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Searching on "how to clean silver" and perusing the Cleaning category in the Yahoo! Directory yielded a few tips for making your silver sparkle. Silver flatware and food-serving items should be washed immediately after use. You don't want to leave silver utensils sitting in food dishes. Salty and acidic foods can permanently stain silver, and the sulfur in eggs, mayonnaise, and mustard can corrode silver. If you can't wash silver immediately, you should at least rinse it thoroughly right after the meal. Wash silver by hand in warm water with a mild dish detergent. Be careful with
silver pieces that have been lacquered -- hot water could remove the lacquer. Don't wear rubber gloves when washing or polishing silver because rubber promotes tarnish. Dry and polish silver with a soft cloth, not paper towels. Silver flatware can be washed in a dishwasher, but make sure you don't put it where stainless steel flatware can touch it -- this can damage the finish on the silver flatware. Experts also recommend removing the silver before the dishwasher's drying cycle begins. Be careful not to spill dry dishwasher detergent on silver flatware because it may leave dark spots. If your silver is tarnished, apply a paste of baking soda and water. Rub gently, then rinse well and dry. You can also use toothpaste to clean tarnished silver. Don't use harsh, abrasive cleaners, as
they will scratch the silver. The best way to prevent tarnished silver is to use the silver frequently. With use, silver develops a lovely patina. Hand rubbing also helps create a patina on silver. Badly tarnished silver can be treated with a homemade tarnish dip. However, this may damage silver and is not recommended for very old or valuable pieces. Fill a sink with hot water, and mix in two tablespoons salt and two tablespoons baking soda. Place a piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of sink. Then dip your silver item into the sink for up to five minutes. With these tips and maybe a little elbow grease, your silver will be shining brightly.
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