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Cleaning EPNS

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Rob Jack

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Nov 30, 2001, 6:30:28 AM11/30/01
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Can anyone tell me how to (safely) clean old EPNS cutlery (with mother of
pearl handles) which have been sitting in their box for some 50 years and
now have a bit of green corrosion and are generally dirty?

Thanks

Rob

Adrian Berry

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Nov 30, 2001, 7:03:00 AM11/30/01
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Try laying the cutlery in a shallow bowl, on top of some aluminium foil
in some water with plenty of salt added.

The salt makes the water conductive, and the aluminium, being more
reactive than the silver plate, reduces the silver sulphide
discolouration.

Works like magic! Use warm water and it works really fast...

"Rob Jack" <kca...@NOSPAMlineone.net> wrote in message
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Rob Jack

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Dec 1, 2001, 6:55:01 AM12/1/01
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In article <3c07d...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com>,
adrian...@uk.com says...

> Try laying the cutlery in a shallow bowl, on top of some aluminium foil
> in some water with plenty of salt added.
>
> The salt makes the water conductive, and the aluminium, being more
> reactive than the silver plate, reduces the silver sulphide
> discolouration.
>
> Works like magic! Use warm water and it works really fast...
>
>
Thanks Adrian .. tried it but not much success. Perhaps I'm not doing it
properly. What is *plenty of salt*?

Rob

Tim

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Dec 1, 2001, 10:13:10 AM12/1/01
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I've had good results with 'Jonelle' silver cutlery cleaner, from John
Lewis. Its a liquid with a basket you lower the cutlery in with - so you
can keep the handles out. Its very quick and easy - perfect for that intial
clean, but I wouldn't use it regularly - its acid based, I think.

Only do small batches of cutlery at a time and rinse them thoroughly after
dipping. And wear rubber gloves.


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Chris Hughes

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Dec 3, 2001, 1:26:18 PM12/3/01
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Instead of salt use washing soda in hot water (make a strong solution) and
wear rubber gloves (it is very caustic) with aluminium kitchen foil
(anything aluminium will do). This also works on silver and gold jewelrey
that has tarnished.

Note
For cleaning tarnished copper and brass rub half a lemon dipped in cooking
salt onto the tarnished items.

"Rob Jack" <kca...@NOSPAMlineone.net> wrote in message

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Rob Jack

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Dec 3, 2001, 1:47:03 PM12/3/01
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In article <1007403837.24381.1@eurus>, iot...@iname.albatross says...

> Instead of salt use washing soda in hot water (make a strong solution) and
> wear rubber gloves (it is very caustic) with aluminium kitchen foil
> (anything aluminium will do). This also works on silver and gold jewelrey
> that has tarnished.
>
> Note
> For cleaning tarnished copper and brass rub half a lemon dipped in cooking
> salt onto the tarnished items.

Thanks. I'll try it and let you know.

Rob

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