How to clean cupronickel?

Cutlery from nickel silver from time immemorial was considered a constant attribute of wealthy houses and owners with good taste. Silverware served a table for invited guests. However, nickel silver has not the best property - it loses shine under the influence of moisture. So cleaning knives, forks and spoons, as well as women's jewelry from this capricious alloy leaves the hostess forced scope for "creativity."

In order to understand why Melchior is fading, one must imagine its origin. Even in ancient China, it was established: beautiful light metal is not really precious - it is copper, nickel and small impurities. The Europeans, to whom Melchior came under the name of the Pakfong, dubbed the wonder-alloy "new silver." Then the French intervened and gave the name of the chemical brothers to Melchior.

Since copper in the alloy is half its volume, oxidation cannot be avoided. And small inclusions of iron, manganese add to the "weathered" "new silver" almost black color with dark blue divorces. Such is the nature of pollution.

It provokes darkening of the table "silver" and cleaning in the dishwasher. Strengthen the oxidation reaction of any, even minor metal contacts with products that contain chlorine. Here, as they say, it's all about chemistry.

To clean the nickel silver at home is a tedious business, but its rules are quite simple. For example, You can prepare 50 grams of soda, the same amount of ammonia. Any of the ingredients to stir in a liter of heated water and wipe the dull melchior. If the darkening is not very old, your "silver" will shine again.

Try putting forks and spoons on the foil that is lined with the bottom of the pan. Top with water and salted. Devices must completely "drown." As you boil (about three minutes), the food foil will begin to darken, and the spoons and forks will lighten.

It is very simple to use chalk for updating alloy products. It is crushed, diluted with water to a creamy state and cleaned with this porridge Melchior. The effect is impressive. Especially if after cleaning do not be lazy and how to polish the devices.

By the way, suitable for this procedure and toothpaste, which contains silica, tooth powder. Paste with a damp cotton swab is applied to the product and actively wipe them.

Perfectly brings nickel silver to the desired gloss dishwashing liquid. Slightly dilute it in a saucepan with boiling water, foam up. Put in the solution dirty forks, spoons, knives, including soiled with grease. Let the day "soak", and you stir them periodically. In the morning with a toothbrush, go over all surfaces.

If you decide to clean tableware chemical composition, then choose the one that is specifically designed for nickel silver. Their consistency is varied: gel, emulsion, paste. Do not forget to wear gloves and ventilate the room after work. And also note that the scouring powder will also be effective in this case, but it contains large particles that can scratch the vulnerable melchior. When using powder, do not press on the surface of the products and do not exert special efforts - wipe them with soft movements.

Quick result gives sodium thiosulfatewhich you buy at any pharmacy kiosk. It is necessary to put it on a sponge, handle forks, spoons and knives, and then rinse the product with clean water.

There is also a way to clean cutlery, as their soaking in warm whey. Immerse knives, spoons, forks of nickel silver in fresh milk whey. Let the solution in a heated form work for 20 minutes. Then remove and wipe dry.

Electroplated Melchior also brought to a radiant appearance. For this purpose, nickel-silver devices and some other metal object — for example, a nail — are put in one basin. A weak current is passed: the "minus" is connected to the things being cleaned, and the "plus" - to the "external" metal. 24 volts is enough to clear the spoon of nickel silver. But here you have to be in trouble with physics, do not confuse anything. This is the ultimate method to achieve your goal.

Many housewives believe that forks, cup holders, other accessories from table silver nickel are not effectively cleaned, but washed. Here again, a good recipe for washing spoons or knives. using food foil (the solution is prepared by boiling the foil in a saucepan with salt; try pouring broth from the pot instead of a liter of water).

It is easy to bring to light the darkened accessories by means of such a popular recipe: pour a liter of water into the container, boil it, put the crushed shells of two chicken eggs and a tablespoon of salt. This composition is my cupronickel.

It will be useful for devices from nickel silver and procedure with citric acid. Per liter of water you need 100 grams of acid. There also should put a piece of copper wire. Lay contaminated spoons and forks and boil for 15-20 minutes. Spots are moving away. Then forks and spoons should be rinsed, wiped and hidden for storage.

This is not a complete list of options for washing nickel silver. With not the most catastrophic pollution a good effect is given by soaking spoons and forks in carbonated drinks (for an hour and a half), boiling with garlic peel, hyposulphite solution with water in a ratio of 1: 5. This substance is usually used for processing photographic films.

Of course, on the holiday table you always want to see the most luxurious appliances. Therefore, nickel silver knives, forks and spoons are often decorated with gold plating. These cutlery samples should be cleaned separately from all others. To do this, moisten a cotton swab in wine vinegar or turpentine and walk them on gold-plated surfaces.

Melchior is quite popular for making not only the attributes of the dining room, but also to create original jewelry. It is believed that nickel silver looks quite presentable in rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants. But taking into account the specifics of the alloy from time to time, such decorations should be cleaned.

It’s better not to experiment, and apply a specially purchased in-store chemical agent for delicate cleaning. As a rule, the application guidelines describe in detail what needs to be done. So you just have to wear gloves and follow the instructions. You can easily mix the mixture that you put on the ring or bracelet and carefully coat the entire surface with it.

You should clean the stones with which nickel silver rings, bracelet or ring are decorated. Most of the dust and dirt accumulates in the rim under the stone. The stones themselves also grow dull. There is an easy way to restore their brilliance and transparency.

You can cope with the task of a conventional cotton swab or a match with a wound piece of cotton wool. Dip a cotton wool in a bottle of eau de cologne, wipe the stone and frame from the bottom and top.Your tool should not be sharp, otherwise you will damage the decoration. Finally, carefully polish the ring with a flannel napkin.

Since nickel-silver items are perceived as silver, they, undoubtedly, should shine not worse than the precious metal. At home it is quite possible to achieve this, although not so easy. Melchior must be polished. To achieve the sparkling effect, the options below are suitable.

"Pasta" way:

• Boil water in a saucepan.
• Put macaroni into it and mix it with dark nickel silver spoons.
• Leave the spoons along with the cooked pasta for another 20 minutes.
• Take out, dry on a towel and polish. Glitter returns easily.

Chalk:

• Crumble chalk, collect soap shavings and fill it with a liter of water.
• Soak a cloth and polish them with objects. Then wipe dry again.

With toothpaste:

• Apply any detergent to the product.
• Apply a toothpaste on top and rub thoroughly. Tooth powder is also suitable for this.

In order for any products from nickel silver to retain their brilliant appearance, and you were freed from rather long operations to clean the products, you need to learn a few simple rules for storing appliances made from this metal.

Experienced hostesses always have tightly wrapped natural caskets, wooden boxes, where they can also be hidden for safe storage of spoons, knives, and jewelry. In this case, be sure to add to the products a piece of chalk. It will prevent oxidation due to its chemical composition.

In general, all your efforts to keep things clean of nickel silver should be aimed at creating maximum dryness. Make sure that after using and washing the cutlery is thoroughly wiped, do not have any drops on it. Melchior is well preserved wrapped in food foil. Do not put cutlery from different metals in one pile. "New Silver" should always be packaged for storage separately.

Prevention of pollution and dullness is washing of nickel silver. only in cold water. After each use, the products must be treated with a bleaching agent containing soda or alcohol. Chlorine should not be allowed “close to” nickel silver — a catastrophic reaction occurs for it, and it will immediately darken.

When you know all the rules of caring for the devices, your table for the gala dinner will be served only with mirror devices, in which bright lights of bright chandeliers play. A pleasant evening with friends is guaranteed.

For more information on how to clean the nickel silver, see the following video.