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How Does This Homemade Silver Cleaner Work?

My son and I need to do a science experiment for his Cub Scouts. We want to do "chemistry around the home." I recently saw a home remedy silver cleaner made with table salt, Calgon water softener, aluminum foil and hot water. It worked great on some badly tarnished silver. Can anyone explain why this works, and what part each of the three main ingredients play in making it work?

Rick Hartman
- Chelsea, Michigan
2003

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The chemistry is explained pretty well near the top of letter 4785. Good luck with the project.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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2006

Thanks so much! My mom just brought this trick back from Canada, and it works so well, my son is also using it as a science fair project, and we needed to know why it works.

looked at the letter, saw you use baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , we used Calgon water softener, I guess it is the same chemical, I haven't looked. would the chemical formula be different? ......again thanks

Bless you

Lorraine Nadeau
- Sacramento, California, USA

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The chemical reaction is between the silver and the aluminum, and it is the same regardless of whether you use baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , washing soda ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , water softener, or Spic and Span ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] as the conductivity salt. Some say some of these work better, and certainly some are harsher. If baking soda works for you, it's probably the mildest on your hands. Spic 'n Span both conducts the electricity and is a good cleaner but I'd suggest gloves with that.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

I have heard that baking soda, ammonia ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and boiling water will clean silverware. Is this true, is it safe and if so, what amounts would one use.

Janet Bird
- Danville, VT
2006

What is the recipe for silver cleaner...how much of each thing? I know you line the pan with foil but how much salt, water softener to boiling water?

Barbara Rabeneau
homemaker - Fremont, California
July 11, 2008

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Hi, Barbara. It really doesn't matter. The reaction is between the silver and the aluminum. 1 cup per gallon is probably as good a number as any. The salt or water softener or Spic and Span ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or baking soda or washing soda ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] is only there to make the water conductive. letter 4785 goes on almost endlessly about this subject :-)

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 14, 2008