No need to use commercial products
FOR MANY OF US, THE weeks after the New Year are but a respite from family celebrations. Before long, it will be Valentine?s Day, Easter Sunday, Mother?s Day or someone?s birthday?and it will be time to haul out our precious silverware again.

I?ve often used commercial polish to make the few silverware sets I have shine. Lately, however, I haven?t seen any commercial polish on the market. That?s when I decided to try my friend Elsa?s formula for cleaning silverware. Elsa, who lives in Amsterdam, says she has tried various ways of cleaning her own silverware and has found this method to be the most effective.

Indeed, it?s almost like magic! Within seconds, the tarnish will disappear and the silverware starts to gleam like new again. The method works not just for silver cutlery but for silver tea sets as well. The method is also eco-friendly, since it doesn?t use harsh chemicals.

1. Bring a large kettle of water to boil. You can also use a deep casserole.

2. Line a deep heat-proof pan with aluminum foil, shiny side up. For large, bulky items such as tea sets, use a deep stainless steel or aluminum casserole.

3. Arrange silver items on top of the foil.

4. Mix baking soda and salt in equal parts. Suggested measure: 1 tbsp baking soda to 1 tbsp salt.

5. When the water has boiled, add baking soda mixture and let mixture dissolve. Pour liquid on the silverware. Make sure all silver surfaces are immersed in water.

6. Let stand for several seconds. You?ll see the tarnish start to disappear from your silverware almost immediately. Mostly, the tarnish will get transferred to the foil. Leave for a few minutes.

7. Remove silverware from pan and wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth. If desired, wash silverware with soap and water before storing. Discard the used aluminum foil.

Tips

Make sure you use a deep pan so the boiling water will not spill over.

For bulky items: If the tops still don?t get immersed in water, just turn them over after several seconds to immerse these parts.

Don?t let children stand nearby while doing this to prevent accidents.

This works best for items that have a thick plating of silver. Items that are only thinly plated with silver may not shine as well.