Magic Technique: Practically Free and Non-Laborious Silver Polish
Not having a set of sterling silverware myself, I often pick up silver-plated bowls and whatnots at junk shops–it’s so not the same thing, but I’m like a raccoon: I cling to what’s shiny.
Polishing these items is sort of meditative, I guess, but it’s messy and leaves a black stain on my fingernails that I find even more embarrassing than wearing clothes with holes in the armpits.
So I was so intrigued when I read about a silver polishing technique in a Danny Seo book (he’s so sweet and earnest!) that requires neither silver polish nor elbow grease. I tried it on this fussy bowl I bought for $1 at a Salvation Army in Allentown, PA.
At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, let me say that it worked like magic.
You’ll need:
–Some kind of container (bowl, roasting pan, etc) lined with aluminum foil
–Boiling hot water with added
–salt (a few tablespoons should do it)
Just place your tarnished items in the aluminum-foil lined container and pour the saltwater over them until they’re fully submerged. If you look closely, you can actually see the tarnish disappear. Leave it for a few minutes (you may also have to repeat the cycle). Then buff the silver items to dry them off and make them extra shiny. As if I needed another reason to love salt.
Sarah: This is nothing short of amazing! Maybe your tea kettle should be next in line for a shine?
4 years ago
Katy McColl: actually, i did the bottom half of the teakettle–the the shine below the line?4 years ago
Sarah: Oh yeah, I totally can tell!4 years ago
Ann: That’s amazing! Do you know if this works on gold or copper-colored metals as well?4 years ago
EB: 1$ score!4 years ago
Ruth Simons: Thank you. This is awesome. I recently puchased silverplated demitasse spoons and butter knives and was told not to use silver polish on silverplate…this is perfect!4 years ago
Gail: Katy – I am very impressed and plan to try the technique in Flemington at the home of one of my very favorite people. Keep those great tips coming and thank you!4 years ago
Molly: Oh! This is terrific, Katy. Whenever she visits, my mother gets mad at me for not taking proper care of a particular silver pitcher that used to be my great-grandmother’s (and that, come to speak of it, is sitting just to my right, tarnished as hell). I can’t wait to try this technique…4 years ago
Joanne: Katy – please keep in mind that salt is corrosive to silver and while it is taking the tarnish away it may damage the silver over time as what you are creating is an electrolytic reaction. (It will also remove the “good tarnish which gives silver character IMHO.) Read more about cleaning silver here: http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Silver
If you have just a junk shop find, this method will work fine – I just hope that you don’t use it on your grandmother’s sterling
4 years ago
Shelly: I heard that Ketchup works on silver as well. Not sure if that’s just a old wives tale.4 years ago
Shelly: wait I think that’s copper not silver4 years ago
Elisabeth: What a great tip! Am making a note of that; thanks!4 years ago
Lauren: This is so awesome!
I tried it on some of my old silver jewelry it looks amazing thanks for the wonderful tip!4 years ago