Tired of having to polish the good silverware every time you pull it out? Then, ditch the polish, and try this simple hands-off remedy:
Place a piece of aluminum foil at the bottom of your kitchen sink, and fill the basin with water. Then, sprinkle in two tablespoons of table salt; and drop your silver pieces into the water. Allow your silver to soak for 2-3 minutes; then, remove and rinse. The tarnish will be gone!
Note: Badly tarnished silver may need to be soaked a second time.
Why This Works
When salt, aluminum foil and water are combined they create a chemical reaction known as ion exchange. During this process, the tarnish on the silver is transferred to the foil. In fact, if your silver is tarnished enough, you'll actually see brown tarnish on the aluminum foil. Who knew science could be a frugal person's best friend?
Benefits of The Aluminum Foil/Salt Cleaning Method
- no polishing
- no harsh chemicals
- fast-acting
- inexpensive
