Whether it was your mother or grandmother who made you take turns polishing the silver, it likely came with a heavy sigh for the time required and the necessary attention to detail. Say goodbye to traditional silver polishing, however! This DIY ionizing cleaning method using aluminum foil works to clean tarnished real silver flatware in just minutes! While your stainless steel can go in the dishwasher, most people know that sterling silver or silverplate can be harmed by high temperatures and detergents that can damage or tarnish them.
To try this time-saving trick at home, start by completely lining a heat-safe container with aluminum foil and filling it just a couple of inches with hot water, or enough to submerge a piece of silverware completely. Next, stir in two tablespoons of salt and two tablespoons of baking soda until dissolved. Then, add a few pieces of silverware, making sure that each piece is in direct contact with the foil.
In a few minutes, the ion exchange chemical reaction should take place and your silver will be instantly clean. Repeat as needed, or increase the size of your container and double the amounts of baking soda and salt to do a bigger batch at once.
Let us know how it worked for you!