HINTS AND TIPS FOR SILVER AND METALS
An effective and simple way to clean tarnished silver and silver-plate is
to fill a pot with 2 liters water, add 37,5 ml salt and about 20 cm rolled
up tinfoil. Bring to the boil then drop silver pieces into liquid, a few at a time. Simmer slowly then remove once clean. Blackened silver spoons can be brightened by rubbing with a little salt.
You can also use a strip of aluminum foil 12 cm wide, place in a
plastic bowl and add 60ml washing soda and hot water with the silver.
Remove when the fizzing stops and rinse.
Cover unused silver in olive oil and pack it away. Wash before use.
Alternatively put a block of camphor with the silver, to prevent
tarnish.
A magic cleaning cloth can be made with 1/2 cup methylated spirits and
one teaspoon whiting, soak the cloth, hang and dry. Use for polishing
silver.
Brass and copper can be cleaned by mixing 3 tablespoons of tartaric acid, 3
tablespoons of sunlight liquid with 3 cups of water, Wash brass first
and rinse in clear water drying immediately, then do the copper. Lemon
juice and salt can be used to clean copper and tomato sauce also does
the trick. Use furniture polish on copper to stop tarnish, but use it
sparingly.
Tarnished
brass can be cleaned with a rag soaked in ammonia or turpentine.
Lacquered brass needs to be cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and water- never use brass polish.
Green rust marks on brass can be erased with ammonia.
Chrome needs to be polished with methylated spirits, rust can be removed with aluminum foil. To shine use dry bicarbonate of soda
