limescale residues can accumulate, especially in the case of cutlery. with articulated decorations. Over time, the forks, knives and spoons in your serving may progressively lose their luster and look dirty even if in reality they are not.
Steps
Step 1. Prepare the cleaning solution
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Cover a shallow pan with aluminum foil.
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Fill the pan with 5 or 6 cm of water.
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Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the already poured water.
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Step 2. Leave the silverware to soak in the water for about 10 minutes
The baking soda will act by "polishing" the silverware, removing stains, dirt and traces of grease.
Step 3. Rinse each cutlery thoroughly, using warm tap water
Step 4. Let the cutlery dry on a clean cloth
Step 5. Make drying easier by wiping with a clean, soft cloth
Take each cutlery in your hand and clean up any limescale stains or traces of water still present. By now your silverware should be shiny as new again.
Step 6. That's it
Advice
- This method cleans many stains from silver cutlery, but if you need to remove more stubborn traces, such as the patina oxidized by time, you can try adding a teaspoon of table salt and boiling everything, including the cutlery, for 2 or 3 minutes., making sure the water level completely covers the cutlery.
- Sodium bicarbonate is also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate or monosodium carbonate.
Warnings
- This method is safe for most silver objects, but if you have a particularly ancient and valuable object, it may be preferable to consult an expert or rely on a professional laboratory, so as not to run the risk of damaging it.
- This method is not recommended for cutlery finished with French gray or intentional oxidation.
- The cleaning process described here removes the outermost silver atoms. While it is irrelevant for a single cleaning, repeating the operation twice a week could seriously wear objects over the course of a few years. Use this method sparingly and at your discretion, but don't overdo it.
- The process can cause the aluminum to oxidize, so avoid using a pan made of this material.
