How Do I clean silver plated items

[gabriel101101]

I have some silver plated items that are completely black I want to clean them. I used soap water and a really hard scrub brush that got all the tarnish off and made it shiny real quick, is this damaging it?

 

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[PaddyB]

Yes - it is damaging it! Silver plating is very thin and too much abrasion will quickly wear it away allowing the base metal to show through in an unsightly way.

Probably the easiest is to buy some silver dip solution - in the UK the best known brand is Goddards I think, but I don't know where you are. This method is virtually effort free, which is another bonus.

You can also get more traditional silver polishs such as Silvo - these have ammonia based solutions impregnated on coarse wool - they are more abrasive but can handle greater depths of tarnish.

Try not to clean too often as even these methods will eventually remove areas of the plate. You can get them replated but this is quite costly.

 

[tamrock]

I use this product sold at Target, Walmart and Walgreens. The blacker the silver the more you'll need. It takes black dull silver to a mirror polish. cheap dish washing rubber gloves will keep your hands clean when cleaning the really black silver. You won't be removing any surface imperfection with it though, but this stuff will make your silver shine like a new penny. Target : Expect More. Pay Less.

 

[JonG]

This is how we clean it before use. Free & easy.

http://greenopedia.com/polish-silver-without-chemicals/


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[diggummup]

Baking soda and aluminum foil with boiling water, follow the link above me posted by JonG.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Tarnex

 

[creskol]

Bring one liter of water, one tablespoon of baking soda and one piece of aluminum foil to a boil. Drop silverware in the pot for 10 seconds (longer if it's very tarnished), then remove using kitchen tongs. Magic! If built-up tarnish persists, make a thick paste with 1/4 cup baking soda and two tablespoons of water. Apply with a damp sponge, then rinse and dry.