How to clean spoons from nickel silver at home

Melchior spoons look gorgeous. They give the laid table an aristocratic look and bohemian luxury. But over time, they oxidize. A gray patina appears first, then it turns black. How to clean nickel silver spoons at home? Really pretty easy. Moreover, cleaning products will be found in the kitchen even at the most seedy housewife.

A little interesting about cleaning alloy

There are many ways to return the former color to nickel silver spoons. Conventionally, they can be attributed to two groups: chemical and mechanical. The first is based on the reduction of the oxide oxide by chemical reactions. The second is the usual mechanical removal of oxide from the metal surface with cleaning agents.

Both methods are good, but have some drawbacks. Chemical method can not be cleaned nickel silver spoons with gilding or blackening. The result can be unexpected, from tarnishing to the complete disappearance of decorativeness.

Mechanical involves the use of abrasives. These particles are not felt to the touch, they cannot be seen with the naked eye. But they leave small scratches on the surface of nickel silver, which are immediately imperceptible, and after a while turn into a dull coating. And he already remains forever. Get rid of this raid can only hours of polishing. Occupation is meditative, but long and tedious.

I want to quickly, cleanly and without cost. Following the recommendations, everything is doable.

Chemistry is not only a school lesson

Do not be afraid of the need to conduct a chemical reaction in your own kitchen. It is absolutely safe, does not require special tools or substances.

Sodium Thiosulfate
It is sold in every seedy pharmacy, it costs very little. Put on a soft cloth, gently wipe the spoon. The result appears literally before our eyes. Melchior brightens, black goes.

Council Gloves are very desirable to use. The tool does not corrode the skin of the hands, but the black oxide is poorly washed off the fingers.

Aluminium foil

Pour water, about 1 liter for 2 tbsp. l soda Placed nickel silver spoons, put on the smallest fire. Warm up the minutes 3. Carefully glance, as soon as the raid has disappeared, immediately remove the items from the saucepan.

Council If there is no kitchen foil, then you can take a foil from chocolate.

Carbonated drink
The way it seems exotic, however, works. Melkhiorovye spoons are placed in a suitable glass or ceramic dish, covered with soda. After 15 minutes, the cutlery is pulled out, clean, without bloom.

Council If in doubt, take colorless drinks. Through them you can clearly see the whole cleaning process.

Special napkins
Jewelry stores sell silver cleaners. They can be used for nickel silver. These are napkins, liquids, pastes. Instructions read by all means, act as recommended, so as not to damage the spoons.

Council The basis of all these funds is sodium thiosulfate. Is it worth overpaying? But, if you really want “dorag and bohato”, then a direct way to the jeweler for the purchase.

Decoction of potatoes
Boil the most ordinary potatoes and put cutlery in this water for 30-45 minutes. Next, take out and ready! Spoons sparkle.

Council Water for broth is not salted. Spoons put directly into the hot liquid.

The most important thing: after any of the listed operations, it is necessary to rinse the cupronickel spoons thoroughly with clean water. Then wipe dry. Any remaining droplet of fluid is a new dark spot soon.

Strong hands and mechanics in action

Melchior spoons cannot be chemically cleaned. What to do? To rub! Lightly, so as not to scratch the surface.

Toothpaste
Choose the least "poisonous", without any magic additives. A thin layer is applied to a soft cloth, lint-free napkin or cotton pad. And tinder. According to the reviews - the most gentle and effective method. It is inconvenient that figure elements are badly rubbed off.

Council To clean the grooves, you can use the old soft toothbrush.

Tooth powder or chalk
The principle of operation is similar to toothpaste. For the convenience of applying a cloth can be slightly moistened.

CouncilThe finer the grinding of powder or chalk, the less likelihood of scratches. For reliability, you can drive through a coffee grinder.

Salt or baking soda
Make a thick gruel out of the means and the usual pure water. Clean the oxide from the nickel silver spoons with gentle movements.

Council You can add a little alcohol or a few drops of glycerin to the mixture to soften the effect of the abrasive.

Ammonia
The cloth is moistened in ammonia, the patches are removed with quick movements, immediately washed with plenty of water.

Council You can just dip nickel silver spoons in ammonia. But wash it off immediately.

Dishwashing Detergent
If the alloy darkened slightly, then you can do without tweaks. Sometimes it is enough just to wash the spoons thoroughly with any non-aggressive liquid gel.

Council After washing, rinse the metal with warm vinegar. It adds shine to the product.

Naturally, after all procedures should be rinsed with clean water and wiping dry.

Sometimes microdrops of water remain in the recesses of the drawing or figure pattern, which are invisible. But they do their insidious business, adding work for the future.To avoid this, after wiping the cupronickel spoons are left on a clean, dry towel for half an hour. During this time, the remnants of moisture evaporate, and it will be possible to remove cutlery for storage.

Useful tips

1. In order to subsequently show the oxide as late as possible, it is necessary to store cutlery properly. Absolutely dry nickel silver spoons are wrapped in foil or food wrap, then removed in a tight box with a well-closing lid. The less the alloy is in contact with the air, the less it will have to subsequently work on cleaning.
2. It is strictly forbidden to clean nickel silver by means of which there is bromine or chlorine. These substances strongly oxidize nickel and copper, which are in the alloy.
3. If there are stone inserts on the figured pattern, then ammonia should be excluded from cleaning products. It dissolves the jewelry glue that holds the stones.
4. If you are too lazy to clean the nickel silver spoons at home, in many jewelry shops they have long been offering their services of this kind. Just carry, pay money, pick up clean appliances.
5. All the methods described above remove the oxide, but do not remove the greasy film from food. To achieve the best result, it is advisable to first thoroughly wash the metal objects with soap and then only to clean the coating.
6. It is said that a decoction of pearl barley or garlic peel in an aluminum pan perfectly cleans cupronickel. There are few reviews on this method, but why not try it on an inconspicuous site?
7. The back of the sponge for washing dishes has a rough side. Many hostesses with pleasure shkryabayut her cutlery. And then they lament: “I haven’t cleaned the powder, but there are plenty of scratches ... Where did they come from?” And really, from where? Stronger had to rub, even sandpaper would have taken, so for sure.
8. Got even exotic advice. Allegedly kneaded the dough with a nickel silver subject, and it was cleansed. Then baked from the same dough. Recommended strongly now to do so always. Well, yes, and then eat pancakes with the remnants of black bloom for both cheeks. Milota! If so, then throw away the dough, and not in the mouth pull.
9. Instead of a cloth for mechanical cleaning options, you can use a piece of suede.Then cupronickel spoons will also be polished to a shine without effort.
10. Some special cleansers contain substances that form an invisible film on the surface of the nickel silver. It perfectly protects the metal from the subsequent formation of a new raid. Read the packaging, everything is written there.
11. You can not rinse cupronickel spoons with hot water, they will quickly darken again. Room temperature is perfect.

If you carefully read the instructions and strictly follow the recommendations, your nickel silver spoons with honor will play the role of "family silver" for many years. And after all, no one will guess about a little trick. Worthy and elegant - this is about Melchior.

Video: how to clean nickel silver spoons