High-quality forged serving sets made of nickel silver are valued on par with silver. The plastic metal is easy to process, and real works of art are created from it. The exquisite pattern overgrows with blackness over time, the alloy becomes dull, and loses its former splendor. The review contains the best methods for cleaning nickel silver spoons and forks at home. Products that can be found in every kitchen or medicine cabinet will help return the dishes to their original appearance. Folk remedies have been tested for years, and they can be trusted.
Content
Pros and cons of nickel silver cutlery
The alloy is similar in color to silver, and cutlery and kitchen utensils began to be made from it.
The craftsmen immediately appreciated the advantages of the metal:
- durability, the dishes are passed down through generations and used for centuries;
- aesthetics, cutlery in chic cases - a wonderful gift for newlyweds, they will decorate the festive table;
- products made of cupronickel are not destroyed by sweat and fat deposits and remain intact when in contact with food acids and alkalis;
- The metal has low thermal conductivity, the cutlery is cool to the touch and pleasant to hold.
Flaws:
- The dishes are not suitable for everyday use and cannot be used to stir hot dishes;
- metal requires careful maintenance, special detergents, abrasive detergent powders and hard metal sponges leave scratches on it;
- When stored for a long time, cutlery becomes covered with a dark coating;
- Oxidized copper gives a slight metallic taste, the oxide layer has to be constantly cleaned off.
Melchior alloy is copper alloyed with nickel. In food grade Melchior there is from 5 to 30% nickel, iron, manganese. The metal is environmentally friendly. The alloy was created in the 19th century, French engineers were looking for a wear-resistant, easily processed metal for the manufacture of gears. Melchior is named after its creators Maillot and Chorier.
Despite its disadvantages, tableware made of nickel silver still remains a functional decoration for a festive table, an element of prestige, and a sign of status.
Why do nickel silver cutlery darken?
Cutlery with a luxurious pattern darkens over time. Reasons why the appearance of nickel silver products suffers:
- excess moisture, metal is immediately wiped dry after washing;
- from contact with hot food acids and alkalis (cupronickel is not used for cooking);
- the result of harsh washing with abrasive powders and iron sponges is numerous scratches in which microparticles of food and fat accumulate, they stick to the oxide layer (folk remedies will help get rid of dirt).
The longer the dishes are not used, the darker the plaque. Black spots are left by chlorine, they, alas, cannot be removed.
How to Clean Nickel Silver Cutlery
There are specific techniques based on the chemical properties of the components of cupronickel.
Dark plaque is difficult to remove:
- from the drawing on the handles of serving utensils:
- in the space between the teeth of the forks.
Boiling and soaking are used. If you know how to clean nickel silver cutlery at home, the dishes will please you for many years.
Soda
To clean cutlery, soda is used in several ways:
- apply the gruel to a non-woven cloth and wipe the darkened areas;
- make a warm solution at the rate of 3 tablespoons of powder per liter of water, immerse table nickel silver for 2 hours, old stains will disappear, the relief pattern will be updated;
- Add 1 tbsp per liter of water to the boiling solution, then place the utensils in boiling water for 10–15 minutes.
Alcohol
Using alcohol, remove dark spots on a smooth surface. Soak a cotton pad well, hold it on the metal for a short time, then rub the dishes until they shine.
Garlic peel
In the old days, housewives used improvised means. At home, they boiled cupronickel utensils in garlic peel. You will need a lot of it - it should completely cover the bottom of a wide container.
The plant material is loaded into a large container, and the serving items are placed on top in one row. Water is poured in so that all the metal is covered. The container is placed on the fire, brought to a boil, and left until completely cooled. After this, the cupronickel is washed with a sponge and detergent or dry mustard.
Eggshell
An old folk method used in merchant houses to clean household utensils made of silver, cupronickel, and copper. The shell is boiled with salt for 20 minutes (2 tablespoons are added to 1 liter of water). The objects are dipped into the boiling liquid for 2-3 minutes. After this, the dishes are rinsed and wiped dry with wool or flannel.
Ammonia and vinegar
Ammonia is a well-known cleaner. Vinegar is a popular solvent. Both of these liquids are used to clean cupronickel. Add to water when washing or wipe with a damp cotton pad.
Potato broth
If you wash the root vegetables well before peeling, the peelings can be used for household purposes. The decoction is used to clean cupronickel dishes, and spoons and forks will become as good as new. The peel is boiled for 20 minutes, then the serving items are dipped in boiling water.
Citric acid
If the items are stored for a long time, they become covered with a dark layer of oxides. The alloy is well cleaned with citric acid or a slice of lemon.
Important! The solution must be cold. The metal reacts with hot food acids.
Special means
Important! When choosing household chemicals, you need to study the chemical composition. Melchior will be irreversibly damaged by chlorine compounds. It is better to refuse chlorine-containing products, even if it is written that they are intended for cleaning cutlery.
It is convenient to clean cupronickel with gels and cream pastes, they remain on the surface and do not flow down. If the label indicates that the product is for cupronickel, you can safely use it.
Popular compositions:
- gel "Sif";
- emulsion "Amethyst";
- Polymet paste.
It is better to put aside cleaning powders. You can maintain the appearance of dishes with special means for jewelry, they are purchased in specialized stores for jewelers.
How to restore shine to nickel silver cutlery
Even when stored in a dry place, cupronickel dishes are covered with an oxide film, the alloy becomes dull and unattractive. Traditional methods will help to restore the former beauty of serving items. One of them is raw potatoes. The root vegetable is cut, the cutlery is wiped with halves. After that, the metal is rinsed and wiped.
Chalk
A soft natural mineral used as a polishing agent. The powder is applied:
- on wool;
- fleece;
- flannel;
- suede
Wipe the dishes until they shine. The fabric must be fibrous and loose.
Important! You need to use ready-made powder or pre-sift the crushed chalk through a fine flour sieve. A good substitute for chalk is lady's powder.
Pasta
A great cooking method for the lazy: just boil the serving cupronickel together with any pasta. Keep the pan on the fire for 20-25 minutes. You don't have to add salt, the overcooked pasta will have to be thrown away anyway. It's enough to rinse the dishes and wipe them dry.
Foil
Aluminum helps to restore the former shine of nickel silver dishes. The method is applicable ONLY to sets made of pure alloys, without silver or gold plating. The bottom of the container in which the cutlery is boiled is lined with a layer of foil. Spoons, forks, knives, serving spatulas, cocotte dishes, tongs are laid out on it - everything that is in the case is poured with warm water, salt or soda is added at the rate of 2 tbsp. per liter of water.
The foil will become dark, copper oxides will settle on it. The serving items will be cleaned and will look neat again.
Please note! If there are unsightly stains on heavily darkened dishes, the procedure will have to be repeated. Aluminum ions can remove old stains. They cannot cope only with stains from chlorine components.
Toothpaste or powder
When there is no chalk or powder at hand, you can clean nickel silver with dental cleaning products.
Useful tips for caring for nickel silver cutlery
After purchasing, the dishes must be cleaned in hot water with the addition of detergent or mustard powder.
When stored in a case, cupronickel comes into contact with air, the metal becomes dull and loses its former attractiveness.
When used constantly, cutlery is stored separately from other spoons, forks, knives. It is best to store it in a bag with a clip fastener, in which silica gel packets are placed to avoid excess moisture.
When used rarely, washed serving items:
- wipe dry;
- wrapped in paper towels;
- put all this in a bag, removing as much air from it as possible.
Please note! If the dishes are stored in a case, wrap each item in cling film before putting the dishes in place. Before serving, it will be enough to wipe the metal with a cloth soaked in vinegar. You do not need to rinse it, it will evaporate on its own.
Some basic "DO NOTs":
- leave the dishes wet, they will immediately darken;
- use chlorine-containing cleaners for cleaning, dark spots will remain, it is useless to wash them off;
- do not use abrasive powders for cleaning, as this will leave scratches on the plastic metal;
- stir hot broths, vegetable soups, main courses during cooking, it will be difficult to restore the shine to the devices, they will have to be polished with GOI paste for jewelry.
Important! In the dishwasher, the dishes are put in order on a gentle cycle. It is better to wash the items by hand using a new sponge that does not have any greasy marks.
With proper care, cutlery will retain its aesthetic appearance. The dishes should be stored in a dry place, away from water. It is better to use a cardboard box or a sealed container for this purpose.
