By Enid Donaldson-Mignotte, Contributor
HERE IS an easy way to clean your silver utensils and other items.
1: Silver Polish: Boil two to three inches of water in a shallow pan with one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of baking soda, and a sheet of aluminium foil.
2: Totally submerge silver and boil for two to three more minutes. Wipe away tarnish. Repeat if necessary.
DO NOT USE this method for antique silver knives because the blade will separate from the handle. An alternative is to use non-abrasive toothpaste.
3: You may use an aluminium pot cover. Make sure that the pieces of silver are touching the aluminium cover, then sprinkle them with a teaspoon of baking soda and some detergent. Pour water over the items, rinse and dry.
CARING FOR SILVER PLATES
Silver is a comparatively soft metal and no matter how much care is taken once put into use, small scratches inevitably appear on the polished surface. This gradual process is called Patina and results in the traditional mellow patina finish of all silver plate.
All silver and silver plate become tarnished when exposed to moist, warm air or certain food substances, particularly condiments.
In the case of salt holders, it is recommended that after each use the E.P.N.S. top of the salt holder be unscrewed and any salt adhering to the inner or outer surfaces be removed. Regular cleaning with a good silver polish will help to keep your E.P.N.S. tops in good condition.
The use of hard scouring powders or wire wool to remove encrustation will permanently damage E.P.N.S.
Source: Caring for silver plate
by Waterford Crystal
