How Aluminum Foil And Baking Soda Can Polish Silverware
By JOHN J LEE
Food - Drink
When your silverware comes into contact with traces of sulfur in the air, a chemical reaction can form silver sulfide, which can darken the item's luster and form black splotches on the surface. Scrubbing away this tarnish can be labor-intensive and damaging to the silver; instead, try this foil and baking soda method.
The best way to preserve your silverware and avoid tarnish is to clean your utensils regularly after use and keep them in a place without too much airflow. If your utensils are already tarnished, you can use water, aluminum foil, and baking soda, plus a large pot, to remove the tarnish in a well-ventilated area.
First, line the pot with the foil and fill it with boiling water, then add the baking soda and mix until it's fully dissolved; add in the silverware and let it sit for 10 minutes. The sulfur atoms in your silver will be extracted by the baking soda and water solution, then the sulfur will attach to the foil instead, leaving your utensils nice and shiny.