East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-11-13
QUICK WAY TO CLEAN
SILVER WITHOUT WORK
Specialists Of the Z. s. Department OF
Agriculture Describe EeCtrOlytiO
MethOd-Simple Homemade Out1t
Gives Satisfactory Results.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 1S,-An easy
and effective method of cleaning tr-
nished silverware by boiling in a soda
and salt solution in contact with 4
clean piece of aluminium OF zinc is
recommended to housewives by the
U. S. Department of Agriculture as a
result of studies made by its special
lists in home economies. The neces.
Sary procedure is so simple that It
may be followed successfully in prac-
tically any home.
The cleaning system known as the
electrolytic method has been we'll
recognized for several years,
What The EleCtrOlytlc Method Is.
The tarnish which occurs on silver
is not due to oxidation, but is de-
pendent entirely upon the action OF
sulphur. In most cases the source OF
the sulphur causing tarnish is rub
Der, wool, foods like eggs, and the sui.
phur in the air due to burning illu-
minating gas and coal. The e~lectroly.
tic cleaning methods depends on tho
facts that this tarnish Of silver sui
phid is slightly soluble in the hot So
luton employed, and that It is broken
down chemically and its silver con-
tent redepOsited on the ware when the
proper electrical conditions prevail
The presence of both the silver and
the aluminium or zinc in the hot SO.
luton provides the necessary cleo
trical conditions. Under this method.
therefore, practically all the silver In
the tarnlsh is returned 10 the object
being cleaned. When silver polishes
are used, on the other hand. all the
silver in combination in the tarnish
is removed.
Methods Recommended.
In the cleaning method recon-
mended by the department the neces-
sary materials are a graniteware
cooking utensil deep enough to allow
the silver to be covered by the solu-
ton; a clean piece of aluminium or
zinc, preferably the former; and bak-
ing or washing soda. The solution,
consisting of a t~easpoonful of baking
washing soda and a like amour.
Of table salt to each quart Of water, is
brought to a boil in a graniteware or
enameled utensil. A sheet of alumni
mum or clean zinc Is dropped In. The
furnished silyerware is then immersed
in the solution so that it is in contact
with the sheet of aluminium or zinc.
The tarnish should disappear in a few
seconds. The silver object should
then be removed from the solution, !
and dried with a soft cloth.
Aluminium is much more satisfac-
tory than zinc for use in this clean
ing process since 1t does not become
coated with a layer of c%arbonates
which would interfere with the che
rlical reaction. Zinc does form car
Donates and, If used, must be cleaned
frequently in diluted hydrochloric
acid. A small sheet of aluminium may
be purchased especially for silver
cleaning purposes or a piece of an old
aluminium utensil well cleaned may be
used. Utensils which would later be
used in cooking operations should
never be employed in cleaning silver
by the electrolytic method. II
very large pieces Of silver are to be
and a container is required
anger than can be placed convent
entity on the stove, the hot solution
nay be poured into such a vessel and
he silver object then immersed. The
is most effective. however
when the solution boils during the
process, and efficiency IL
lowered as the temperature OF
he solution falls below the boiling
oint.