Kamal Ghorui
While silver utensils add a touch of luxury and tradition to Indian homes, it can’t be ignored that over time these lose their shine or turn black. In Indian households, silver items are generally used for puja, or storing food. Darkening happens because of several reasons. By air exposure and moisture your silver turns dull which looks bad and irritates the eyes. But the good thing is that you don’t need expensive polishes to restore their sheen. All you need is a few simple household ingredients and you should know the right techniques, and you can clean your silver utensils at home safely.Let’s have a look:Understanding why silver turns blackFor understanding why silver turns black, you’ll have to know what it reacts with. So silver reacts with sulphur present in the surrounding air and in some foods too. It creates a dark layer called silver sulphide. Then there is humidity and improper storage also which just increases the blackening process. Here are some of the best options:Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil Method (the Best!)Among several methods, baking soda and aluminum foil method is the most effective. All you need to do is line a deep bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side facing up. Now put your silver utensils inside the bowl. Take 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda and put over the utensils. Submerge the utensils in hot water and leave for a few minutes. You will notice the tarnish lifting off in just a few minutes. Now it happens because of a chemical reaction which transfers the sulphur from the silver to the aluminum. Take the utensil out and wash thoroughly. Wipe clean with soft paper.Lemon and Salt methodThis is one of the most used methods. Lemon works as a natural acid which helps break down tarnish. Salt on the other hand acts as an abrasive. All you need to do is cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and rub it gently over the silver utensils. For bigger utensils with designs on them, take a bowl of lemon juice, add a pinch or two of salt, and soak the items for 8-10 minutes. Now wash well and wipe dry.Toothpaste to the quick rescueToothpaste can also be effective for cleaning silver utensils. All you need to do is take a pump of toothbrush on a soft cotton and gently rub the surface. Now rinse thoroughly and see tarnish leaving the surface. Vinegar and Baking Soda SoakThis works the best for deeply tarnished utensils. Take half a cup of white vinegar and mix with two tablespoons of baking soda and mix it all well with warm water. Soak the silver utensils for about 20 minutes and see the magic. It will have a fizzy action which will help loosen stubborn tarnish. Wipe clean.Avoid these mistakes:Never use harsh scrubbersNo strong chemicalsDo not leave silver utensils wet for longProper storage is necessaryHow you store your silver also plays an important role in keeping your utensils clean. After cleaning, store silver utensils in a dry place. If possible, keep them wrapped in soft cloth. Add silica gel packets in the storage box. Cleaning silver utensils at home is not a big task. You just need to have a proper understanding of silver and storage as silver is an expensive material. With simple ingredients like aluminum foil, lemon and baking soda, you can keep your silver clean.
