Saving Silver

As you know if you read my blog, 

I am decorating and coordinating a wedding in a couple of months.

We are on an extreme budget, so I am constantly looking for ways to save some money.

Someone gave me a very old set of wedding cake utensils for free...

Here's why...

And this was after I used two different store bought tarnish removers...

Here's another look:

This was after I started my little "experiment".

Materials:

• clean, empty sink or large baking dish
• aluminum foil
• sodium chloride (table salt)
• sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
• very very hot water
• clean towel for buffing

How To Do It:

1. Place your foil shiny side up in the bottom of your baking dish while you heat up your water.
2. When water is almost boiling, add 2 tsp each of the salt & baking soda and mix thoroughly.
3. Add your water and your tarnished silver, each piece needs to be touching each other and the foil.
4. Next soak you silver, it should only take a few minutes for the chemical reaction to start...
5. Watch your tarnish go bye-bye!
6. When the tarnish is gone, wipe with a clean dry towel to remove the loosened tarnish.
7. Always store silver pieces in a cool, dry place away from ANY moisture.

Here's the experiment in action....can you see the steam rising?

And the final result?

Almost like brand new, huh?

Wanna see what came off of there?

Ummmmm......gross.