Silverware when meet sulfur or hydrogen in the air turns to black or tarnishes. Tarnishing is nothing but the black film that develops on silverware or silver items. Tarnishing also happens when silverware meets certain types of food that contains sulfur. Prolonged exposure to moisture also causes tarnishing. There are many chemicals available to clean and polish silverware. Instead of using chemicals all the time, try some natural tips to clean silverware.

 Use banana peel and lemon juice:

What you need? Banana peel, lemon juice and water.

How? In a blender add water, a Tbsp lemon juice and couple of banana peel. Blend it to a paste. Using an old cloth apply the banana peel paste on the silver. Leave it for half an hour or so. Wash silver using dish washing soap.

Tomato ketchup:

Using a soft cloth apply ketchup on silver. Leave it for half an hour. Use a scrubber and clean the silver. Wash using dish soap.

Toothpaste:

Apply toothpaste on silver. Let the toothpaste completely cover the silver item. Don’t leave any place. Leave it for 15 minutes. Simply rinse off the toothpaste and wash using dish soap. Wipe off water and store in dry place. This method also polishes the silver item to give a new look.

Aluminum foil and baking soda: This is the most popular method to clean the silver.

What you need: Water, baking soda, vinegar, aluminum foil.

To boiling water add baking soda, and several pieces of aluminum foil. Slowly add white vinegar. Vinegar helps to speed up the cleaning process. Now place silver items in the boiling water. Silver items should come in contact with aluminum foil. Continue boiling for few more minutes. You will notice color change in aluminum foil to black. See how the silver item looks. It should look new. Using tongs remove silverware from the water and buff off water using old cloths. If you would like to, then using dish soap  wash once and rinse with water. Don’t forget to buff off the water from silver piece and store in dry place.

White vinegar and baking soda:

Mix ½ cup of vinegar and 2 Tbsp of baking soda. Apply this paste on silverware and leave it for an hour or so. Rinse using cold water and dry silverware and store in dry place.

Tamarind, wood ash:

Apply tamarind paste on silver vessel. Leave for half an hour or so. Later use wood ash (or burnt rice husk) and clean the silver vessel. Wash using water.

** Never wash silverware in dish washer. Chemicals will spoil the silverware.

Storing silverware:

Do not store silverware in carry bags, plastic or bind using rubber bands. Instead, use anti-tarnish bag and keep all silver items in these bags and place couple of chalks. Wrap pieces of chalks in cheese cloths and place inside the bags.  Chalks will absorb the moisture and keeps silver items shining for a longer time.

Store silverware in an area with no humidity. Do not wrap silver items in newspapers as newspaper ink can be acidic to silver.

Grandma’s tips; www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Image by congerdesign from Pixabay