OS ideas for cleaning silver plated items?

Mup_2

Hi
I've got a cake knife and server and would like them to look their best when we dust them off to use them at a family function...

Anyone got any 'old style' ideas on how best to do this? I was thinking using lemon and salt might do the trick but a little apprehensive to try until I hear from you more experienced people!

Thanks
Mup.

comping_cat

Ive used a paste of lemon juice and salt, you have to be very gentle with silver plated items but it should bring it up a treat!!!
Catherine x

voodoozoe

From a book about antiques and cleaning silver, silver plate and other metals..."Tear off a cabbage leaf and then tear it in half. Use the ripped stalk to clean metal and save on special cleaning products"...never tried it but can't harm can it!!!!!

Also mentioned are bicarb on a soft damp cloth or as a paste(sparingley).

Hope this is helpful!!!!

Mr_Proctalgia

Mix one cup of washing soda in hot water and pour into a bowl lined with kitchen foil, let articles soak for a bit, wipe and rinse and dry - Job done!

monkmorency

Mr_Proctalgia wrote:

Mix one cup of washing soda in hot water and pour into a bowl lined with kitchen foil, let articles soak for a bit, wipe and rinse and dry - Job done!

I don't mean to be rude, but I would be very careful about trying this method.

I recently followed some similar advice but with salt instead of washing soda, and I'm positive it took the very top layer off the silver plated napkin rings I was trying to clean. I had to rescue them by polishing well with shop bought cleaner afterwards, but they don't look quite the same as the ones I didn't do with the foil, etc.

squeaky

We have more threads on this subject in the Cleaning section of the MEGA Index listed under "Silver"...

Silver:
[post=21835] - Cleaning silver jewellry[/post]
[post=594507] - Silver cup[/post]
[post=473064] - Sterling Silver[/post]

comping_cat

monkmorency wrote:

I don't mean to be rude, but I would be very careful about trying this method.

I recently followed some similar advice but with salt instead of washing soda, and I'm positive it took the very top layer off the silver plated napkin rings I was trying to clean. I had to rescue them by polishing well with shop bought cleaner afterwards, but they don't look quite the same as the ones I didn't do with the foil, etc.

There is a difference in cleaning silver, and silver plated items, the silver plate will come off very easily, so you must always be extra gentle when cleaning these items.
Catherine x

gemmaj

I read something somewhere about using soured milk? Leave to soak for 1/2hr and rinse and buff. I'd check this on the internet before you tried it though, in case I'm getting confused with something else!!

squiggles

I have a very old silver plated cuttelry set and have tried everything to clean it,its never worked,not even the shop baught chemicals or boiling in a huge pan.Its still got rust stains on.Ive kept it for years as im hoping to be able to use it one day.i might try caustic soda to get the cuttelry clean.