How to clean cupronickel spoons. How to clean cupronickel at home. Cleaning cupronickel products with foil

04.03.2020

Over time, cutlery made of stainless steel, cupronickel or other alloys inevitably tarnish. Currently, there are many household chemicals used to restore the original shine to spoons, forks and knives. However, housewives often prefer proven folk methods, since they are not so aggressive, do not cause allergies, and the necessary components are always at hand.

When cleaning cutlery, difficulties may arise if there are grooves, embossed patterns on the handles. In such areas, dirt and plaque easily accumulate, and blackness appears. For these cases, soaking and boiling are used.

Attention! To clean cutlery from plaque, abrasive substances must not be used, as micro-scratches will appear, which will permanently spoil the appearance of the product.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel devices are quite unpretentious and durable. But with insufficient care, they are covered with a bloom and have an unpresentable appearance.

In order to clean stainless steel products, there are several proven folk methods:

Soda

Simple soda will help to get rid of tea plaque on spoons, and it is better to slightly moisten it before the procedure to a state of gruel, then cleaning the products will not affect the state of the metal.

Boiling

To do this, you need to prepare a solution of salt, soda and water. The first components - 1 tbsp. l., water - 1 l, mix all this, immerse the devices. Duration of boiling on low heat - 30 minutes. Then drain the water and rinse under running water. After such a procedure, blackening will disappear even from the most intricate patterns. To enhance the effect, put foil on the bottom of the pan.

Soda and mustard

Use a mixture of baking soda and mustard to remove dark stains. They need to be taken in 1 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. Immerse stainless steel products in the solution for half an hour, then additionally clean with a toothbrush.

Vinegar

To rid stainless steel appliances of the white bloom that forms from hard water, you should use vinegar. Wipe the spoons with a soft cloth dipped in acetic acid and leave in this form for half an hour. Then rinse. The acid will dissolve the salt deposits and return the shine to the appliances.

Advice! If there are a large number of devices, to save time, you can prepare a vinegar solution from 100 ml of vinegar and 1 liter of water and soak spoons and forks in it for 15-20 minutes.

Potatoes or onions

An onion or potato can help polish. Peel the selected vegetable, cut and rub the cutlery with it, then polish with a soft cloth, rinse in running water, wipe dry.

Cupronickel spoons and forks

Products made of cupronickel, which is an alloy of copper and nickel, are more susceptible to oxidation than others. Upon contact with air, and especially with moisture, a film forms on the surface of the metal, which means that cupronickel knives, spoons and forks quickly fade and become covered with a dark coating. Such cutlery today is a real rarity, our grandmothers loved them. But even now, having found such a rare thing in the closet, the question arises of how to clean it.

To clean cupronickel products, you can use household chemicals, but very carefully. An excellent alternative is traditional cleaning methods that use universal soda, salt, and vinegar.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a universal cleaning agent that is always in the kitchen, it is suitable for all tableware, including spoons. Options for cleaning cupronickel cutlery:

Dissolve 50 g of baking soda in 1 liter of water. Using this solution and a soft sponge, rinse the dishes, then rinse in cool water.
Old grease stains will help remove gruel from baking soda and water. Apply it on a washcloth and rub actively. Alternatively, you can take extra salt, the main thing is that it is fine enough.
Boil in soda-salt solution as described for stainless steel spoons.

Ammonia

To get rid of darkening and stains, ammonia will help.

The cleaning procedure is as follows:

Pour 1 tsp into warm water in a volume of 1 liter. ammonia, mix.
Immerse the cutlery in the solution for 20 minutes, you do not need to exceed the period.
After the allotted time, rinse under running water.
Dry thoroughly with a towel so that no moisture remains on the spoons.

Eggshell decoction

An eggshell decoction will help to clean cupronickel products from blackness. Few people know a similar effective method used by our grandmothers. The algorithm is as follows:

Thoroughly grind the shell of 3 eggs into powder.
Pour water into a wide saucepan, immerse the items so that the water completely covers them.
After boiling, add egg powder and 1 tbsp. l salt.
Boil spoons for 5 minutes, do not overdo it.
Remove devices and rinse in cold water.
Wipe dry.

Food foil

With darkening that other products do not take, foil can cope. For devices made of cupronickel, a sheet of foil is required and the cleaning process looks like this:

The volume of the solution depends on the number of spoons, forks, knives. For every liter of water, you will need 5 tbsp. l. soda. They need to be dissolved in warm water.
Boil the solution, immerse the foil cut into strips and cutlery in it, put the foil on top.
Boil for 30 minutes on low heat, then turn it off and leave in a saucepan until it cools down, this may take several hours.
It remains only to remove the devices from the solution and wipe it with a towel.

This is a very simple way to wash even the most neglected cupronickel products to a shine.

Chalk polishing

Chalk will help to remove minor traces of darkening and polish the cupronickel spoons at home. It should be crushed into powder and rub all contaminated areas with a damp cloth and powder. This option for cleaning cupronickel products will only help if the blackening is fresh. After the procedure, rinse with warm water.

Important! After such cleaning, you should carefully wipe the appliances so that dark spots do not reappear.

How to clean gilded appliances

Cupronickel spoons with gilding look gorgeous, but only when they are looked after. To clean gilded spoons, use wine vinegar, turpentine, egg white.

The cleaning process is extremely simple - moisten a cotton pad in the chosen product and wipe the devices, including in areas with gilding. Treat each area as efficiently as possible. If egg white is used, then it must first be whipped into a stable foam.

After using any of these products, you must rinse the products under running water and wipe dry.

How to avoid black plaque on cupronickel products

Cupronickel cutlery is unlikely to be used on a daily basis, so they need to be stored correctly. Adhere to the following guidelines to keep such items from darkening:

Spoons should be stored in cling film, and each should be wrapped separately. This will minimize air access to them. Alternatively, you can wrap it in foil or parchment, the main thing is that they do not touch each other.
After use, wash immediately and wipe off moisture thoroughly.
It is better not to use household chemicals for cupronickel, since they cannot be cleaned as efficiently as the above means.
The best storage place is a dark case.
Do not use chlorine bleach for washing - they will ruin the spoons forever.
To restore the shine, you can polish the spoons with a special paste, which is used in jewelry workshops for silver.

Cupronickel spoons are a real rarity, and every year they will be more and more valuable, so it is important to maintain their attractive appearance and know how to do it.

To clean as little as possible, you should follow these recommendations:

Wash immediately, do not allow food debris to dry on them.
If the food is still dry, then before washing - soak for 15 minutes in warm water.
It is better not to use hard, including metal scouring pads. They leave micro scratches in which dirt will get stuck in the future.
After each wash, spoons and forks should be thoroughly rinsed and wiped dry.

How to quickly clean cutlery made of stainless steel, cupronickel and silver (video)

In every house there is probably at least one item made of cupronickel. And those who have such devices know how difficult it can be to clean them from darkening. But, unfortunately, not everyone has an idea of how to clean cupronickel cutlery at home in order to spend a minimum of time on it. In this article, we will try to describe as thoroughly as possible how this can be done.

Twelve rules for the care of cupronickel

In order for cupronickel spoons to always sparkle with cleanliness, it is not at all necessary to buy expensive special products and spend a lot of time. All this can be done with the help of available universal tools, which are always in every home.

Soda cleaning

Products made of cupronickel, which have a low degree of contamination, will be enough after washing, just rinse in a solution of soda. It is prepared in a proportion of 50 grams of soda per 1 liter of water.

Important! Such rinsing is recommended after each use of cupronickel products. Then you do not have to search for an answer to the question of how to clean cupronickel cutlery at home, when they are thoroughly blackened.

You can also apply baking soda to a dishwashing sponge, which must be moistened first. Farther:

Polish items with this product.
Rinse in cool water.
Dry with a dry towel.

Cleaning with alcohol

If your appliances are only slightly dull, it will be sufficient to wipe them down with a piece of cloth soaked in alcohol or vodka.

Removing damp stains

Dark stains from dampness should be removed with warm vinegar:

Mix one teaspoon in one glass of water.
Soak a woolen cloth in it and wipe the appliances.
Then rinse with clean water and dry.

Chalk polishing

You can clean cupronickel at home from blackness using chalk. To do this, take chalk and soap in equal proportions:

Dissolve the soap in hot water, add chalk.
Stir well until a homogeneous thick mass is obtained.
With the resulting mass, polish the surface, and then wipe it off with a dry cloth.

Important! You can also prepare another version of the thick polishing paste. To prepare it, do the following: in half a glass of water, add 30 g of chalk, 60 g of ammonia (ammonia). With the resulting mixture, polish cupronickel devices to a shine.

Eggshell decoction

At a time when cupronickel has already had time to tarnish properly, a heavier cleaning method may be needed. In order to achieve the best possible effect:

Before starting a thorough cleaning, rinse the appliances with lukewarm water using normal soapy water.
Prepare an eggshell decoction. To do this, you will need: 1 liter of water, a shell of two raw eggs.
Bring the broth to a boil, and then dip cupronickel spoons there for a few minutes.
Rinse them after cleaning under running water, wipe them dry.

Potato broth

Dip the cupronickel spoons into warm potato broth and hold them there for 15-20 minutes. Then remove, rinse and wipe dry.

Important! This method is the mildest, and is often used for items with gilding or blackening.

Garlic husk decoction

Another popular method that will definitely suit you if you are looking for a remedy than to clean cupronickel cutlery at home. In this case, we use garlic peels:

Pour the husk in large quantities with water.
When the broth has already boiled, put the devices in it and boil until it shines.

Important! The boiling time depends on the degree of darkening of cupronickel - the more black bloom, the more time it will take.

Foil

This is the most effective way to remove dark plaque from cupronickel appliances. This method involves boiling in an aluminum pan with foil and soda. This is done like this:

Place a sheet of foil on the bottom of the pan, and on it the cutlery.
Fill with hot water in a volume of 1 liter.
Pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda there and boil.

There is another option:

Take any basin, you can even use a plastic one. The main requirement is that it can withstand boiling water.
Cover the bottom of the basin with foil.
Place the items on foil and cover with about 1.5 tablespoons of baking soda.
Pour boiling water over - the devices must be completely in the water.
After cleaning, rinse in clean water, wipe very dirty areas with a sponge.

Sodium thiosulfate solution

For heavily darkened products, the following recommendations are suitable: Prepare a sodium thiosulfate solution - it is sold at the pharmacy.

Dissolve 10 ml of sodium thiosulfate in 30 ml of water.
First, wash the devices in warm water and soap, this is extremely important.
Then, while they are still warm, wipe with a swab of solution, rinse with water and dry.

Electrolysis

There is also a galvanic cleaning method. It is very complex, but at the same time, extremely effective. A current source is required to use this method.

Follow these instructions and you will easily cope with the task of how to clean cupronickel at home from blackness:

Take glassware, pour water into it, lower cupronickel cutlery and another metal object, such as a nail or a spoon.
Connect a minus to the object you are cleaning, and a plus to an additional object.
The cleaning time depends on the magnitude of the voltage. For example, if the voltage is 24V, the spoon will be clean in just 1 second.

Important! Do not forget about safety precautions when working with current. If you are not sure that you can handle it, it is better to choose another method.

Household chemicals

Household chemicals are also used to clean cupronickel devices. For example:

Polymet paste;
emulsion "Amethyst";
"Sif-gel".

You can also purchase special wipes in jewelry stores, designed specifically for wiping cupronickel jewelry.

Important! Be sure to thoroughly rinse the appliances with water after you finish cleaning the products with household chemicals.

Storage of cupronickel

Store cupronickel products tightly wrapped in foil or cling film - this will help protect them from the rather aggressive effects of oxygen. If you do this, cutlery and your favorite cupronickel jewelry will retain their unique shine for a long time.

Why does the metal start to darken?

There are several reasons due to which the products of their cupronickel begin to darken. You need to know about them, so that it is easier to organize the care of such things and you do not have to spend a lot of time cleaning them.

These reasons include:

improper care of products;
storage in improper conditions;
high level of humidity.

Cupronickel cutlery was popular in the last century, and is still preserved by many housewives among the dishes. But every woman knows that over time they darken ugly, so the question arises of how to clean cupronickel at home quickly and effectively in order to return them to their original shine and beauty. There are many tools and methods to help you with this.

Cupronickel is similar to silver, but due to improper storage and rare use, this material turns black and loses its attractiveness. High humidity in the kitchen contributes to the appearance of stains and streaks on the appliances. Cleaning cupronickel at home should be competent and regular, then this darkening can be avoided. Moreover, there are quite a lot of funds that effectively deal with the contamination of devices.

Cupronickel spoon before and after cleaning

Store cleaning products

The modern chemical industry offers many gels and powders that allow you to quickly return cupronickel devices to their original purity and shine. It is best to use liquid products or special wipes soaked in a cleaning agent, as the powder can damage the surface of the products. The most popular among them are the "Metal Cleaner" of the Israeli company Bagi and Sanita "Ultra Shine". As a rule, their use involves the usual washing of dishes without the need for additional effort.

In addition, the chemical compositions for cleaning cupronickel leave a protective film layer on the devices, which prevents their further darkening and deterioration. Therefore, the use of gels and cleaners for cupronickel is the best way to renew blackened cupronickel. But if you can't buy them, you can use household time-tested cleaning methods.

How to clean cupronickel with baking soda

A simple and effective household method that will help return cupronickel appliances to their cleanliness and shine is to use regular baking soda. The only nuance of using this method at home is that soda copes with small and not old dirt. It is best to use it as a prophylaxis for darkening cupronickel. That is, after washing the dishes, forks and spoons must be rinsed in a solution with soda. To prepare it, you need to dilute 50 g of powder in 1 liter of warm water.

Cupronickel is an alloy of copper and nickel, sometimes with additions of iron and manganese. There are alloys with the addition of zinc and silver.

Outwardly, this unusual metal is similar to silver, but it comes in different shades, depending on the composition of the alloy. If a little silver is included in the composition, then new items from cupronickel can hardly be distinguished from pure silver.

Cupronickel is a very ancient metal that was known as early as the 3rd century BC. In those distant times, an alloy of copper with nickel was called nothing else than "white copper". According to historical evidence, the metal got its name in honor of the sorcerer Melchior, who came to worship the newborn Jesus.

Fans of cupronickel admit that they feel especially comfortable in these jewelry. They seem to warm, emitting some kind of special, radiant energy.

The magical properties of cupronickel

Cupronickel is patronized by the planet of love Venus and Saturn. As a result of such a union, the metal is characterized by inexhaustible and balanced energy, therefore it is often used when performing magical rituals.

Cupronickel is considered the metal of wisdom, which gives this quality to its owners. Cupronickel jewelry is most suitable for Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces.

Metal has a powerful effect on a person - it increases the concentration of thoughts, opens up new areas of activity. The strong energy of the alloy is provided by its composition. The metal adds a sense of balance and stability. Cupronickel jewelry is recommended for people with a soft character, melancholic and contradictory natures. This will help them become more decisive, solid, keep themselves within strict limits, and work more productively and orderly. But for people who are too tough in character, cupronickel gives such qualities as insight, understanding and patience.

Cupronickel is widespread throughout the world. In many countries it is called "German silver", because at one time it was the Germans who produced it in large quantities. Cutlery and decorations are most often made from cupronickel. Most of the modern silver coins are made from cupronickel. This is an excellent replacement for silver - the cost of the alloy is lower, the strength characteristics are higher. The mechanical strength of cupronickel is several times higher than silver, which means that jewelry does not deform - such jewelry cannot be demolished for decades.
Cupronickel has its own special charm. Artists-jewelers create real masterpieces from this energetically powerful and durable metal. Fantastic combination of color and texture are amethyst earrings made of cupronickel. The traditionally recognized classic is turquoise in cupronickel. All shades of agate look very gentle in a cupronickel frame. Noble pomegranate, sunny citrine, transparent quartz, and radiant tourmaline look spectacular in this design.

Cupronickel acts as an excellent natural regulator and has a positive effect on many stones: it improves, strengthens and fully reveals their properties. Stones with a calm energy cupronickel activates. Too aggressive stones soothes, harmonizes their harsh nature. Cupronickel alloy is a very useful filter for natural stones.

Cupronickel earrings and rings in ethnic style look incredibly interesting. With a silver or bronze tint, cupronickel jewelry is very similar to silver or bronze with a patina. They look almost like ancient artifacts that archaeologists find during excavations. A noble and very unusual shade.
A particularly valuable property of cupronickel is its very high anti-corrosion properties. Metal does not rust both in air and in water, including sea water. Corrosion resistance is provided by nickel and iron additives, which are in the alloy. This is a very important quality of the alloy, thanks to which your earrings or rings will retain their original appearance for many years.

The silvered surface of cupronickel has not only excellent aesthetic characteristics, but also unique antiseptic properties. It is not for nothing that table silver has always been present in the homes of wealthy people from time immemorial. Silver ions effectively take care of your health, strengthen immunity and protect against infections. All the positive qualities of cupronickel are added to the excellent brilliance and healing properties of silver. Due to the high plasticity of cupronickel, jewelers are provided with almost unlimited opportunities to create unique jewelry with sophisticated patterns and ornaments. Openwork earrings, ornamental rings - such products leave no one indifferent.

In addition to the traditional cupronickel silver and dark gray shades, gilded cupronickel can often be found in jewelry jewelry. Moreover, gilding is applied using both the spraying technology and the cladding method - applying a layer by a thermomechanical method with a thickness of at least 1 micron. Plating is more resistant to abrasion than spraying. With a gold coating, cupronickel product retains its golden hue for a very long time, even with daily intensive wear. In addition, such products are non-allergenic and absolutely safe.

Cupronickel jewelry is very easy and simple to clean. You can do it yourself at home. Professionals use special means for cleaning cupronickel products: all kinds of solutions, pastes, polishes, etc. These can be purchased at jewelry stores.

Cupronickel jewelry is cleaned in a mild soapy solution with a soft cloth. Contamination from cupronickel is also removed using a cotton swab dipped in vodka, alcohol or an aqueous solution of ammonia. After any kind of cleaning, rinse and dry the jewelry well.

Today cupronickel is less common. Despite the outward resemblance to silver, they prefer not to use it or get it only on special occasions. The reason is the rapid loss of festive brilliance. Products darken, stains form on them.

The reason for the darkening

Cupronickel is an alloy of metals, one of which is copper. It oxidizes quickly when exposed to moisture. Unaesthetic plaque appears on appliances or jewelry. To avoid this trouble, you need to adhere to the recommendations for caring for cupronickel products:

do not use chlorine-containing products for washing;
clean off food debris;
wipe dry after cleaning;
store without moisture.

Cupronickel products cannot be washed in a dishwasher. After such cleaning, they will darken. Better to clean by hand in warm water with the addition of shavings from laundry soap.

Modern means

If the items are darkened, you can quickly freshen them up. For this, special care products for cupronickel items are produced. They come in the form of a liquid, gel or napkins soaked in a special solution. It is enough to follow the instructions indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Some of the substances can protect objects from moisture by covering them with a thinnest protective layer.

For cleaning, ordinary kitchen powders and creams are also suitable. But they should not contain aggressive components.

Homemade recipes

If there is no special remedy or there is no desire to use "harmful chemistry", you can use folk remedies.

Baking soda. It needs to be moistened to a paste. Apply to a soft cloth and clean the product from darkening.
Ethanol. It can be replaced with vodka without dyes or flavors. It is enough to moisten the sponge with alcohol and wipe the dark areas.
Ammonia. It is necessary to fill them with objects for 20 minutes. Then rinse well under running water.
Vinegar. With the same effectiveness against blackness, you can use natural apple or 9% essence. One teaspoon of the substance is poured into a glass of water. The resulting solution is treated with cupronickel spoons and forks.
Laundry soap. It is necessary to apply on a soft toothbrush and clean the "problem" areas.
Raw chicken egg white. They moisten a napkin and wipe cupronickel. The product is soft, therefore it is suitable for products with gilding. It will clean up stains without damaging the finish.

Regardless of the chosen method of cleaning, cupronickel products must be rinsed with clean water before and after the procedure. And then wipe dry.

Removing old stains

When you have to clean an old service or the dirt is too persistent, you can resort to more complex procedures. Cleaning will take time, but the results will be more noticeable.

Eggshell

Grind the shells from four chicken eggs and pour into a saucepan.
Pour 2 liters of water and put on fire
After boiling, add a tablespoon of salt.
Dip cupronickel products into the solution.
Boil over low heat until desired result is obtained (about ten minutes).

Aluminium foil

Cover the bottom of the pan or stewpan with foil.
Pour in two tablespoons of baking soda and salt.
Pour boiling water over with a liter and put on fire.
After the foam has subsided, put cupronickel products.
After about ten minutes, the foil will begin to blacken, and the products, on the contrary, will become light.

Foil can also be used to refresh gold and silver items. But the method is not suitable for cleaning thin coatings of these metals. One procedure is enough for processing jewelry or small cutlery. Antique coins or cups with complex patterns will have to be processed several times.

Decoction of potatoes or pasta

Cook two or three potatoes or a handful of noodles in 1 liter of water in the standard way.
Remove the products, and put cupronickel in the broth.
Leave for several hours under a closed lid.
When the broth darkens, the products will be clean.

For cleaning, items made of cupronickel can be placed in carbonated drinks such as Coca-Cola for several hours.

Shine

When all stains and plaque have been removed, the shine can be restored to the products. Polishing will help to give cupronickel shine. Use a flannel cloth or other soft tissue. Apply a polishing paste to it and treat the surface.
The paste can be bought ready-made or made yourself from the following components.

Chalk and soap. Chalk powder and soap shavings are combined in a 1: 1 ratio. Dilute with water to form a paste.
Chalk and ammonia. One part of chalk and two parts of ammonia solution are mixed until a homogeneous slurry. Dilute with water if necessary.
Toothpaste and powder. They can be used separately or mixed.

After polishing, cupronickel is washed under running water and wiped dry.