How To Use Milk To Polish Your Silverware To A Perfect Sheen

Sometimes silver jewelry and cutlery can appear copper due to elements in the air, such as sulfur and moisture, corroding the silver. This natural occurrence causes the shiny objects to slowly turn yellow and black, a process known as tarnishing. Regular polishing is required to restore the items to their former glory. Luckily, you can use an ingredient commonly found in your fridge to buff your precious pieces and return them to their original shine.

Milk is the best way to clean your silverware using on-hand materials, as its lactic acid eats away at the tarnish coating. Cow's milk is preferred for this experiment, as popular non-dairy milks like almond and oat typically do not have the acidic properties necessary to dissolve corrosion. However, coconut milk does contain lactic acid and may be effective in removing tarnish. To bring your old silverware back to life, you will need sour milk, a microfiber cloth, a glass container, soap, and water. The process is simple, and the results are impressive.

There are creative ways to use milk in your garden and home. For this silver-cleaning operation, sour milk is the key. However, if your milk hasn't soured yet, you can speed up the process by adding one tablespoon of white vinegar to one cup of milk in a glass container. Add your silver trinkets and let them soak for 30 minutes. Afterward, wash the silverware with dish soap and water, and dry with a cloth.

If you don't have any liquid milk on hand, you can use powdered milk instead. Mix three cups of water, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and one cup of powdered milk in your container. Leave your silver to soak overnight, and let the acids do the work. Lastly, rinse with soapy water and dry your silver for the perfect sheen. Remember to discard the used milk afterward.