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Letter 1178 Ed. note: Sorry, but this thread mixed how to remove silver tarnish with how to deliberately tarnish silver :-( To minimize confusion we've split it into two columns
--- Am looking for an explanation for/way to prevent/ the yellowing of my sterling silver when washed in dishwasher; did not happen until about 2 yrs ago. Is this related to stainless steel, or the water, or a change in the detergents? Margretta S ----
--- Louis, Exactly how are you supposed to use the AL, baking soda and boiling water? Ralph B
-- I have heard of the Aluminum, salt and water method for silver. It is actually supposed to reverse the tarnishing process. The salt water acting as the electrolyte between the two nodes. I have tried it myself, both with cold and boiling water, but with no success. Kelly Draper ----
With respect to tarnishing of silver, if it's like copper you're getting a corrosion film of the sulfur compounds as well as some oxide and/or carbonate. I have used the aluminum process, except with baking soda rather than NaCl, with some success. It electrolytically reverses much of the tarnish, and a faint sulfide smell is noted. It didn't work as well as on the TV where the miracle plate of aluminum ($0.25 worth of aluminum, sold for $20!) was used. I tried both scrap aluminum and aluminum foil - the silver must be electrically in GOOD contact with the aluminum, by the way. I suspect that experimenting with different grades of aluminum alloys in waters of differing hardnesses would account for many of the results listed above. Higher temperature water seemed to have a very limited accelerating effect, maybe excluding oxygen by boiling is an important step? For Messrs. Pullizzi and McGrath, silver naturally will tarnish in the atmosphere, with a huge dependence on the presence of sulfur. Eggs, industrial atmospheres, and natural digestive processes are probably the important sources for most fine silver. Like brass, you can put on a high quality lacquer finish immediately after cleaning to shield the metal, but silverware and other implements will probably suffer damaged coatings in use. Hope these ramblings are of assistance.
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Paul Tibbals,
P.E. (My opinions are not related to nor a statement of my employer's) |
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-- With respect to cleaning silver using aluminum - Perhaps it will work better if you abrade the surface of the aluminum that contacts the silver. Oxide coating may act as insulator. James Chunn
If you don`t want to fool with all the mess, foil, salt, boiling water, buy an Electrolytic Plate. They really do work, I`ve been using one for over 8 years. Simple and easy, no mess no fuss. I love silver and have lots of it. Thanks, Sue Sue R
- I just did all my silver using WARM water, Al foil and table salt. I poured the salt directly onto the foil, then mixed it a little to dissolve it in the water. Then the silver was placed DIRECTLY onto the foil (shiny side up). It took about 3 min to clean the entire teapot. Try it, it really works! Jess Casey
. I find that aluminum foil, boiling water and baking soda only works if you put it in a plastic dish - I use a rectangular shallow dish. If you put it in metal the reaction will not occur. Hope this helps; also rinse the silver in hot soapy water and dry immediately. Carla L |
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I saw, on TV, a method to remove tarnish from silver, It DID utilize water, aluminum foil and salt, but it did NOT utilize baking soda. Instead of baking soda, it utilized powdered water softener.
(The following regards the question of whitening clothes, posted
by Kelly Price, of Hershey, PA)
Try this. It really works:
Old Navy recipe for whitening clothes
Here is the recipe for whitening clothes. 1/2 cup Clorox , 1/4 cup
dishwasher detergent,(Cascade) , ---- add enough water to cover items
to be soaked, 1/2 to 1 gallon THEN stir well before adding clothes )
Stir to make sure all clothes come into contact with solution. Soak
1/2 to 1 hour then throw them in the washer and wash as usual. (An
old navy recipe.) Note: I tried this, and it really works. (Rather
than going to the kitchen, for dish detergent, I just used my liquid
laundry detergent and it worked just as well).
Glenwood R 
- Mechanicsburg, PA
I saw this on Mr. Wizard as a child, from then on it was my job to clean my mom's silver. Use baking soda, salt, hot water and a piece of al foil in the solution. The tarnish should come right off, the foil is there to give the tarnish something to bind to so it won't collect onto the next piece you clean. It's been a while but it worked like a charm then.
William B
- Phoenix, AZ
I notice you were in charge of the silver cleaning in your house. Do you have the combination of products for the non tarnishing of silver. .I know I should use: aluminum foil, salt, baking powder or water softener and water. But how much of each?
Thanks,
M A Coudry
- Tacoma, WA
A great fast way to clean silver that is very intricate and hard to clean is....take a aluminum pie dish...put hot water in it add a cup of water softener and a splash of vinegar dip your silver in and pull out. comes out spotless.
Tara Copper
- Canada
For the water softener, get Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda [link is to product info at Amazon] (NOT baking soda). I put a silver coin in a plastic dish that I lined with aluminum foil, covered it with the washing soda, then put some boiling water on top. It fizzed a little and smelled like sulphur. The coin had to be wiped off gently when removed and it was shiny and new!
Bob U
- Laurel, MD
Hello,
Believe it or not, white chalk powder both cleans and prevents silver
from tarnishing. Store silver in a zip lock bag with a little chalk
dust. It works on both fine and sterling silver.
Christina S
- East Meadow, NY, America
I did the experiment if u put 500 ml of water, 7.5 ml of baking
soda and 2.5 ml of salt in a GLASS pot with aluminum foil covering
the inside on the stove on high let it sit. right b4 it starts 2 boil
cut it off, put in the silver or the forks and let them sit for 1
minute then take them out and wipe off.
It Works
Jazzmin King
- Jacksonville, Florida
+++++++
i put aluminium foil on the base of the pot and tore bit off in the water poured a fair bit of light salt all over wondering if light salt is the problem?
rhys liebig
amateur - townsville, Qld, Australia
+++++++
I doubt that the salt is the problem, although most people recommend washing soda rather than salt.
The silver may be lacquered, which would prevent the action from happening, or your procedure may be wrong. Unfortunately, I can't understand what you are saying about your procedure, but it's very simple: The silver must touch the aluminum foil and the silver mut be fully immersed.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
I read the articles on how to get rid of tarnish because I have a ring holder that is all silver and shaped like a swan. My swan was extremely tarnished, and I mixed together two of the ways to get rid of the tarnish because none of them worked by themselves. I boiled water with salt, and then I poured baking soda all over my swan. I got the baking powder wet with the salty water so that it was damp, and then I scrubbed it with tin foil. The tarnish came off easily, I wish I figured this out thirty minutes before when I started my project!
Juliet McDonalds
- New York City, New York, United States
I just tried the boiling water/baking soda/aluminum foil method.
It does work. My silver bracelet looks great. Thank you for the
advice.
K-
Karen Watkins
- Warwick, Bermuda
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February 18, 2009 How do I tarnish silver -- follow up question: Larry Root
June 20, 2009 I read through this site and didn't have baking soda and salt was taking too long so I asked someone and she said try ashes. so I did and it worked at first try. Sammy Foster
July 11, 2009 One cheap and easy way I have found to remove tarnish from silver is to use regular toothpaste, not the gel type, just regular paste type. Just rub it on or use an old toothbrush, especially when cleaning intricate parts, like jewelry. Then rinse and dry. No harsh chemicals to harm pearls or other delicate stones. Dian Holmes
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