How and how to clean cupronickel spoons at home from darkening and return cutlery to its original shine
Cupronickel cutlery was in demand back in the last century. And now many people have spoons and forks made of this material in their kitchen. Cupronickel looks like silver, but is much more affordable. But not everyone can afford a set of silver cutlery.
Over time, cupronickel spoons and forks darken and lose their original shine. There are many ways to restore their attractiveness. You can use both special cleaning compounds and safer home remedies. To prevent cupronickel spoons from darkening for as long as possible, it is necessary to properly care for and store them.
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Features of cupronickel
Cupronickel is an alloy of nickel and copper. Most often, cupronickel with 70% copper and 30% nickel was used to make cutlery. Today, such an alloy is being replaced by other compounds similar in their properties to cupronickel. The composition of the alloy can change to reduce the amount of nickel. The color of the products will change from white (like silver) to yellow-red.
Cupronickel is very reminiscent of silver; these qualities are widely used to replace expensive metals with cheaper analogues. Cupronickel spoons are difficult to distinguish from silver spoons with the naked eye. In addition, cupronickel is more durable. Thanks to these characteristics, not only tableware is made from it, but also various parts for equipment and electrical appliances.
Many people believe that cupronickel is harmful to health. Copper can be toxic if it comes into contact with hot foods. Therefore, dishes containing this metal are coated with food-grade tin, nickel-plated, silver-plated, and chrome-plated.
Causes of cutlery oxidation
Copper can oxidize quickly. Even the presence of nickel in cupronickel spoons cannot prevent this process. Cupronickel also contains iron and manganese, which do not affect the darkening process of devices.
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Reasons for dullness and loss of shine of cupronickel spoons:
- improper cleaning;
- high humidity.
If products are left in a humid environment for a long time, brown spots appear on them, and over time they turn black. If the surface of the spoons is smooth, then it will be easy to clean. If there is a relief pattern, then this will be more difficult to do.
Effective Cleansing Methods
There are several ways to restore cupronickel spoons to their original appearance:
- using household chemicals:
- folk remedies;
- with the help of professionals.
There are specialized services where products can be included. However, the procedure is quite expensive and not everyone can resort to it. You can clean cupronickel yourself. Before the procedure, the spoons should be thoroughly washed with dish soap and wiped with a dry cloth. There should be no grease particles left on the devices.
Chemicals
In household chemical stores you can purchase formulations in the form of powders or gels that will help quickly restore shine to cupronickel spoons and remove darkening. It is better to use liquid products; they clean the surface of devices more carefully than powders.
Effective chemical compositions suitable for cupronickel:
- Metal Cleaner;
- Sanita Ultra Shine.
Note! Chemicals are applied to the surface of the cutlery and washed as usual with dishwashing detergent. After using them, a thin film forms on the spoons, protecting the metal from further darkening.
Traditional methods
If special chemical compounds are not at hand, you can use proven and available means at hand.
Salt or soda
They are suitable if the darkening is insignificant and the surface of the products does not have relief. Rinse the devices in a solution of soda or salt (50 g per 1 liter of water). If any dirt remains, apply a little dry product to a wet sponge and wipe the spoons pointwise.
Baking foil
Spread it on the bottom of an aluminum dish. Place cupronickel spoons on the foil. Pour water and add a little soda. Place on the fire and simmer until the appliances begin to lighten. The foil will darken. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.
Alcohol and ammonia
If the spoons have become dull, you can restore their shine with alcohol. You need to wet a cloth with it and wipe the products. The same result can be achieved if you soak cupronickel spoons in ammonia for a short time.
Eggshell
If the products have become very dark, more radical cleaning methods are needed. This can be considered a decoction of eggshells. Take the shells of at least 2 raw eggs and fill them with 1 liter of water. When it boils, place spoons into the pan and simmer for a few minutes. Remove the products, rinse with clean water and wipe with a dry, clean cloth.
Toothpaste
Apply a little toothpaste or powder to a cotton pad. Gently rub cupronickel silverware. Wash with water and dry.
Sodium thiosulfate
The product is sold in pharmacies. It is better to buy it in powder. Make an aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate and dip nickel silver products into it for an hour. After this, wash them thoroughly with detergent and dry.
Onion and garlic peels
Pour water into the pan. Pour onion and garlic peels into it. Boil the broth and dip spoons into it. Boil them until the result is visible. The product helps to completely get rid of darkening.
Chalk polish
Dissolve 50 g of soap and the same amount of chalk in 1 liter of warm water. Mix all ingredients well. Using a soft sponge, polish the surface of the cutlery with the solution. After this, wipe with a dry cloth.
Polishing can be prepared in another way. Add 60 ml of ammonia and 30 g of chalk to 100 ml of water. Treat nickel silver products with this mixture.
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Read about how to clean the toilet yourself if it is clogged at this address.
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Useful tips
In order to avoid spending time and effort in the future on restoring the appearance of cupronickel spoons, it is necessary to properly care for and store them.
Adviсe:
- store nickel silver devices separately from others in plastic film, away from moisture;
- do not wash in the dishwasher;
- do not use chlorine-containing products for cleaning;
- always wipe spoons dry after washing;
- avoid using substances with abrasive particles so as not to damage the surface;
- Once a week, clean the devices with special compounds suitable for cupronickel.
Cupronickel spoons remain an integral part of kitchen utensils for many. They are durable and look like silver. But cupronickel, like many other metal alloys, oxidizes over time, and products made from it lose their shine and attractiveness. In this case, many home remedies, as well as special chemical compounds, come to the rescue.
You can learn more useful tips on how to clean cupronickel cutlery at home by watching the following video:
Source: http://poryadok-v-dome.com/sovety/kuhnya/kak-pochistit-melhiorovye-lozhki.html
How to clean cupronickel
Connoisseurs of proper tea drinking love to use the appropriate utensils - these are not only high-quality sets of cups and saucers, but also spoons made of expensive metals.
From generation to generation, different families inherit their cupronickel products, which literally stand on a par with jewelry.
But in order to preserve their attractiveness and practicality for a long time, you need to know how to properly clean nickel silver, because over time it darkens and becomes less attractive. In this article we will tell you all the ways to clean such devices at home using available products.
Why does cupronickel darken?
Cupronickel is a precious alloy containing: silver, red copper, zinc, and nickel. Depending on humidity conditions, such spoons will begin to darken sooner or later.
At this moment it’s time for you to think about what and how to clean cupronickel spoons and forks. The further possibility of using them for lunch with friends or a tea ceremony depends on how quickly and correctly you do it.
How to clean cupronickel?
Several products are suitable for cleaning cupronickel cutlery, which you will probably find at home:
- salt;
- soda;
- ammonia;
- eggshell;
- garlic peel;
- toothpaste;
- potato.
Important! To clean cupronickel spoons and forks, special jewelry pastes for silver are also used. If you have such a product in stock or are ready to purchase it, follow the instructions on the package.
In addition to this, you will need:
- soft cloth for polishing;
- pot;
- deep bowl;
- foil;
- water;
- sponge without a hard surface.
How can you not clean cupronickel?
To prevent the top layer of silver plating from being worn off and unsightly scratches to form on the surface, do not under any circumstances use the following to clean such devices:
- graters;
- powdered chemicals;
- washcloths with a hard surface.
How to clean cupronickel?
Depending on how dark the cupronickel has become and what products you have on hand, choose a cleaning method that is convenient for you and get to work. If you follow everything strictly according to the instructions, this procedure will not take much of your effort and time.
Method 1
- Take a pan, fill it with water.
- Place on fire and boil water.
- Add the pasta and cook it.
- Stir the pasta with cupronickel cutlery.
- Dip into the broth for a while along with the pasta as soon as it is cooked.
- Leave for 10-20 minutes.
- Remove spoons and forks from the broth.
- Rinse under running cold water.
- Place on a cotton towel until dry.
- Polish the surface.
Important! Please note that if your cutlery is made with blackening, you should not use this cleaning method.
Method 2
- Take a pan of the appropriate size.
- Place a layer of foil on the bottom.
- Pour 2 tbsp into it. soda and salt.
- Place the devices on the bottom.
- Fill with water so that it covers all devices.
- Place on the fire and heat for approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Make sure the powders are completely dissolved.
- Remove the nickel silver spoons and forks from the solution.
- Rinse under running cold water.
- Wipe dry and polish gently with a soft cloth.
Important! With this method, your metal alloy items will quickly return to their original shade and shine.
Method 3
If you have ammonia on hand, proceed as follows:
- Pour ammonia into a bowl.
- Dip the device in alcohol for 2-5 minutes.
- Remove and rinse under running water.
- Dry and polish with a soft piece of suitable cloth.
Method 4
- Take the shell of 2 raw eggs.
- Fill them with 1 liter of water.
- Boil it.
- Dip all darkened cupronickel silverware into the broth.
- After 2-3 minutes, remove and rinse under cold water.
- Gently wipe the surface and polish until shiny.
Method 5
Garlic peels also effectively whiten nickel silver cutlery. If you have accumulated enough of it, do the following:
- Place the husks on the bottom of the pan.
- Fill with water and boil.
- Place all the necessary utensils into the pan with the broth without removing the husks.
- Simmer over low heat until they lighten in color.
- Remove and rinse with cool water.
- Dry and polish the surface.
Important! The amount of peeling depends on how dark your nickel silver cutlery is. The dirtier they are, the more quantity you take.
Method 6
- Take toothpaste and a soft small brush.
- Wet the utensils slightly.
- Rub a small amount of paste onto spoons or forks.
- Rinse with water and dry.
Important! Please note that toothpaste is a rather aggressive product. Therefore, act very carefully and carefully so as not to remove the surface silvering.
Method 7
Another vegetable that can easily cope with plaque and darkening on various metals is potatoes. To use it, proceed as follows:
- Boil the potatoes.
- Drain the broth into a separate pan.
- Place all cupronickel cutlery in it for 30 minutes.
- Remove as soon as the spoons turn pale and rinse under regular cool water.
- Dry and wipe with a dry cloth to remove all traces of drips.
Important! If you don’t have time to boil potatoes, you can make a paste from grated raw vegetables and place the utensils in it. The remaining steps are similar to the described method with a decoction.
Useful tips
To prevent frequent darkening of cupronickel, store such devices correctly, and you will not have to spend a lot of time cleaning them:
- After each use, place them in special boxes until next time.
- Wrap each device in cling film, foil or plain paper.
- After use, rinse with cold water and polish, perhaps adding a small amount of completely dissolved soda.
material
With the help of our tips, you can easily cope with the problem of cleaning such precious appliances and surprise your guests with the ownership of real heirlooms and your attitude towards family values.
Source: https://serviceyard.net/uborka/kak-pochistit-melhior.html
How to clean cupronickel silver at home from blackness: tips and secrets - Site about
Jewelry and kitchen utensils made of cupronickel are affordable and durable, but they quickly oxidize and turn black. That is why it is important to know how to clean cupronickel and how to properly care for it.
What is cupronickel, its pros and cons
Cupronickel is an alloy based on three components: nickel, copper and zinc. Sometimes it also includes some other components, for example, manganese or iron. Cupronickel can be distinguished by its characteristic appearance, reminiscent of silver. It owes this feature to its second popular name - “silver of the poor.”
Just in case! We wrote about how and how to clean silver in this article.
Products made from this material have many advantages:
- Low cost;
- Presentable appearance;
- Strength;
- Long service life;
- Rust resistance;
- Low thermal conductivity.
But there are two big disadvantages:
- Regular care;
- Rapid loss of shine and appearance of blackness.
Now, let's look at how to clean nickel silver so that it regains its former shine.
Ammonia or soda
This is the easiest cleaning method.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udt6diXeO5U
You will need:
- Warm water – 1 liter;
- Soda – 50 g or ammonia – 50 ml.
Cleaning cupronickel at home:
- Dissolve baking soda in warm water in any deep bowl;
- Wash cutlery in soda solution;
- Next, rinse thoroughly in cold water and wipe dry.
Ammonia is a good substitute for soda. These well-known products perfectly clean small stains from knives, forks, and spoons. Dull cupronickel items treated in this way will receive a soft shine.
Egg shell decoction for darkened products
This effective method can remove even very old stains and clean cupronickel forks, knives, and spoons without any problems or effort.
Need to use:
- Boiled water – 1 liter;
- Table salt - a tablespoon;
- The shell of two chicken eggs.
How to clean cupronickel cutlery from eggshells:
- Grind the shells to a powdery state;
- Pour water into a shallow flat container and place it on the flame;
- After the water boils, add shells and salt to it;
- Place the utensils in hot water and boil for 2 minutes;
- Then we take them out, rinse them under running water and wipe them with a soft cloth.
Removing dark spots with food foil
You will need:
- Liter of water;
- Food foil;
- Table salt – 3 large spoons.
Stages of work:
- We cover the bottom of the saucepan with food foil and place all the cupronickel cutlery on it;
- We fill the container with water so that our products are completely covered, then add salt;
- Place the pan on the fire and bring the liquid to a boil, simmer for 3 minutes.
During the boiling process, a chemical reaction occurs, which results in darkening of the foil. And cutlery, on the contrary, becomes lighter. If you cannot remove blackness from cupronickel items due to difficult stains the first time, the procedure must be repeated.
Chalk polishing
The most common chalk can be used to polish cutlery items to a shine and remove minor dirt from them.
Polishing procedure:
- Grind the chalk into powder;
- Add a little water until you get a viscous slurry;
- We take a soft cloth (without lint) and apply the mixture on it, with which we polish the products.
If you don’t have chalk, then a non-abrasive toothpaste with silicon oxide in its composition is great for these purposes. It is applied to a damp cotton pad and can be used to clean nickel silver spoons, forks and knives.
Cleaning gold plated appliances
For luxury gold-plated items, there are several simple methods for removing stains. Let's look at how to clean nickel silver in this case:
- We soak a piece of cotton wool in turpentine or wine vinegar (or a napkin in alcohol) and wipe the gilding with it. But you cannot rub too hard - such products do not tolerate mechanical impact, because the gilding can quickly wear off;
- Rub the alloy with a flannel cloth with egg white applied to it.
Just in case! We wrote in this article how and with what to purify gold.
What to do to prevent a black coating from appearing on cupronickel cutlery
How to care for cupronickel to ensure your products have an excellent appearance:
- We always wipe knives, forks and spoons made of cupronickel dry;
- We store the products in zip bags with a convenient lock that will perfectly protect the contents from moisture and dust;
- Tableware should be regularly wiped with a soft flannel cloth, coarse woolen cloth, or use a special napkin for cleaning silver;
- A wooden box that closes tightly is also good for storing equipment. You need to put a piece of chalk inside it, which will protect the products from oxidation.
These methods are very effective and not at all labor-intensive.
Cleaning cupronickel utensils
Nickel silver dishes are cleaned using the same methods and means as described above.
But what to do if decanters, glasses, jugs, cups have complex patterns? In addition to the sponge, to remove the dark layer of patina, you will need two brushes or brushes.
One is of medium hardness, consisting of nylon threads, for rubbing away dark spots in complex patterns, the other is with soft natural bristles, for removing water from small gaps.
How to clean nickel silver jewelry with stones
Corals, pearls and turquoise are considered the most delicate and capricious in matters of care. They do not tolerate foam, hot and soapy water, alcohol at all, and vinegar can completely dissolve pearls. For such products, only one product is ideal - salt.
- Let's make a strong saline solution without heating the water.
- Place your nickel silver jewelry in well-salted water and take it out after 2 hours, rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.
- And if after such a procedure you cover the turquoise with a thin brush with a small layer of animal fat, then it will perfectly retain its original appearance.
Amber, moonstone, opal, and malachite do not like humidity, but they wash well in soapy water to which an ammonia alcohol solution has been added. Then they are quickly rinsed and wiped with an absorbent and soft cloth. Ammonia will not harm a cupronickel alloy either.
Special products for cleaning cupronickel items
To care for such products, you can buy household chemicals at any hardware store.
- Be sure to read the instructions and ingredients when purchasing. The most dangerous substances for delicate coatings are abrasive particles and chlorine;
- The most popular chemicals are Amethyst emulsion, Polymet paste, and Sif gel. You can use Fairy gel, which gives a good effect in caring for products consisting of precious metals;
- In terms of external features, the coating of cupronickel devices is almost the same as that of expensive products. At specialized outlets you can buy a product for jewelry, which will also help maintain the beauty of serving items.
For preventive purposes, serving items are washed in the following solution: add a small spoonful of shampoo, peroxide and ammonia to a glass of warm water. This will make the tableware shine and shine. If you put them away for storage, be sure to wrap them in paper.
Method for cleaning cupronickel in 2 minutes
Source: https://knaschool50.ru/uborka/kak-pochistit-melhior-v-domashnih-usloviyah-ot-chernoty-sovety-i-sekrety.html
How to clean cupronickel and make it shine: methods for cutlery, dishes and decorations
Since ancient times, silverware has been the pride of housewives and a real family heirloom. But not everyone could afford such luxury, and therefore a cheaper analogue appeared - cupronickel, which looks no less elegant. And today such devices are actively used. But there is one significant drawback.
Cupronickel tends to darken under the influence of dampness, detergents and other external influences. How to clean cupronickel? How to restore the beauty and shine to your favorite cutlery? Vika Preobrazhenskaya October 30, 2017
Cupronickel is a copper-zinc alloy. Some people use devices made from this material every day, while others save them for special occasions.
In any case, one cannot fail to mention a number of advantages of such dishes:
- strength;
- corrosion resistance;
- presentable appearance;
- easy care;
- similarity to silver;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- hygiene.
How to clean cupronickel: a selection of recipes
How to clean a gold-plated cup holder? Cleaning cupronickel at home is complicated by the fact that the material is vulnerable to most detergents. Therefore, the best option would be to use time-tested folk remedies.
Soda
- Wash the appliances.
- Sprinkle a slightly damp sponge generously with baking soda.
- Rub the darkened areas thoroughly.
- Rinse the utensils in cold water and wipe dry.
Soda is used not only to combat dark spots, but also to prevent their occurrence. To do this, you need to rinse the dishes in a soda solution after each wash.
Alcohol
- Moisten a cotton napkin with medical alcohol or vodka.
- Rub the tarnished item vigorously.
- Wipe dry.
Eggshell
- Fill the shells of two raw eggs with a liter of water.
- Bring the liquid to a boil and simmer for another three to five minutes.
- Immerse the darkened devices in the solution for a quarter of an hour.
- Rinse the items and wipe them dry.
After cooking hard-boiled eggs, do not drain the boiling water in the sink. Just dip your darkened cupronickel silverware into it.
Garlic peel
- Place the garlic peels in a saucepan and add an equal amount of water.
- As soon as the liquid boils, lower the cupronickel devices into it.
- Continue boiling until the products lighten in color. This usually takes from three to ten minutes.
The proportions of water and husk can be adjusted independently, based on the degree of contamination. The more the product darkens, the more husk you will need.
Serum
- Heat the whey and immerse cupronickel products in it.
- Soak them in the liquid for 15-20 minutes.
- Wipe the appliances with a rag.
- Wash and dry.
Ammonia
- Dilute a couple of tablespoons of ammonia in a glass of water.
- Place the instruments in the solution.
- Rinse forks and spoons under running water and wipe dry.
If the stains on cupronickel are already old, you need to pour pure ammonia over the objects for five minutes. After this, they should be thoroughly rinsed with cold water.
Vinegar
- Dilute a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water.
- Soak a rag in the mixture and scrub the dirty areas well.
- Wash and dry the items.
To quickly clean heavily blackened utensils or coins, you need to pre-treat the products with glycerin. After ten minutes, rub the surface with heated vinegar.
Carbonated drinks
- Place the darkened utensils at the bottom of the container.
- Pour in sweet soda to completely cover the items.
- After two hours, rinse the appliances with water and wipe with a cloth.
Lemon acid
- Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of citric acid in a liter of water.
- Place a piece of copper wire into the liquid.
- Immerse the devices in the liquid for two hours.
- Wipe items dry.
Shine products
Considering that cupronickel has become a kind of replacement for silver, its key characteristic should be shine. There are several ways to clean cupronickel spoons at home so that they sparkle like a noble metal.
Pasta
- Fill a saucepan with water and heat until boiling.
- Pour the pasta into the container and start mixing it with darkened cupronickel utensils.
- When you realize the pasta is cooked, lower the forks and spoons whole into the pan and leave for 20 minutes.
- Remove the utensils from the pan, wash them and lay them out on a towel to dry.
- Polish the items.
Chalk
- Before polishing nickel silver products, dissolve two tablespoons of grated chalk and soap shavings in a liter of water.
- Using a rag soaked in the resulting mixture, thoroughly polish the items.
- Rinse them in cold water and wipe dry.
Foil
- Cover the bottom and sides of the pan with aluminum foil.
- Place the appliances to be cleaned in the container.
- Prepare a weak soda solution and pour it over the objects.
- Bring the liquid to a boil.
- After five minutes, remove the pan from the heat.
- Rinse the cupronickel items and wipe them with a dry cloth.
During boiling, a chemical reaction occurs, as a result of which contaminants are transferred from cupronickel to the foil.
If you are unable to completely get rid of the blackness the first time, repeat the procedure.
Toothpaste
- Pre-treat items with detergent.
- Without drying the products, start rubbing them with toothpaste. You can use a brush or the rough side of a kitchen sponge to do this.
- Wash and dry appliances.
To clean nickel silver jewelry from dirt, tooth powder is also suitable. Simply rub the product onto the damp product in the most contaminated areas.
How to treat gold-plated products
Caring for cutlery becomes much more difficult if it is plated with gold or decorated with blackened elements. In order not to damage the decor, you need to carefully choose how to clean nickel silver cutlery.
Potato
- Boil the potatoes in their skins and remove the vegetables from the pan with a slotted spoon.
- Place gold-plated items in the decoction.
- After 20 minutes, rinse them and dry them.
Raw potatoes also cope well with stains on cupronickel products. Simply grate the vegetables on a fine grater and treat the utensils with the resulting puree.
Egg white
- Lightly beat the egg white with a fork.
- Dampen a cloth and start rubbing the products.
- When you get rid of the darkening, wash the appliances well and wipe with a dry cloth.
Tips on how to maintain results longer
To clean cupronickel silverware from yellowing or add shine to jewelry, you need not only to choose the right product, but also to take into account some rules. There are six key tips for perfectly clean appliances.
- Don't leave it in plain sight. To protect cupronickel from darkening, put it in a special case every time after use.
- Protect products. When you are not using the utensils, wrap each of them in paper or foil.
- Pay attention to prevention. If you regularly use nickel silver devices, you can prevent their darkening by washing them exclusively with cold water. They also need to be wiped regularly with a bleach solution (soda, alcohol).
- Prepare devices for cleaning. To effectively bleach nickel silver, first clean the products from food debris and other contaminants. Remove old dirt and grease.
- Keep away from chlorine. This substance negatively affects the coating, leading to its destruction.
- Use professional products. To give cupronickel silver a shine, use special pastes that jewelers use to clean silver.
Can nickel silver be washed in the dishwasher? Yes, but only on the condition that there are no other metal objects in it. Otherwise, the devices will darken.
It is interesting that cupronickel tableware stopped being produced more than a hundred years ago. And all because scientists have come to the conclusion that copper-zinc alloy is harmful.
The instruments we use today are made of nickel silver, which means inclusions of nickel and silver. But housewives, by inertia, use the old name. In addition, the same rules apply for the new alloy as for the old one.
Therefore, knowing how to clean nickel silver cutlery, you can easily tidy up your nickel silver items.
Source: https://women365.ru/kak-pochistit-melhior/
How to clean cupronickel yourself
Over time, even if you do not use cupronickel items, they begin to darken and become covered with a film of oxidized metal. The use of such products in the future becomes unpleasant. Next, we will look at how you can remove the oxidized layer and return the dishes to their former shine and cleanliness. Let's start with folk methods.
This method is one of the simplest and most popular for cleaning many metal objects. To clean cutlery you will need aluminum foil, baking soda and regular table salt.
The cleaning procedure will be as follows:
- Place a piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of the pan.
- Darkened cupronickel objects are placed on the foil.
- The items to be cleaned are covered with salt and soda in equal quantities - three tablespoons of each substance. If there is a lot of cupronickel, then the amount of active ingredients can be increased.
- Pour hot water into the pan. It should completely cover the cutlery.
- Place the pan on the fire, bring it to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and wait for the water to cool completely.
- We take out the kitchen utensils, rinse them under water and dry them completely.
The basis of this method is the redox reaction of metals. Its result will be a noticeable lightening of cupronickel spoons, forks and other objects. You can also notice that the aluminum foil also changed its color and became much darker.
This method is not recommended for use with devices coated with silver, since as a result of chemical reactions the silver layer becomes thinner and disappears completely over time.
Cleaning with ammonia
The method is based on the special cleaning properties of ammonia, which is the main part of ammonia. It can be used to clean not only metal products, but other materials, including organic ones.
If you have ammonia on hand, you can do a quick clean with this product. Spoons, forks and other cupronickel items are poured into a small container and filled with ammonia for 5 minutes.
After this, you need to remove the devices from the active substance, rinse in cold water and wipe dry with a towel. If necessary, the dishes can be polished with a piece of soft cloth.
Cleaning with eggshells
Egg shells will help to cope with darkening of copper-nickel cookware. Its broth helps to significantly brighten cutlery. The cleaning process will look like this:
- Place 1 liter of water in a saucepan.
- Finely chop the shells of two eggs and add them to the pan.
- Put the water on the fire and bring to a boil.
- Immerse cupronickel silver items in boiling water for a few minutes.
- We take the item out of the water, rinse it, wipe it dry and polish it.
If you need to clean a large amount of dishes, or there is a need to use more boiling water, then the volume can always be increased, maintaining the ratio of water to shells.
Cleaning with garlic
Garlic peels are highly effective in cleaning kitchen utensils. To get the desired result, you need to boil the cutlery in a saucepan along with the garlic peels. It should be remembered that its effectiveness depends on the amount of husk itself and the complexity of darkening.
Source: http://yastroyu.ru/obzori-2/27698-kak-pochistit-melkhior-samomu.html
Cleaning cupronickel at home with foil
Cupronickel is an alloy of several metals, usually copper and nickel. Various items are made from this material, including dishes and cutlery. They darken over time and lose their original shine, so it is important to properly care for such products. In this article we will look at how to clean cupronickel silver cutlery at home. And we’ll find out how to clean cupronickel.
Properties and features of cupronickel
Cupronickel looks as aesthetically pleasing and elegant as silver, but costs less. At the same time, it is stronger and more durable than the latter. The material allows you to create original shapes of products and paint objects in any color without the use of harmful substances.
Cupronickel silver cutlery does not rust, since modern products contain iron, nickel and manganese. The result is strong and reliable objects, the service life of which is increased by processing the metal at high temperatures.
However, cupronickel contains a high amount of copper, which causes the material to become covered with brown spots. If such plaque is not cleaned in a timely manner, it turns black. Note that it is easier to clean devices and products with a flat surface without bends, patterns or reliefs. This material can be cleaned quickly and without problems; it becomes smooth and shiny.
By the way, many methods for cleaning silver cutlery are also suitable for cupronickel. Silver items are cleaned using foil, vinegar, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. White toothpaste, chalk, and baking soda also work. For more information on how and how to clean silver until it shines, see here.
Before cleaning cupronickel at home, rinse the items in hot water using an old toothbrush and a suitable cleaning product. This will remove grease and dirt. After pre-treatment, you can begin more thorough cleaning. After the procedure, rinse the products in clean water and immediately wipe dry.
10 ways to clean cupronickel silver cutlery
1. Use special household cleaning products that are intended for silverware and cupronickel. It is better to choose liquid and gel formulations or pastes. The powder may scratch the surface of products. Avoid products containing chlorine!
2. Wet the sponge and add a little baking soda or fine table salt. Rub spoons, forks and knives thoroughly. In just two or three minutes you will see how cupronickel products sparkle. However, in this case it is difficult to clean bends and hard-to-reach areas;
3. You can clean cupronickel cutlery using antichlorine, which is sold at the pharmacy. Dissolve the drug in water and rinse the items in the composition, then rinse in clean water. This method will help clean the material from blackness;
4. Aluminum foil for baking will help to clean cupronickel spoons, as well as knives and forks. To do this, take a wide container or pan and place foil on the bottom. Pour one or two tablespoons of soda into the container; if desired, you can add the same amount of salt.
Place the cutlery inside and pour boiling water over it, then place it on the stove and boil. In this case, you don’t even have to scrub the products with a sponge or brush. At the same time, every bend and hard-to-reach place can be cleaned easily and effectively.
After treatment, the items will return to their original shine and appearance and will become like new;
5. You can also clean cupronickel coins, as well as cutlery, using carbonated drinks. Sprite or Coca-Cola is suitable. To do this, pour the drink into a container and place items there. Leave for several hours and then wash with a suitable cleaning agent;
Source: https://MyTooling.ru/instrumenty/chistka-melhiora-v-domashnih-uslovijah-s-folgoj
How to clean cupronickel spoons from blackness
Cupronickel can be called cheap silver. A silvery-white metal and similar in appearance to silver, but costs much less. Cupronickel silver cutlery was popular in Soviet times, but is still found in many homes today. One problem is that cupronickel quickly darkens and you have to look for ways to clean it.
What kind of metal is cupronickel and why does it darken?
Despite the similarities, cupronickel has nothing to do with silver. It is an alloy of copper and nickel, sometimes with additions of other metals (iron, manganese, zinc). It is similar to silver only in its color and high resistance to corrosion.
Daily care of nickel silver is no different from the care of other devices, with the exception of one point: after washing the product, be sure to wipe it dry.
After all, it is under the influence of moisture that the metal oxidizes and a dark coating appears on its surface, so familiar to owners of nickel silver instruments.
How to clean dark plaque and other dirt
The problem is not new; manufacturers of household chemicals are also aware of it. On sale you can find cleaning products for precious and non-ferrous metals or jewelry. They can easily help restore spoons and forks to their original cleanliness.
But don’t rush to the store for special products; what you have in every kitchen will help you clean cupronickel. After use, items can be washed with any dish soap or soap solution. If there is no gilding or other decorative coating on the devices, then the task is simplified.
Important! Do not wash cupronickel items in the dishwasher.
To remove dark plaque, it is allowed to use soft abrasive agents; cupronickel is harder than silver and they will not harm it.
Dish cleaning powder
Pemoxol, Pemolux and other similar products will easily rid spoons and forks of any contamination. Apply one of them to a damp sponge or cloth and rub the device.
Important! Cupronickel cleaner should not contain chlorine.
Powdered chalk, soda, fine salt, toothpaste
They are used instead of special powders as mild cleaning agents. Apply one of the products to the device and rub with a cloth or cotton pad. You can make a paste from soda or salt with added water or moisten a cloth for cleaning.
Gallery of soft creative products for cleaning cupronickel
The disadvantage of this and the previous methods is that if objects have a convex pattern, the blackness from the recesses cannot be completely removed..
In this case, another method will help; it will not require physical effort and will allow you to clean many devices at once.
Boiling with foil in a soda solution
- Place a sheet of foil on the bottom of the pan, add 60 grams of soda and pour 1 liter of hot water.
- Dip the cutlery into the liquid and place the dishes on the fire. Objects must be completely covered with water.
- Boil on the lowest heat for 15 minutes. In just 3-4 minutes you will see how the metal brightens.
- Rinse with clean water.
Advice! Do not use aluminum cookware; the soda solution will darken it.
To enhance the effect, you can add 40 grams of salt to the solution.
instructions for quickly getting rid of darkening of cupronickel
This treatment will help remove darkening, even if the spoons have lain unused for more than one year. But it is not recommended to use it for gold-plated products.
Boiling with garlic peel
- Fill the container with husks and fill with water. The more husk, the better the result.
- Place the pot on the fire and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Immerse items in the broth and boil until the blackness disappears.
The decoction will help cope with the most severe darkening.
Boiling with eggshells
According to housewives, this is a less effective method. Suitable for light darkening with a short age.
- Grind the shells of two raw eggs and fill it with 1 liter of water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt.
- Bring the water to a boil, wait 10 minutes, then lower the appliances into it.
- Boil until results are achieved.
A variation of this method is to boil spoons and forks in water left over from boiling eggs.
Ultrasonic bath
These devices are used to clean a wide variety of items. Water is poured into the bath, objects that require cleaning are lowered and the power button is pressed.
Then ultrasound works, which knocks out contaminants from the surface. The danger is that along with the plaque it can also knock out metal particles. This will not have a significant effect on cupronickel, but the gilding will suffer; for such products it is better to use another method.
Apple or wine vinegar or a solution of ammonia will help deal with fresh darkening; for more serious stains they are useless.
Vinegar, ammonia
Dilute 1-2 tablespoons of the product in 1 glass of water. Dampen a soft cloth with the solution and wipe the nickel silver items. Rinse with clean water.
Products with gilding require more careful handling. After all, the spray layer is very thin and can be easily damaged. For such items, you cannot use abrasives, even soft ones.
Potato broth
Do not discard the remaining water after boiling potatoes. Dip nickel silver and gilded objects into it and hold for 15-20 minutes. The water must be hot. After treatment, rinse with clean water.
Comparison of different methods of cleaning cupronickel products - video
The more gentle the method, the less effective it is. If you are unable to remove blackheads using home methods, purchase a professional product.
Source: https://uborkadoma.guru/myte-vo-vremya-uborki/kak-pochistit-melhiorovye-lozhki-ot-chernoty.html