Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-11-30
Electrolytic Method :,
Cleaning Slverware

DullellH.J
An easy and effective method o
cleaning tarnished silverware b,
boiling in a soda and salt solution
in contact with a clean piece o
aluminium or zinc is recommended
to house wives by the department al
result Of studies made by its spec
ialists in home economics The nee
essary procedure is so simple that il
may be followed successfully in prac
tically any home.
The cleaning system known as the
electrolytic method has been wei
recognized for several years.
What the Electrolytic 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
rubber, wool, foods like eggs, and
the sulphur in the air due to burning
illuminating gas and coal. The cleo
trolytic cleaning method depends on
the facts that this tarnish of silver
sulphid is slightly soluble in the hot
solution employed, and that it is
broken down chemically and its sill
yer content redeposited on the ware
when the proper electrical conditions
prevail. The presence of both the
silver and the aluminium or zinc in
the hot solution provides the neces-
sary electrical conditions. Under
this method, therefore, practically all
the silver in the tarnish is, returned
to 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 granite cooking
utensil deep enough to allow the sill
yerware to be covered by the solu-
ton; clean piece of aluminium or
zinc, preferably the former, and bak-
ing or washing soda. The solution,
consisting of teaspoonful of baking
or washing soda and a like amount
of table salt to each quart of water,
is brought to boil in a graniteware
or enameled utensil A sheet of
aluminium or clean zinc is dropped
in. The tarnished silverN are is then
immersed in the solution so that it
is in contact with the sheet of alumi-
nun or zinc. The tarnish should dis
appear in few seconds. The silver
object should then be removed from
the solution, rinsed and dried with a
soft cloth.
Aluminium is much more satisfac-
tory than zinc for use in this clean
ins nrocoss sinco u does not bocomo
coated with ,avor of carhonatos
,,hioh uorId ,ntorroro with tbo ohom
toai roootion 1,no aoos Gown, oor
49,, to.oa5 :, ,aaa mm.t ho oIaonoa
freouently in di,ute hvdrocbloric
acid small sheet Of aluminium
NAV he purchased esnecialIv for sill,
ver cleaning nurnosSs or a niece of
an old aluminium ntensil well cleaned
NAV he used Utensils. which would
later he nsod in cooking onerations
should never ho emrloved in cleaning
siIverware Inv the electrolytic meth
nd II ,orv Largo rioces of silver
arc IN bo c,o,rod and contoiror is
reorirea largor tbor can NO nlacad
conveniently on tba stove the hot
so1tioD NAV ho porred into ercb
vessel and tbe silyer ohioct tbon inn
moreed Tho method is most effect.
I've however whom tbe solution hollis
durino tho cleaning nro,oss and Of
ficiency is ranidlv lowered as tbe
temnaratura of tho eo,rt,on FALLS be-
lou Il. N.H.#N N#HaNU .HH.N