Does Baking Soda Really Polish Silver?
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Like me, you may have heard that baking soda is a natural, environmentally friendly way to polish your silver. However, how do you know if it really works?
I decided to test it out to see. I found two beautiful silver baskets at a local thriftstore, but the baskets were awfully tarnished. These were my test subjects.
First, I made a paste with the baking soda and water. I added the water a bit at a time because I didn't want to make it to watery. After each water addition, I mixed it with a fork.
When the mixture had the consistency of a chalky toothpaste, I began rubbing it onto the silver basket with a tea towel. I did it in the sink because I thought it might be messy. For the smaller grooves, I used a toothbrush.
After rubbing the baking soda paste all over the basket, I rinsed it off with warm water. Then, I dried it well.
It worked! However, I suggest you wear gloves while handling the baking soda if you have sensitive skin because it is very acidic.
So, yes, baking soda does really polish silver.
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Comments
This is WONDERFUL! Love the pictures. I am on a mission to "green up" my cleaning supplies and this certainly helps. Thank you.
When I worked in a coin shop (many moons ago) that's what we used, too. I'm talking about on collector-grade silver dollars, and the baking soda is nonabrasive enough for them.
Another great hub, you are the official Mythbuster for Hubpages. Cheers.
Thanks for takingh the time to post your story... I'll go home tonight and use my soda rather than going out to buy some toxic chemical polish. Cheers sister! Sharon from Vancouver BC
Hi Stacie. This is so neat. Never thought baking soda can be use to polish silverwares. Brilliant idea. Love it.
Wow!That's quite a shine you've got on the finished piece!
Haha i have a funny story involving baking soda and cleaning silver. For an extra credit assignment for my Chemistry class i was assigned to line a bread pan with aluminum foil. Then add 7.5 grams of baking soda, 8 grams of salt, and 1 liter of water. Next, place tarnished silver in the pan and boil on a stove. Of course i used a glass pan because a metal aluminum pan won’t work on my electric stove top. So after heating for a few minutes the pan exploded making a mess of glass, salt/baking soda water and aluminum foil... for the few minutes it was in the silver did clean up a little but it wasn’t fun to clean up afterwards lol well just wanted to share
Baking soda is a base, not an acid. I didn't know it bothered people's skin. Maybe if you soak in it for a while.
G-Ma Johnson says:
2 years ago
Stacie that is a great one...You are so clever..Love you..G-Ma