Metalchior products are a budget option for beautiful cutlery, outwardly indistinguishable from silverware. The main, noticeable difference is only the marking, otherwise high-quality Soviet cutlery made of cupronickel was produced according to the same models as those made from silver. Needless to say, the cutlery looks incomparable, however, when polished to a shine.
Melchior darkens, silver, of course, too, but not so fast, and all owners of cupronickel spoons face this problem. In this article, we propose to find out how to clean cupronickel, returning the products to a decent look.
Why does cupronickel darken?
Before we tell you how to clean cupronickel with cheap home remedies, I would like to explain why cupronickel darkens so quickly. The fact is that an alloy of metalstends to form dark oxides in contact with certain substances. Here's a little tip so that dishes, cutlery and other items do not turn black so quickly: after washing, wipe them thoroughly with a dry, soft cloth, terry towel. Each drop of water that has dried on the surface of the product, one way or another, will leave its mark - a dark spot. May cause dark spots and food residue left in inconspicuous depressions on the surface.
Here is the answer to the exciting question: in order to clean cupronickel from blackness, it is necessary to remove the film of oxides from the surface of the product. But how do you do it?
We present to your attention a small informative overview of ways to clean cupronickel cutlery and other products with chemicals from the store and improvised means at home.
Cleaning products
The chemical industry provides a wide range of different products to properly care for household items, including metal cleaners. Therefore, the first answer to the question of how to clean cupronickel is to use household chemicals.
The choice of products that specialize specifically in cleaning metal utensils, including cupronickel, is quite wide. The assortment can include detergents: liquid soap, gel, powder, soft wipes impregnated with a special composition are also very convenient for cleaning cupronickel products.
In addition, household chemical stores can present yourattention to the choice of means not only for cleaning, but also for protection against darkening, which cover the products with a protective layer, protecting cupronickel from oxidation.
When wondering how to clean cupronickel and make it shine, turn your attention to tools such as:
- "Metal Cleaner" from "Bugs";
- Ultrashine Cream by Sanita;
- Gel Cif;
- Polymet pasta;
- emulsion "Amethyst".
You've probably seen these metal cleaners before, they do a great job with food and grease residues, with dried dirt, they are also great helpers in the fight against stains on silver and cupronickel.
Cleaning with home remedies: product preparation
You can cope with blackness not only with the help of chemistry, but also armed with home remedies: soda, foil, eggshells or lemon.
But before cleaning cupronickel from blackness, it must be properly processed by removing dirt and grease from the products. To do this, pour ordinary dish detergent into a large saucepan, pour boiling water over it and lather.
Lay out cupronickel products and leave for a day. Stir objects in water, and if they are very dirty, then heat the water several times with them.
The next day, wipe off all the dirt from them, armed with a soft toothbrush. Rinse the cleaned items under clean running water and pat dry. Now they are ready to move on.
Foil, s alt,soda
Let's start with the simplest and most affordable way that can cope with a hundred-year-old plaque, returning products to their original appearance.
So, how to clean cupronickel? To do this, take a pan and cover its bottom with a thick layer of foil. Fold cupronickel products on it and pour three tablespoons of soda and s alt on them. Pour enough water on them to cover the products, but no more. Then put on fire and boil for 15-20 minutes. You don’t have to worry about cutlery, the alloy perfectly tolerates high temperatures, which cannot be said about black traces - oxidation. When the utensils are cool, wipe them with paper towels, rinse with clean water, dry them dry and put them in a closed box.
Eggshell
In order to clean the cutlery, you will need quite a bit of shell, only 2-3 eggs. How to clean cupronickel with their help? Yes, very simple. Put the shell in a mortar and grind to tiny pieces, add a tablespoon of s alt there. Stir and pour into a saucepan. Pour an unusual mixture with a liter of water and bring to a boil. Dip cupronickel products into this water and boil for 3 minutes. Then drain the water, cool the products, rinse in clean water and wipe dry.
You can replace the egg shell with garlic peel, it is also effective.
Lemon and citric acid
To clean cupronickel, stock up on 100 g of citric acid or the juice of 3-4 lemons. Pour a liter of water into the pan, dissolve citric acid in it. Dip in the solution along with tableappliances and a piece of copper wire. Boil the products for 20 minutes on low heat, rinse and wipe dry. Citric acid is excellent at corroding traces of oxidation.
Cleaning with abrasives
When wondering how to clean cupronickel, you can turn to abrasive substances such as soda for help. Sandpaper for polishing is, of course, an effective tool, but, unfortunately, after it or other aggressive abrasive substances, the products will have to be thrown away, another thing is soda, tooth powder or paste, ammonia, vinegar or alcohol.
Take soda and water in a 1:1 ratio and stir them together into one liquid gruel, type it on a soft sponge or cloth. Wipe the product without pressing it hard. If cupronickel products have various patterns, notches, then take an old soft toothbrush to wipe the fine details of the corrugated surface.
Turpentine, vodka, alcohol, wine vinegar on a cotton pad is what you need to get rid of a small spot on cupronickel product, but it is not as effective as cleaning cupronickel in previous ways.
If you are wondering how to clean cupronickel from small stains, then it is better to use ammonia. Just dilute 3 tbsp. l. ammonia in a glass of water. Soak the utensils in the solution for 2 hours and then wipe thoroughly.
You can get rid of pronounced blackness with the help of concentrated ammonia and a cotton pad, however, few people use it because of the unpleasant persistent smell.
But alsoa variety of carbonated drinks and vinegar do an excellent job. Cola or sprite is what you need to get rid of blackness. It will take them a couple of hours to put your products in order.
How to restore the shine of products
We have learned how to clean cupronickel at home, but how can it return its former shine? Tooth powder or paste will help with this, which both clean and restore a presentable appearance. Put a little toothpaste on a cotton pad and rub the product until it shines. Rinse it with cold water, dry it and put it in a box.
You can replace oral hygiene products with chalk, however, it will have to be finely ground before cleaning - large pieces of chalk can scratch the surface of objects.
Return the shine can help a slice of raw potatoes. Cut the potatoes into thick slices and rub them on the cutlery until they are shiny. Of course, wash the potatoes before this from dirt.
How to save cupronickel cutlery
It is unlikely that the following tips will completely protect your appliances from oxidation, but by following them, you will extend your cupronickel products a presentable look. To make cutlery made of cupronickel last longer, you should:
- keep items dry;
- after using the utensils, soak them for 5-7 minutes in a soda solution;
- do not use "Whiteness" to wash them andother products containing chlorine-based substances;
- do not wash them in dishwashers;
- after washing, dry items with a clean towel;
- Store in sealed boxes wrapped in cling film or foil.
Such simple measures will help prolong the attractiveness of your cupronickel cutlery and other items.
Now you know how to clean cupronickel from blackness at home. As you can see, this is very simple to do, but it is much easier to properly use and care for the products, and if you follow the rules for use, they will serve and please the eye for a long time.
