THE ELECTEOLYTIC METHOD OF CLEANING SILVEE. H 



good abrasive x^olisli only as often as may be desirable to restore the 

 burnished appearance. 



A combination of the two methods is sometimes used by adding one 

 or two teaspoonfiils of finely powdered whiting to each quart of the 

 cleaning solution, and after removal the silver is allowed to dry 

 without being rinsed. The film of whiting which adheres to it is 

 then rubbed off with a soft cloth. This has the advantage of con- 

 venience, but the polish obtained is not so bright as when the two 

 methods are used separately. 



After one has tried both methods of cleaning silver it is obvious 

 that much less labor is involved in the use of the electrolytic than 

 the polishing method. As sodium carbonate in the form of washing 

 soda and table salt are to be found in most homes, and since a small 

 piece of aluminum or zinc can be purchased for a few cents, the cost 

 of the two methods need not differ very much. 



A HOUSEHOLD METHOD. > 



The details of a satisfactory method for household use are essen- 

 tially as follows: An enamel or agate ware dish should be partly 

 filled with a cleaning solution of 1 teaspoonful of either washing or 

 baking soda and 1 teaspoonful of common table salt to each quart 

 of water and placed directly on the stove to boil. A sheet of alumi- 

 num or clean zinc should then be dropped into the dish and the 

 tarnished silver placed in contact with this metal. It is best that 

 the silver be entirely covered with the cleaning solution and that 

 the solution remain at the boiling temperature. As soon as the tar- 

 nish has been removed the silver should be removed, rinsed in clean 

 water, and wiped with a soft cloth. 



Aluminum corrodes quickly in the cleaning solution, so that 

 aluminum dishes of any value for culinary purposes should never 

 be used. Aluminum ware, which would otherwise be thrown away, 

 or any inexpensive piece of the metal, will serve very satisfactorily 

 for cleaning silver. Zinc may be used in place of aluminum, but 

 it becomes corroded and inactive in a much shorter time. Unless it 

 is possible to o];tain a strong acid, such as muriatic acid, in which 

 the activity of the zinc may be frequently renewed, it is inadvisable 

 to try tf) employ this metal in the electrolytic method for cleaning 

 silver. 



SUMMARY. 



Expeiiiiieiits'liinc shown that llic coiimiercial devices for cleaning 

 silver Ijv tlic action of nhiiiiimmi in solutions of soda are generally 

 satisfact(^ry. Zinc is less satisfactory than aluminum because it 



