Sometimes it can be easier to think about purchasing items that have little upkeep. A slight bit of dusting here or there never hurt anyone, but items that involve polishing or buffing — well that just seems like work. It doesn't have to with this quick and simple tip.
You might remember Jules, the Super-Hero-DIY mom over at Pancakes and French Fries, who took matters into her own hands when she entered her living room, only to find her couches had been covered in red Sharpie Marker. Her couches are now stain free and she's tipped us off to another great project... kicking tarnish to the curb.
All it takes is a little baking soda, salt and aluminum foil stirred into a bowl of warm water and you're tarnished goods will be good as new. There's a small bit of rubbing involved, make sure to check out all the details over at Pancakes and French Fries, but all in all, this is a simple DIY to salvage any thrift store or heirloom find!
Thanks Jules!
(Image: Pancakes and French Fries)
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A great tip, thanks for sharing. Amazing vase to boot!
Great tip! And FANTASTIC vase. Are those chameleons?! :D
That vase is SO cool!
That vase looks like it could be Mexican, done by Los Castillo -- if so, it's a good one!
One's person's tarnish is another person's patina.
You're very welcome, Sarah Rae, but I think I should be thanking you. Thank you. :)
NadyaN--Yes, those are chameleons. I'm not sure on the stones that make up the body--maybe agate?
pkm7--Good eye. It is both Mexican and by Castillo silversmiths.
I do have to say, I've tried this, and if your piece more than a teeny bit tarnished, you're better off using silver polish, which is inexpensive and easy to use.
I really wanted this to work, but I'm going to stick with my store bought silver polish.
I've tried this, too (from a really old Martha article) and it didn't work that well. Best thing I've found is one of those specialty cloths that has some sort of built-in polish.
i like using a toothbrush and toothpaste. it works well for detail work, like the chameleons on the vase, and you gently rub the toothbrush on the item with the brush, rinse, and dry it.
Oops! ONE, not one's.
Even easier, since it involves no scrubbing at all:
Get a pot large enough to hold your tarnished item and boil water (don't put the item in yet). Note: I've only ever tried this with a non-stick pot, so I don't know if the non-stick coating would mess this up.
After the water's boiled, put in salt and stir a bit, until mixed (one part salt to five parts water). Remove from heat so it doesn't stay a roaring boil. Then, take a piece of aluminum foil and rip a sheet about the size of your pot opening, and (using long cooking chopsticks or tongs so you don't burn yourself), push the foil down to the bottom. Note: I haven't tried with with non-stick foil, so I don't know if that will make a difference. I use regular that isn't non-stick.
That's it!
Now you just put the item in the water so that it touches the foil (touching the foil is important). In seconds--yes, seconds!--the tarnish will be gone. Pull it out of the water, rinse it off in cool water, then wipe clean. Large items will need to be put in one part at a time, as it only cleans what's in the water. This will work even for thin necklace chains, though it takes more than a couple of seconds (the more detailed/complicated design or texture, the longer it will take). But it will work!
WARNING: Do not do this to items that have other precious metals or stones in it (like gems). It could damage them.
I asked a professional silversmith for more information on this method and this is what they had to say:
We do not recommend the process especially with silver-plate as it cleans by galvanic action which the interaction between metals and chemicals. It works; however, the chemical process stays in the cells of the metal and keeps on working and corroding the metal long after it has been rinsed off. Sterling silver is safer to use in this process than plate as silver plate is a combination of metals which is a bad mix for galvanic action.We still recommend a good silver polish above and beyond anything else.
Can you clean silver jewelry this way??