THE ELECTROLYTIC METHOD OF CLEANING SILVER. 3 



efficient operation under household conditions. Preliminary tests 

 were made to determine the efficiency of some representative com- 

 mercial cleaners of this type and to study the nature of the metals 

 and electrolytes commonly used. 



PRELIMINARY TESTS. 



The first type of electrolytic cleaner to be tested consisted of a zinc 

 pan, on the bottom of which was fastened an ahmainum grating. 

 The directions furnished by the manufacturers for the use of this 

 device were followed. The tarnished silver was placed on the grat- 

 ing and the pan filled with a dilute solution of ordinary washing 

 soda and salt (1 teaspoonful of each to 1 quart of water) to such a 

 height that the silver was completely covered. The liquid was kept 

 at the boiling point until the tarnish disappeared from the silver, 

 which was then rinsed with hot water and wiped dry. From the 

 results of laboratory tests, in which a number of pieces of tarnished 

 silver were cleaned by this method, it was concluded that the appa- 

 ratus, although efficient, possessed no particular advantages over 

 other less expensive methods. If a large quantity of silver is to be 

 cleaned, however, the comparatively large capacity of the zinc pan 

 makes the apparatus convenient. A less expensive form of this 

 cleaner consists only of a zinc disk to the top of which are welded 

 some aluminum wire grids. This may be used in any kettle, or in a 

 wash boiler if large pieces of silver are to be cleaned. The silver 

 must be placed in direct contact with the wire grids. 



Still other cleaners are on the market which make use of pieces 

 of sheet metal of various shapes. In some cases the metal alone is 

 sold as the essential part of the " magical " method, and the instruc- 

 tions given with it state that the silver should be placed in contact 

 with the metal in l^oiling water containing a small amount of either 

 washing or baking soda or a mixture of one of these with common 

 salt. 



Other electrolytic cleaners consist of packages which contain a 

 strip of metal and a powder to be dissolved in water to form the 

 cleaning solution. Two of these were analyzed in the laboratory. 

 The metal proved to be very pure aluminum of the spun variety, 

 and the powder was found to consist essentially of a mixture of 

 so-da and salt. 



The cleaning tests conducted in the laboratory indicated that in 

 general tai'nished silver could be cleaned equally well by all of these 

 cornnierciiil devices. The adxantagcs of size and convenience pos- 

 sessed by some seemed to correspond in every case to an increased 

 market price, although the wide range in price makes ])()ssil)le th(^ 

 .selection of a cleaner to .suit a variety of conditions. These pre- 



