Were you one of those kids who was given the tedious job of polishing up the silverware before a special occasion? While it wasn’t much fun being stuck doing the chore, there was indubitably a sense of great pride as the shiny utensils were laid out on the table.
You may have used a product like Silvo Metal Polish which has been around for a long time. It does the trick but it requires a lot of elbow grease to get the results. First you have to apply the liquid polish to the surface, wait for it to dry and then rub with a soft cloth for the shine to appear.
If you want to keep it shiny, silver will retain this finish much longer if it is stored properly. An airtight, felt- lined special made wooden storage box is the ideal way to store your utensils. If you have a tea service, wrap in tissue and seal in an airtight plastic bag.
Can silver safely be put in a dishwasher? This answer seems as good as any other I’ve seen.
But why put yourself through the stress of an extra chore if it isn’t necessary. If anything is going to get rid of the black, it is the “foil method”. Not only does this method give great, shiny results, it also costs next to nothing. No extra effort is required to get into the nooks and crannies of ornate patterns.
Get a large pot or frying pan and loosely lay crumpled aluminium foil onto the bottom. Drop about ¼ cup of baking soda or washing soda into the pot and place on the stove. Heat it up to boiling and drop in the blackened silverware making sure each piece is fully submersed. Leave for about 5 minutes. You may notice a rotten egg smell.
Carefully remove the cutlery from the pot, place in a sink of soapy water and wipe dry each piece. That’s all there is to it.
Your guests will think you’ve been slaving away all day when they see the sparkling silver displayed on the table.
