Silver, china and crystal: natural cleaning hints

Give your silver, china and crystal valuables the shine they deserve without resorting to chemical cleaners. With these natural cleaning tips, you can keep your delicate items looking their best in an eco-friendly way.

• White toothpaste and a little olive oil makes a good polish for items that can't be immersed, but don't rub too hard or you'll wear away the silver coating.
• Try making your own earth-wise silver polish by combining equal parts of whiting (powdered chalk, available from hardware stores), cloudy ammonia, methylated spirits and water.
• Use an old shaving or stencil brush to work the polish into the crevices on finely patterned or filigree silver. Cover the bristles with a soft cloth to polish.
• Don't wash bone or ivory handles in hot water. It accelerates the natural yellowing process.
• To whiten bone or ivory handles or remove stains from them, make a paste with a little lemon juice and salt, rub into the handles, rinse in tepid water and dry.

Like many "old fashioned" remedies, this silver cleaning method has a sound scientific basis: it relies on a process called galvanic coupling, which takes place between the two metals.

What you need

• A couple of sheets of aluminum foil
• 15 grams (1 tablespoon) of salt
• 15 grams (1 tablespoon) of baking soda

Directions

1. Line the bottom of a non-metal bucket or large bowl with a couple of sheets of aluminum foil. Add the salt and baking soda to the bucket or bowl. Fill with boiling water.
2. Immerse the washable silver articles (sterling or plated) in the solution and allow to soak for an hour or two. The foil will become darker.
3. Remove the silverware. Rinse and dry thoroughly to restore its shine.

• Always wash fragile, antique or gilded china and crystal in warm, soapy water.
• Delicate items should be wiped with a dishcloth or soft sponge only (not a brush) to prevent scratching.
• Wash, or at least rinse, delicate china as soon as possible after use to prevent damage to the glaze.
• Rinse crystal in clean, hot water mixed with 50 millilitres (1/4 cup) of white vinegar and air-dry upside down on a rack.
• To clean a red wine stain from a crystal decanter, put 10 grams (2 teaspoons) each of baking soda and cream of tartar into the decanter with 250 millilitres (1 cup) of tepid water and shake well. Empty, then add more warm water with a little cloudy ammonia. Shake, empty and rinse well.
• To remove the hairline cracks that sometimes appear in the glaze of fine china, soak the item overnight in warm milk, then hand wash.

Restoring the sparkle to your favourite silver, china and crystal items is not difficult – all you need are a few common household products and a little effort to keep them shining!