Cupronickel: how to clean cutlery? Video
Cupronickel cutlery and jewelry eventually darken and become covered with a brownish patina that cannot be washed with ordinary soap or dish detergent. But it is nevertheless quite simple to return cupronickel to its original shine.
Cupronickel does not darken from dirt: the patina is formed as a result of the natural oxidation of the metal in air. Therefore, it is better not to try to mechanically clean products from plaque using a hard sponge, soda, tooth powder or other abrasive agents: cupronickel will eventually brighten, but its surface will be covered with microscopic scratches. They are practically invisible to the eye, but after a few such rough cleanings, the metal will lose its silver shine.
Special restorative agents
Cupronickel is cleaned in the same way as silver. In jewelry stores, you can purchase special jewelry paste or wet wipes for cleaning and polishing silver jewelry. You can purchase a cleaning liquid to clean cupronickel earrings or rings – it will help restore metal in hard-to-clean areas.
Before cleaning, wash the cupronickel with a soft sponge and dish detergent – this will help get rid of grease and a layer of surface dirt
You can make your own reductant for oxidized silver plating. Purchase a sodium thiosulfate solution at the pharmacy and dilute it with water (one part sodium thiosulfate – three parts water), moisten a cotton swab in the resulting solution, process the products and leave for a few minutes to act.
After cleaning, rinse the garments with warm water and soap or detergent and wipe dry with a soft cotton cloth or microfiber cloth.
You can reanimate cupronickel with home recipes. Put a sheet of foil on the bottom of an enamel pot or basin, put cupronickel cutlery or dishes on top. Cover with hot water and add salt and baking soda (one tablespoon for every liter of water). Place on the stove and simmer for 10-15 minutes, then let the water cool. After such cleaning, even heavily blackened products regain their original shine.
If cupronickel has just begun to blacken and fade and does not yet give the impression of being heavily soiled, you can clean the products in a simpler way. Place the cutlery or decorations in the hot water you used to boil the potatoes or eggs and set aside overnight. By morning, there will be no trace of pollution.
After home cleaning, cupronickel must also be rinsed and wiped dry.
Cupronickel cutlery can be washed either by hand or in the dishwasher. After washing, wipe the items dry, store in special cases or boxes wrapped in a soft cloth, then they will darken more slowly.