How to Clean Silver Spoons

Silverware tends to turn black over time. This fact is primarily due to violation of storage and operating conditions. However, blackened silver spoons are not a reason to be upset. It is not difficult to return them to their former beauty. Experienced housewives know different methods. Some of them will be discussed in the article.

Features of cleaning silverware

Silver is a noble metal, and therefore capricious. The darkening occurs due to the oxidation process, which results in the formation of so-called silver sulfide on the surface of the cutlery. It is this substance that spoils the appearance of spoons and forks.

The reasons for this problem are as follows:

• increased air humidity in the place where cutlery is stored;
• exposure to direct sunlight;
• storing silver spoons next to utensils made of other metals.

Another reason for darkening is unscrupulous or improper cleaning. Not every housewife thinks about how to do this correctly. Meanwhile, the preparatory stage is very important: the result of all the work directly depends on it.

Attention! You shouldn’t waste such finicky silverware. It is better to remove small dark spots in a timely manner. This is much easier to do than cleaning old stains from appliances.

So, before cleaning, it is necessary to remove greasy deposits from the spoons.You can get rid of it using a solution based on laundry soap and hot water (at least 50 degrees). The silverware is soaked for 30 minutes, and after this time, any remaining dirt should be removed with a soft sponge. Then the spoons must be rinsed and dried with a paper towel.

Thanks to these simple steps, the darkening removal procedure will not take much time, and its results will definitely please you.

How to clean at home without household chemicals

Of course, silver spoon cleaner can be purchased at the store. But it is not cheap, and there is no point in such a purchase. There are a lot of ways to make cutlery clean using improvised materials.
Here are the most popular ones that help clean silver spoons:

1. Table vinegar. It is necessary to work only with gloves. Vinegar (not acid) is heated to 40–50 degrees. Then the cutlery is placed in a container with vinegar for 15 minutes. As a rule, all darkening goes away after one such procedure. However, if the stains are old, then the “soaking” can be repeated or its time can be increased.
2. Toothpaste. This product will not only make silver clean, but will restore its lost shine. It is enough to squeeze a small amount of paste onto a toothbrush (medium hardness) and rub each device. Then rinse and dry. It is important to choose the right paste: it is better not to buy products with granules.
3. Soda. This product must be mixed with warm (36–40 degrees) water to a pasty consistency. Then each spoon must be rubbed with the mixture (it is convenient to do this with a soft toothbrush or sponge). Wash off the mixture with running water. Dry the utensils on a towel.
4. A mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. 30 ml of these substances are added to a liter of warm water. Silver spoons are dipped into the solution for 15–20 minutes (if the stains are old, the procedure time can be slightly increased). After this they are wiped dry.
5. A mixture of soda, vinegar and salt. Bring 100 ml of water to a boil. After that, add 1 tbsp. l. salt, soda and table vinegar. Then spread foil into a container with a flat bottom and pour the solution onto it. The silver is lowered into the container so that it comes into contact with the foil as tightly as possible (you can wrap the cutlery in foil). In a few minutes the spoons will be absolutely clean and shiny.
6. Egg yolk. It is convenient to work with a cotton pad. With its help, spoons are treated with yolk. The devices should be left in this form for 10–20 minutes. The yolk forms a special film, thanks to which the darkening will disappear.
7. Ammonia. This substance copes “excellently” with darkening and without adding any additional components. To work, you will need a container with a lid. Instruments are placed in it and filled with ammonia. Then the container is tightly closed and shaken so that the ammonia “reaches” each spoon. In a few minutes the silver will shine like new.
8. Lemon acid. To clean silver, you need to boil a liter of water, stir a packet of citric acid in it and immerse silver devices in the solution for 15 minutes (you can increase the time if there is a lot of dirt).
9. Chalk. It works like toothpaste: it gently and carefully removes dark spots. To clean, chalk (it should be white, without dyes) is crushed into powder and mixed with a small amount of water. The resulting slurry is applied to the devices using a toothbrush. After 15–20 minutes, the mixture is washed off.
10. Coca Cola. An unusual method that our grandmothers did not know, but was discovered by modern housewives. This drink cleans many plumbing items (as it contains phosphoric acid), so it will also cope with black stains on silver. The procedure is extremely simple: just place the spoons in a container with cola for 10–20 minutes, and then rinse them under running water.

Important! Silverware should not be washed or cleaned in the dishwasher. Firstly, prolonged exposure to water, air drying and mechanical stress are detrimental to this metal. Secondly, most dishwasher detergents contain alkali and chlorine, which promote the oxidation process (silver will darken even faster than with regular hand washing).

Storage tips

In order for your devices to delight you with their shine for a long time, it is recommended to store them correctly:

1. Silver and salt are incompatible, so it is better to place cutlery and salt shaker away from each other.
2. Silver, cupronickel and metal utensils should not be stored in the same tray.
3. Do not put spoons in a tray or box raw.

The best way to store silverware is simple: wrap each item in thick paper, then put all the cutlery in a box and place it in a dark, dry place.

Luxurious silverware will remain so for a long time only if it is properly cared for. As it turns out, it's not difficult at all. It is important to clean cutlery on time and carry out this procedure not mechanically, but with care. Then the silver spoons will last a very long time and are guaranteed to become a family heirloom.