Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-21
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u. S. EXPERT TELLS HOW
TO CLEAN SILVERWARE

Government speciaiistsein home eco
Monies, after several months study
of how To clean furnished silyerware.
issued through the department OF az
ricnltGre a special bulletin OF vital in
terest 10 millions Of American house
wives. The procedure recommended
Is so simple that IL may be followed
successfully in practically every home.
The easy cleaning method is simply
boiling the dirty silver in soda and
salt solution in contact with a piece
of clean aluminium or zinc.
The tarnish on silver is not due TO
oxidation, but is dependent entirely
ngon the action or sulphur, the bnlle-
tin states. In most cases the source
Of the sulphur causing tarnish is RIB
her, wool, foods like eggs. and the sui
phnr in the air due To burning illu-
minating gas and coal.
This tarnish OF silver sulphide is
slightly soluble in the hot solution en-
ployed II is broken down chemically
and its silver content redep0sited on
the ware when the proper electrical
conditions prevail The presence of
both the silver and the aluminium or
zinc in the no. solution provides the
necessary electrical conditions. In
der this method, therefore, practical
~ all the silver in the tarnish is re-
turned to the object being cleaned
When silver DoliShes are used, on the
other hand, all the silver in eombin-
alton m the tarnish is removed
In the cleaning method recommend
ed by the department the necessary
materials are a graniteware cooking
utensil deep enough tc allow the sill
yerwafe to be covered by the solu-
ton; 4 clean piece of aluminium or
zinc, preferably the former; and bak-
ing Or washing soda. The solution,
consisting of a teaspoonful of baking
or washing soda and a like amount of
table salt to each quart of water, is
brought to a boil in a graniteware or
enameled utensil. 4 sheet of alumni
UNI or clean zinc is dropped in. The
furnished silyerware is then i'm
mersed. in the solution so that it is
in contact with the sheet of aluminium
or zine. The tarnish should disappear
in few seconds. The silver object
ohOdiu llECil DC lCinONSO ltOiiA lllO SOlu-
ton, rirsed and dried with Tsoft
cloth.
Aluminium is much more satisfac-
tory than zinc for use in this cleaning
process, since It does not become coat
ed with layer of carbonates, which
would interfere with the chemical re-
action Zinc does form carbonates
and, if tsed, must be cleaned frequent
ly in dilute hydrochloric acid.
Utensils which would later be used
in cooking operations should never be
employed in cleaning silverware by
the electrolytic method. If very large
pieces of silver are to be cleaned and
a container is required larger than
can be placed conveniently on the
stove, the hot solution may be poured
into such vessel and the silver OBJ
ject then immersed. The method is
must effective, however, when the
solution boils daring the cleaning pro-
cess.
The electrolytie method gives the
cleaned silver satfny finish after sew
eral cleanings. If a FURNISHED surface
is desired, the silver must from time
to time be polished lightly with some
abrasive polishing material, such as
powdered whiting.