Do you have some beautiful silver pieces that need to be brought back to life? Polishing silver may be a lost art. No longer is the knowledge passed down in families. The process isn’t too difficult, especially if you know the secrets, such as working quickly before the polish dries. Here are step by step instructions for polishing silver.
1. Gather your silver and your cleaner. You can purchase a commercial cleaner, such as Wrights. The cleaner generally comes in a jar or tub and consists of a thick cream. You can also avoid harsh chemicals by using baking soda and making a thick paste. You’ll need a sponge and/or an old toothbrush to apply the cleaner. You’ll also need a clean soft cloth or sponge for rinsing, and another clean towel for drying.
Caution: Commercial silver cleaner should not be left your skin for a long period of time. In fact, you might want to wear thin gloves while cleaning silver.
2. Set up an area to place your items after they have been cleaned. A thick layer of paper towels or some old towels can be laid down on a table or kitchen counter.
3. Rinse the dust off of the pieces using hot water. Do this one piece at a time, since you will polish each piece after rinsing.
4. Dip your moistened sponge or toothbrush into the cleaner and apply it to the item in a thin layer quickly, making sure that you cover the entire piece. If you are new to polishing, or the piece is large, work in one area of the piece at a time.
5. Go back and rub the cream in until it disappears. If you have something large, such as a bowl, polish the inside before moving on to the outside of the piece.
6. Rinse each piece in warm or cool running water, using your clean cloth or sponge to remove any remaining trace of the silver cleaner.
7. Dry the piece with a cotton towel to avoid water marks.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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