Cleaning Silverplate and Sterling silver
To remove tarnish*
1. Use a glass or ceramic dish deep enough to allow foaming.
2. Put a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom, shiny side up.
3. Place the item on the foil.
4. Pour in enough boiling or near boiling water to cover the item.
5. Sprinkle in ¼ cup of baking soda.
6. Tarnish should almost instantly be stripped and deposited on the foil.
7. Rinse well with water.
8. Recycle foil.
*do not use this method if there is a patina on the items.
www.armandhammer.com/articles/how-to-polish-silver
sciencenotes.org/how-to-clean-silver-remove-tarnish-using-chemistry/
What is a patina?
An artist can add a thin layer of color to metal, which is called a patina. Patinas can be created using heat, chemicals, or simply time and use. Tarnish on sterling silver is a form of patina, although it is usually unwanted.
DO NOT use the baking soda method described above to clean a piece that has a patina on it.
The blue house pendant has an example of a patina on copper. The metal is heated and plunged in cold water, leaving a pinkish-brown layer.
The black lines on the coffee pendant are an example of a patina on sterling silver. This patina is created by a chemical called Liver of Sulphur that is heated and then dabbed on the recessed areas.
