Cleaning cupronickel with soda, foil and salt at home

Cupronickel is an alloy of zinc, copper, nickel and silver. Thanks to this composition, nickel silver products shine, which gives them a solemn appearance. But the metal is characterized by rapid darkening, as a result of which it loses its attractiveness. The problem can be easily solved at home by cleaning with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate/bicarbonate) and other available products.

Photo: Depositphotos.com. Author: alenaloginova.

What kitchen utensils are made from cupronickel

Cupronickel is a budget alternative to silver. The alloy was created at the beginning of the 19th century by the French Maillot and Chorier. Over time, its composition was improved, the percentage of metals contained in it changed. In the modern version:

• 30% nickel;
• 1% iron;
• 1% manganese.

This material is resistant to oxidation, corrosion and deformation. But over time, darkening, characteristic of rapidly oxidizing brass and copper, appears on the products.

The range of kitchen utensils made of cupronickel is varied:

• spoons;
• forks;
• knives;
• ladles;
• Turks;
• skimmers;
• caviar;
• shoulder blades;
• cup holders, etc.

Cupronickel silver table sets are often made in the classic Old Russian style.

Lemon acid

Cupronickel is an alloy of copper and nickel with the addition of other chemical elements (iron, manganese, silver). This material has the following properties:

• beautiful silver color;
• plastic;
• safety;
• high resistance to corrosion;
• strength.

Thanks to these properties, cupronickel has become widely used. Dishes, coins, jewelry and art items, as well as medical instruments - this is not the entire list of items made from a durable alloy.

How to clean cupronickel: NUR.KZ

The disadvantage of cupronickel is its tendency to oxidize when exposed to air. In this case, black marks appear on the surface of the products.

Cleaning with citric acid will help cope with this problem. What do we have to do? Follow the step by step guide:

1. Make a solution: add 4-5 tbsp to 1 liter of warm water. l. citric acid. Stir thoroughly to dissolve the acid. Instead of powder, you can use the juice of one lemon.
2. Dip the products into the acidified liquid and leave for 2-3 hours.
3. Remove the devices from the solution and rinse in water.
4. Use a piece of natural fabric or a towel to dry the items.

Using this method, you can clean spoons and other objects from dark stains that appear due to oxidation.

Cleansing recipes

It is recommended to clean cupronickel products regularly. Otherwise, dark plaque will become their constant companion.

Preparing for cleaning. Before you start treating cutlery with a soda-containing composition, you need to wash it well with soap and then wipe it dry.

There are many recipes that allow you to quickly clean cupronickel at home.

Simple washing with soda

A slight dark coating on cupronickel products can be removed using ordinary soda without adding other components:

1. Dilute baking soda in warm water.
2. Rinse kitchen utensils in the resulting solution.
3. Rinse with clean water to remove any remaining alkali.
4. Dry each item thoroughly with a dry cloth.

Table vinegar with soda

Stubborn plaque can be removed using a mixture of table vinegar and soda:

1. Pour 300 ml of warm water into a bowl.
2. Add 25 g of soda and stir until completely dissolved.
3. Pour in 30 ml of table vinegar.
4. To stir thoroughly.
5. Dip a sponge into the mixture and wipe each item.
6. If necessary, repeat processing.
7. Rinse with clean warm water.
8. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.

On a note. If there are persistent stains, it is recommended to rub the surface with the product and leave for 30 minutes, then walk over it with a sponge.

Soda, chalk and laundry soap

The combination of sodium bicarbonate, chalk and laundry soap will help not only get rid of plaque, but also polish kitchen utensils:

1. Grind 50 g of laundry soap and 45 g of chalk.
2. Mix the ingredients and add 1 liter of hot water.
3. Stir until soap foam appears.
4. Add 40 g of baking soda.
5. Thoroughly rub the surfaces to be treated with the resulting composition.
6. Rinse with warm water.
7. If the contamination is difficult to remove, you need to repeat the procedure several times.
8. Wipe thoroughly with a dry cloth.

Soda, ammonia and chalk

The tandem of sodium bicarbonate, chalk and ammonia works well for cleaning and polishing cupronickel cutlery:

1. Combine 30 g of soda with 50 g of crushed chalk.
2. Pour 20 ml of ammonia into the resulting mixture.
3. Stir the mixture and add enough water to make a thick paste.
4. Using a sponge, scrub all kitchen items.
5. Rinse with warm water.
6. Wipe dry with a waffle towel.

Boiling with soda

If you don’t have time to clean nickel silver products manually, you can use a quick and effective method - boiling:

1. Pour water into an aluminum container, add 2 tbsp. l. baking soda and put on fire.
2. After boiling, place the cutlery in the water and leave on low heat for 10–15 minutes.
3. After this time, remove the products and wash them with regular dishwashing detergent.
4. Rinse under running water and wipe dry with a towel.

Soda and foil

To carry out such cleaning, you will need a small container (necessarily made of aluminum), baking soda and ordinary food foil:

1. Cover the bottom of the container with foil.
2. Place cutlery on it (preferably in one layer).
3. Fill with water at room temperature.
4. Add soda in the ratio: 60 g per 2 liters of liquid.
5. Boil for 15–20 minutes;
6. Rinse with clean running water and wipe dry.

Adding shine

When all stains and plaque have been eliminated, you can return the shine to the products. Polishing will help give nickel silver shine. You need to take a flannel cloth or other soft napkin. Apply polishing paste to it and treat the surface. You can buy ready-made paste or make it yourself from the following ingredients.

• Chalk and soap. Chalk powder and soap shavings are combined in a 1:1 ratio. Dilute with water to form a paste.
• Chalk and ammonia. One part of chalk and two parts of ammonia solution are mixed to a homogeneous paste. If necessary, dilute with water.
• Toothpaste and powder. They can be used either separately or mixed.

After polishing, cupronickel is washed under running water and wiped dry.

Rules for caring for cupronickel products

Kitchen utensils made of cupronickel must be treated in the same way as silver ones.

Attention! Do not remove dirt from such products using abrasive cleaning powders, especially those containing chlorine. This will not only damage the polish, but will also speed up the oxidation process.

Proper care requires strict adherence to the following recommendations:

• Clean only with products that are suitable for silver and jewelry.
• After all manipulations, thoroughly rinse the products with running water.
• Then be sure to remove all moisture from the surfaces using a soft cloth.
• Store cutlery in a special case or boxes.
• Do not place cupronickel items next to perfumes or aggressive household chemicals (alcohol vapors, like chlorine, accelerate the oxidation process).

Modern means

If the products have darkened, they can be quickly refreshed. For this purpose, special care products for cupronickel items are produced. They come in the form of liquid, gel or wipes soaked in a special solution. It is enough to follow the instructions indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Some of the substances can protect objects from moisture by covering them with a thin protective layer.

Regular kitchen powders and creams are also suitable for cleaning. But they should not contain aggressive components.

Reviews from housewives

You can glean a lot of useful information from the reviews of housewives, so before you start cleaning, it’s worth reading the opinions of several of them.

Irina (Volgograd). My husband and I were given a luxurious table set made of nickel silver for our wedding. For a long time we took care of it and did not use it, and recently we opened the case and were upset - all its contents were covered with a black coating. At first I tried to get rid of it using regular dishwashing detergent, but to no avail. My mom's advice was to boil spoons and forks with foil and baking soda. I couldn’t even imagine that I would get such a result - all the accessories sparkled like new.

Polina (Kursk). My nickel silver pieces are 20 years old and they are still in excellent condition. The secret is quite simple - every time after washing, I rinse them with a concentrated soda solution. And a product made from chalk, soda and ammonia helps me remove old dark plaque. Guests often cannot distinguish my cutlery from silver because of the dazzling shine.

Valentina (Perm). When I saw that my cupronickel spoons and knives had turned black, I wanted to throw them away. But a friend advised me to clean it with baking soda-based solutions. I tried it, but I didn’t like it - it takes too much time. Then I read on the Internet a life hack using foil and soda. The result exceeded all expectations: after the first application, the black coating completely disappeared. I recommend to everyone.

Tatiana (Yaroslavl). I usually clean cupronickel cutlery with a homemade mixture of soda, chalk and laundry soap. This option suits me quite well - it doesn’t take much time, and all the components are available and inexpensive. The result is also excellent.

Cause of darkening

Cupronickel is an alloy of metals, one of which is copper. It quickly oxidizes when exposed to moisture. An unaesthetic coating appears on appliances or jewelry. To avoid this trouble, you need to follow the recommendations for caring for cupronickel products:

• do not use chlorine-containing products for washing;
• clean off food residues;
• wipe dry after cleaning;
• store away from moisture.

Cupronickel silver products cannot be washed in the dishwasher. After such cleaning they will darken. It is better to clean with your hands in warm water with the addition of shavings from laundry soap.

How the method works

Darkening of silver can be due to various reasons. Precious metal darkens and tarnishes with time and moisture, with prolonged contact with human skin and sweat glands. Silver items lose their luster when exposed to hydrogen sulfide in the air.

Using foil and soda you can clean jewelry, cutlery, and silver interior items. Baking soda has pronounced absorbent properties. Unlike chemical cleaners, cleaning silver with this method is gentle and does not affect the top layer of the metal.

Baking soda is used as a bleaching and cleaning ingredient. This product activates a chemical reaction with aluminum and foil, which produces atomic hydrogen. It is this component that facilitates the easy removal of the oxide film from the silver product and the restoration of the precious metal from the oxides.

At home, you can clean 800, 830, 875, 925 and 960 silver with baking soda and foil. The method is not used for blackened and gold-plated precious metals.

How to avoid darkening of cupronickel

In order not to be tormented by the question of how to get rid of blackness on cupronickel devices, follow some simple rules.

• after washing, dip the items in a soda solution (50 grams of soda per 1 liter of water), it will protect against blackening;
• Do not leave the devices wet, be sure to wipe them dry. Water is the main cause of darkening;
• store cupronickel spoons and forks separately from the rest;
• if the devices are rarely used, wrap each one with paper and then with film. This will protect them from water and air, and therefore darkening.

The effectiveness and safety of different methods differs. Choose those that suit you, be it a chemical remedy or a folk one. The main thing is that this problem has a solution.

Many housewives think about how to clean nickel silver cutlery. Cupronickel is considered a complex alloy based on a mixture of nickel and red copper. Such an alloy was created at the beginning of our era, but it acquired its modern appearance only in the 19th century, when inventors from France, Shorbe and Mayon, began to implement their technological ideas. It is in their honor that such an alloy is named. In addition to nickel and copper, zinc and sometimes silver are now added to the alloy. This alloy has always been considered very popular, because it looks impressive and resembles silver in appearance. In addition, this alloy is not inferior to silver in terms of strength. It is also considered very durable. In addition, cupronickel is much cheaper than silver. This alloy does not corrode, so it is used to make not only jewelry, but also various cutlery.

Can silver spoons be washed in the dishwasher?

Silverware should not be washed in the dishwasher. Features of automatic washing (long-term presence of metal in water, mechanical impact, air drying) significantly reduce the service life of cutlery made from noble material. In addition, most dishwasher detergents have a harsh composition containing alkalis, chlorine and other components that will contribute to the rapid oxidation process of silver. If you want to keep the products in their original form for a long time, then you need to wash them only by hand.

Silverware should not be washed in the dishwasher.

Remember that proper use, storage and cleaning of silver cutlery helps maintain the appearance of the items. You can clean metal not only with expensive means, but also with time-tested methods using vinegar, soda or toothpaste

After cleaning, it is important to use the devices correctly to avoid darkening again.

Onion and garlic peels

In addition to potatoes, you can also use other vegetables to peel cupronickel. For example, onion and garlic peels give good results after combating darkening of dishes. To use this method effectively, you need to pour water into a saucepan, add vegetable peels and put on fire. When the water starts to boil, lower the spoons and forks into it. The boiling time of the devices depends on the degree of contamination, so you need to monitor the process and remove the products when they are completely clean.

How to clean cupronickel spoons and products at home from blackness

You can clean nickel silver from darkening in your home using various methods. Several basic conditions must be met:

• It is not recommended to rub copper-nickel cookware too hard; use sandpaper to avoid damaging the surface layer.
• Before working with chemical compounds, you must protect your hands with rubber gloves.
• Before cleaning, you should thoroughly rinse the cupronickel with warm water and detergent to degrease the working surface.
• After cleaning using any method, rinse the dishes thoroughly and wipe dry. Sometimes it can be difficult to remove all the moisture in the curves of the engraving; it is better to place the cleaned item on a towel, then wipe dry.
• It is recommended to clean cupronickel with suede, which can not only renew the surface, but also polish it.
• Do not wash or rinse dishes with hot water.
• If cupronickel is inlaid with stones, then you cannot use ammonia solution for cleaning. It can damage the structure of the stone or remove the bonding adhesive.

Cleaning cupronickel using eggshells

If you decide to clean cupronickel in the coming days, then do not throw away the egg shells while preparing scrambled eggs or kneading dough.

• To clean cupronickel, take the shells of two raw eggs, chop them, put them in a saucepan, add a spoonful of salt and pour in one liter of water.
• Bring to a boil.
• Dip cupronickel cutlery into this water and boil for two to three minutes.
• Rinse the cupronickel in clean water and wipe dry. The same can be done by replacing the eggshells with garlic peels.

Soda and vinegar for darkening

These two ingredients are available in every kitchen, so you don't have to buy anything extra to complete the cleaning procedure. You will need a liter of water and 50 grams of baking soda.

1. Stir baking soda into water.
2. Wipe the cupronickel accessories with the resulting soda solution until the darkening disappears.
3. To improve the effect, you can add salt.

Instead of soda, you can use one teaspoon of wine or table vinegar per 200 ml of water. True, such a simple solution has its drawback - vinegar will not be able to cope with stubborn dirt and blackness, but it is perfect for giving products a pleasant, clean look.

Why do products darken?

There are many reasons for the darkening of cupronickel objects:

1. Excessive air humidity;
2. Improper care and storage.

Each product made of cupronickel requires special care and cleaning. The peculiarity of such dishes is that food particles can get into microcracks on its surface or relief patterns. This can significantly reduce the visual appeal of the product. And high humidity, in addition, greatly affects the oxidation process of the cupronickel surface.

This is due to the copper content in this alloy. Therefore, such things should be stored exclusively in dry places . After washing the dishes, you need to diligently wipe them from any remaining drops of water.

Remember, water is the worst enemy for cupronickel .