Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

Dirilyte nickel bronze flatware tarnish removal

Q. Any products out there to remove &/or prevent tarnish on nickel bronze flatware?

A. Sorry, I'm not truly familiar with that flatware, but I would think that commercial metal polishes would be okay as well as the Dirilyte Polish [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)]

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

Q. Years ago, in my adventurous youth, I travelled in Thailand and brought home a nickel-bronze flatware set. I also have the polishing question. I've had one person guess brass polish but nothing definitive.

Thanks in advance for any help!

A. We've been using Stanley Copper & Brass Polish from Stanley Home Products for more than 25 years and haven't been able to find anything better. I think Stanley was bought out by Fuller Brush Co. & they now call it Brass & Copper Polish. www.shponline.com

This stuff has a nasty tasting additive to reduce chances of accidental ingestion, so you'll want to make sure you wash the item thoroughly after polishing if you intend to use for food or beverage.

Does anyone know of something to PREVENT tarnish on bronze or silver?

John Myers
- Waldorf, Maryland, USA
2005

Ed. update: Sorry, we don't see that product there anymore.

MAAS metal polish

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. We have had very good luck with Maas metal polish ⇨
on our nickel bronze flatware. Good luck.

Matthew Vanta
- Dallas, Texas, USA
March 23, 2009

Q. Does anyone have the answer to polishing the nickel-bronze flatware from Thailand?

Hi, Kathy. There are about a hundred different metal polishes and the internet is not going to coalesce on a single one, but John suggested Stanley polish, and Matthew recommended MAAS. Good luck.

Regards,

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

Dirilyte Polish

on eBay

(affil links)

A. Crikey! Don't put that goo on your edible surfaces - yuck. Just use salt mixed with vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] to the salt. Personally, I like a darker look to bronze because the rustic character appeals to me and my dining setting. Bronze is a copper alloy. Test a spoon and see if the organic, safe and inexpensive salt/vinegar paste works for you. If not, I imagine the copper content in your set is fairly low, at which point, I'd try Dirilyte polish or take them into a pro.

A Zeleny
- San Francisco, California, USA

A. Use Wenol ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or brass remover with soft cloth rub all over the piece and clean it with another soft cloth. The flatware will look like gold again.

Anthony Wong
- Bangkok Thailand

Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition  🙂

Cleaning Dear Gold Flatware

Gentle Readers:

This meeting place welcomes Q&As, photos, history, & interesting tidbits -- but it's not a consultancy.

Please engage with others

• When people show interest in each other's situations, the forum is informative, and fun too !

• If people post their own question but show no interest in others', it can quickly become a long string of unanswered questions

Q. Hello,

I was given a very special gift from my aunt - a set of dear gold flatware. I believe it is at least 50 years old and needs to be cleaned. I understand this is different from the current gold plated flatware. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations on cleaning this flatware?

Thank you for your help,

Polishing Mitt

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

Q. Were there any responses to the original questions? I also have some old gold flatware that needs to be cleaned.

Q. I too am interested in cleaning "gold" flatware. My flatware is called darelite. No one seems to have heard of it. I would like to know what web site I should research to find any information regarding this darelite flatware.

Q. I too have Dirilyte and would like to know if you have had any success locating a cleaning product.

Q. I have a set of Autumn Symphony gold flatware by Westminster USA. It's very old and needs cleaning badly. Any ideas?

Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition  🙂

Can dishwashered Dirilyte be fixed?

Q. I have also inherited some lovely old Dirilyte, and after using it for a dinner party, it was put in the dishwasher. It has turned a brassy gold, and I would love to get it back to it's soft light gold appearance.

Thanks

Q. Like Candice P, I have some old Dirilyte which I need to polish. My mother used Bon Ami, which I have not seen on grocery shelves for years. If someone will make a suggestion to this admitted consumer, I will be most grateful.

Bon Ami

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi April. If you believe that Bon Ami will do the job, that's what you should use! Just buy it on line ⇨

Before we get too maudlin about the fate of "brick & mortar" supermarkets, we should realize why you don't see inexpensive old-line products anymore: it's because "the system" changed. Supermarkets want to claim that they make only one cent of profit per dollar or less, but that's because they make their money today from "slotting fees" (rent for shelf space); the inexpensive old-line products often can't afford the shelf-space rent that supermarkets charge them today :-(

Bon Ami ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] is readily available on line.

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

A. You can send Dirilyte back to the factory and they will buff it out and put a new finish on it.

Joyce Odom
- Lake Wylie, South Carolina
2007

A. I have never put my Dirilyte in the dishwasher, but when it gets tarnished I use the Dirilyte cleaner you can buy from dirilyte.com I also use Brasso ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] cleaner and it works well. If the set has the BP (Bonded Protectant) on it, Brasso will not work. I found a gentleman in Kokomo who refinishes pieces.

Vicki Torres
- El paso, Texas
February 24, 2009

Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition  🙂

How and who can refurbish Dirilyte flatware

Q. I have inherited Dirilyte flatware and some serving pieces. The flatware, especially the knives are dark and scratched. I would like to have this set re - Dirilyted - if there is such a process. My mother had this done once many years ago. I would like to find a place that will do this for me. Is there a place in Florida where I can bring this? Is there a place in the country (US ) where I can send it? I am a homemaker and have no commercial ties for this information. I hope you can help me. Please reply. Thank you. This is most important to me and my family.

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)

Dirilyte Polish

on eBay

(affil links)

Q. I would also like to know if there is a cleaning product that will take the tarnish off of my Dirilyte flatware. I inherited it when my mom died and I use it. She polished it, but I have no idea what type of polish she used.
Also, is there a Dirilyte website that might have polish?
Thank you.

A. Hi. Yes there is a Dirilyte website at www.dirilyte.com, and it sells polish.

Regards,

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

Need coating of a set of Dirilyte

RFQ: I have a set of 12 place settings of Dirilyte, and it needs to be coated. Anywhere I can have this done?

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)