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
How Do I Remove Silver Tarnish?--I've heard of a way of cleaning silver using aluminum foil, boiling water and
baking soda Does this work? Thanks, Louis L ---- -- I just tried the Al, baking soda on a silver US quarter, Nothing much happened. "420 Ways to Clean Everything" [link is to info about the book at Amazon]by Harriet Wylie, 1992, says to use Al foil, Kosher Salt , and cold water and to dip the cutlery for 2 minutes to remove stubborn stains. That seemed to loosen the black coating on the quarter, but you still have to brush it.
-- 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 years 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- West Plains, Missouri ----
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. |
How Do I Tarnish Silver?--I'm a complete amateur with a small and hopefully simple question. I have used fine silver wire to make a pendant for an earring. How can I dull the finish of the wire? It is far too shiny when compared with the stainless steel of the ring. Thanks. Michael B-- Boil an egg, remove the yolk and break it into several pieces. Put that and the silver into a zip lock bag and close. It should be black in the morning. Careful polishing will give you nearly any shade of grey. The cat or the dog will appreciate the leftovers. James Watts- Navarre, Florida -- Dear James, I never heard of a yummy recipe like that in plating before! Mandar Sunthankar- Fort Collins, Colorado -- It is simple, cheap, available, and it works. The alternative is trying to buy 10 ml of
Liver of Sulphur - Navarre, Florida -- Where could I purchase liver of sulfur? thanks alan alan smolen---- ++ I was hand-washing my whites in a mixture of equal parts water and extra-strength bleach. Two of my three silver rings turned completely grey. It's not guaranteed, but certainly worth a shot. Hope this helps. Kelly P- Hershey, Pennsylvania +++ TO DIScolor ( TARNISH ) SILVER PLACE THE SILVER ITEM IN A JAR WITH SOME ROCK SULPHUR ( YOU CAN GET IT FROM PET STORES ) ADD BOILING WATER AND WAIT A FEW HOURS, I'VE TRIED IT AND IT WORKS. WAYNE S- MANCHESTER, UK ++++ This way really works. It took me ages to figure out. It gives a uniform tarnish. It works well even if the quantities are not exact, just be careful not to over-tarnish your pieces. Tarnish Silver for four silver goblets: weight out approximately 11 g
Sulphur [linked by editor to product info and sourcing at DudaDiesel] powder. - Australia |
My opinions are not related to nor a statement of my employer's.
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Paul Tibbals, P.E. |
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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- Theodore, Alabama - 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- York, South Carolina - 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- london, Ontario, Canada |
^--Browse cleaning |
+++
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, Pennsylvania
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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, Arizona
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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, Washington
++++
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 (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!
- Laurel, Maryland
+++++
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.
- East Meadow, New York, America
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I did the experiment if you 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
- Jacksonville, Florida
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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 liebigamateur - townsville, Qld, Australia
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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 must be fully immersed.
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
June 14, 2008
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
January 27, 2009
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-
- Warwick, Bermuda
February 18, 2009
How do I tarnish silver -- follow up question:
I would like to lay silver leaf and selectively tarnish areas of the completed piece.
Is there a resist that would protect the areas that I don't want tarnished?
Would wax work? (It should be easy to brush apply a melted wax.)
Once the piece is removed from the sulfur source, will the silver retain any of the sulfur and so keep on tarnishing
(which would make variations in tone difficult)?
Thank you for any information or suggestions that you can offer.
Very respectfully,
Larry
- Vienna, Virginia
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- NYC, New York
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- Graceville, Florida, USA
January 24, 2012
Please be sure NOT TO BOIL WATER when using Liver of Sulfur. If you do, it can produce a gas that is poisonous. Also do not use a torch with that product.
Dharlee Minter- Roanoke, Virginia, USA
