Tips

Cleaning:

Here are some tips that may be useful for making nontoxic silver or brass cleaners. They come from the book, Magic Brands, by Joey Green.

Brass/Copper cleaning or polishing:

• Mix equal parts of flour and salt with one teaspoon white vinegar to make a paste. Spread a thick layer on the brass and let dry. Wipe off paste and rinse clean.
• Make a paste with lemon juice and salt, scrub gently and rinse clean.
• Tarnish can be removed from copper (pots) with a soft cloth and Worcestershire Sauce.
• Clean tarnish from copper by rubbing it with ketchup.

Silver cleaning or polishing:

• Mix a thick paste of baking soda and water, apply to the silver with damp sponge, rub, rinse and buff dry..
• Mix 5 oz. of nonfat dry milk mix, 12 oz. of water, and one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let mixture stand overnight in the mixture, then rinse clean and dry.
• Use toothpaste to shine up silver. Rinse after applying a small film..
• Make a paste of corn starch and water. Apply with a damp cloth, let dry, then rub off with a cheesecloth.