How to Clean Your Silver. Amazingly effective and easy!

So as most you know I have been spending a lot of time with my parents.   The last time I was there, my mom and I cleaned out her buffet.  We came across her almost completely black silver tea service.  She expressed that she might take it somewhere to have it professionally cleaned and put it back out because she loves it.  I laughed at the thought of the poor sucker who had to manage to clean that things up. 

Well, she had to go out of town for a few hours, so I turned to you all for advice on how to clean this thing up.  I thought if I could make a dent at least I could clean it every time I was there until it was clean.  One of you posted an ehow link and I went with it.  I wish I had a before photo because here is the after......

Next time I am there, I am going to do this again, just to make sure things are really clean.  This was incredible and though it isn't food, it qualifies as the "and my life" part!  My mom almost DIED when she saw it.  She was sure I took it somewhere while she was gone.  Perfect 10 strikes again!

Here is how this works.  They say you can put it right in boiling water, but 2 of my pieces were to big so you can do it how I did it, or do it all in the pot of boiling water if your silver pieces fit.

Clean your sink well.  In the bottom of the sink, lay a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side UP.  Please your pieces on top of it.  (when I did the tray I put the foil shiny side down on top so it was in contact with the area needing cleaned) Get it?

In a LARGE pot, boil water.  Boil enough to cover what you are doing as best you can.  Add in 1 tbsp. baking soda, and 1 tbsp. salt.  Pour it over the pieces and let sit for 5 minutes.  (less if less tarnished).  drain the water or lift it out of the water and with a soft rag start rubbing it.  You barely need to rub it at all.  In fact, I  put that tray under hot running water and the black just rinsed away!  It was SO cool!

If your pieces are small enough, lay the bottom of your pot with foil, add water, baking soda and salt and bring to a boil, slide in your smaller pieces, turn off the burner and wait.  Remove and wipe clean. 

I hope this is helpful for anyone who needs silver cleaned.  It is an ehow.com recipe, I just wanted to share it, as being completely effective and almost miraculous!!!

Your "addicted to cleaning silver" Chefwannabe

Highly Requested - Laundry Soap (Liquid)

I have had this requested a lot so instead of sending it to a ton of different people I will share it with you ALL!!

I started making laundry soap about 3 years ago.  It is the best decision I have made, EVER!!  Out of each recipe I usually get 5-8 regular size bottles of detergent and it costs approx 4.00 per batch, MAYBE.  That is likely a high estimate.

I do have to say, I do NOT know how this works on extremely dirty clothes.  For someone with a hubby who works outside, or farms or mechanics, I do not know.  My husband sits in an office all day!!

I can tell you my clothes are extremely clean, and stains even though I sometimes still treat bad ones, are always gone.  I love it and I usually add fabric softener as well.  We like our clothes to smell nice :)

Here it is, let me know if you try it how it works for you!!!  Fels Naptha bars you usually find on the TOP shelf of the laundry aisle.  If you are going to do this for the long haul, invest in a long mixing bit for your drill and a good bucket with lid, especially if you have little ones or pets!!

2/3 of a bar of FeLS NAPTHA Heavy Duty Bar soap (grated)
1 cup ARM AND HAMMER All Natural Super Washing Soda
1 cup 20 MULE TEAM BORAX Natural Laundry Booster
5 Gallon Bucket (clean)

Use an old pot and add soap to 6 pints of water cook on 

low/medium until all soap is dissolved. When it is completely 

dissolved add arm and hammer and borax. Cook until it thickens, 

stirring all the time. Pour 2 quarts of water into 5 gallon bucket. 

Add soap mixture and stir well. Fill bucket with more hot water 

until about 4 inches from the top of the bucket. Skim off the soap 

scum. Let sit 24 hours to thicken. It will be a gelatinous like consistency. 

After 24 hours, mix with a long drill powered paint stirrer. We got 

one at home depot pretty inexpensively. Mix completely and repeat in 

24 more hours. You can add a bottle of fabric softener for the 

scent and softening.

I actually only beat mine once, and then bottle immediately after 

the second time. On the same note, I have forgotten and waited 2 

days before I did it the first time, it just takes a bit more mixing, 

but is no big deal. Save some laundry bottles, it is what I do. I 

think I get close to 5 or so batches of soap out of the arm and hammer and 

borax. The fels naptha of course you need one bar every time 

basically but i buy it for 1.00 a bar.



Hope you try it, hope your happy with it if you do........sure makes 

a huge difference money wise. 

Your " I LOVE doing laundry and no I am not joking"chefwannabe