Search our quarter-million Q&As

Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989

-----

A housekeeper's blunder leaves every silver piece looking like aluminum

Q. Dear sirs;
Recently my housekeeper cleaned ALL my silver; flatware and candleholders with an abrasive pad and cleaner. All the silver is scrathed making it have the appearance of aluminum. How can I restore this myself? I am willing to invest in any contraption that will bring the items back to their original beauty. I can't, at this time, consider having it professionally done because there is so much to restore. Please advise me of my options.

Thank You,

Michael Stout
Patron of fine silver - Brewster,New York, U.S.A.
July 13, 2008

A. Try precipitated chalk/water mixture(thick).After that polish with special silver polishing cloth.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

---

July 17, 2008 Most shops specialized in silverware have polishing compounds (Simichrome ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] brandname comes to mind). G. Marrufo-Mexico Guillermo Marrufo - Monterrey, Mexico Michael If you can locate some, a paste of Colgate Tooth Powder works well at fine polishing. May be too fine, depending on the abrasive originally used. Willie Alexander - Colorado Springs CO July 17, 2008

---

July 17, 2008 Polish lightly with 2F pumice ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] and then switch to 4F fine pumice ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] in a wet paste. Lots of work. James Watts - Navarre, Florida July 17, 2008 If it's sterling, then you can restore it with buffing pads mounted in a hand drill and white compound, both available at Sears. If plated, there may not be enough silver left to allow restoration. It would have to be replated, which costs about as much as new. Jeffrey Holmes, CEF Spartanburg, South Carolina

Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.

---

---