Here's a simple and non-toxic way to polish up tarnished silver in a jiffy without using smelly pastes and chemicals.
Step 1. Look at the tarnished bowl. I picked this up at a flea market for just a few dollars. Pretty old-looking, right? You can't even see my reflection in the bowl (unless you squint your eyes and look really close).
Step 2. Fill the sink (or a roasting pan or whatever will hold water) with hot water. Line the whole thing with a sheet of aluminum foil. Add a squirt or two of dish soap (Method, of course!). Pour lots of salt on top. Got it? Hot water, aluminum foil, soap and salt.
Step 3. Place the tarnished piece on top of the aluminum foil. Let it sit there, making sure the foil is touching the tarnished area. A chemical reaction will take place and literally magnetize the tarnish away.
Step 4. Buff. Use a microfiber towel or terry towel or whatever... just buff and clean.
Voila! Clean and shiny!
does the salt not harm the silver finish? that would be my worry - but i have done something the same only using baking soda.
Posted by: Krista | July 05, 2007 at 09:02 AM
This works best with de-ionized water which you can buy at a pharmacy or remove from your dehumidifier tank!
Posted by: Jacki Hollywood Brown | July 05, 2007 at 09:53 AM
Normal toothpaste works on silver as well.
Posted by: mercurial scribe | July 05, 2007 at 08:38 PM
You can do the same with aluminium foil, baking soda and boiling water.
Posted by: Donna | July 06, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Whoa! I'm going to try it right now. I have a bowl just like that one too.
Posted by: jennifer ramos | July 06, 2007 at 07:00 PM
WOW!! that was unbelievable! are you sure your not tricking us and swapping out the bowl?
kidding:)
Posted by: cristina - string*THEORY | July 17, 2007 at 08:55 PM
my mom and grandmother always used salt and white vinegar. I have cleaned silver, brass, copper etc with it for years. Mix the salt, (any kind will do) and vinegar into a "paste" and rub it on with your hands. Always worked for me.
Posted by: robin | July 17, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Hot water, aluminum foil, and washing soda works really well too. In my experience, it works faster than baking soda. I haven't tried the soap/salt method, but now I definitely will so I can decide which non-toxic option I like the best.
Posted by: Leah | July 19, 2007 at 12:42 PM
WOW! that was awesome.. thank you for sharing! time for me to do some scrubbing
Posted by: teresa | July 21, 2007 at 02:04 AM
the salt + vinegar just finally polished up an old brass (i think) lamp that nothing else could handle. it looks GORGEOUS! thank you!
Posted by: olya | July 21, 2007 at 06:58 PM
Best/funniest thing about this is, there are a bunch of sites, even TV ads, for fairly expensive kits which are nothing but the same thing! A piece of aluminum metal & the "magic" ingredients! :Grin!: We all need to pass this along!
Posted by: McGaladon | July 27, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Nice. Can't do the same with a floor standing lamp, however. I picked the lamp up at a yard sale yesterday. I used a paste of salt, flour and vinegar. It did some good, but it still isn't clean. Sigh
Posted by: Joy Smith | July 20, 2008 at 01:21 PM
P.S. The lamp is Brass, not silver.
Posted by: Joy Smith | July 20, 2008 at 01:29 PM