Polishing of metal

Most types of metals become dull over time. Fortunately, there are ways to polish metal and restore their shine.

Silver jewelry can become dull or black over time. There are several ways to polish silver to make it look as good as new.

Silver polish can be purchased at most drugstores or online. Silver polish is a liquid specifically made to clean silver items. You only need to rub it on the item with an old, soft cloth, and the silver will regain its shine. However, using this liquid on items with many small details or engravings is challenging, as the liquid can accumulate in the grooves and leave a white residue. Nowadays, you can also buy silver polishing cloths, which are a better option for detailed items.

Another way to polish silver is by using toothpaste. Just like with silver polish, you need a soft cloth to rub the toothpaste over the item. Make sure you have cleaned all the toothpaste and that it does not accumulate in the grooves, as this will leave a residue.

The oils on your skin, as well as water, will affect bronze, brass, and copper, causing them to tarnish. However, it is quite simple to polish items made from these materials.

Most drugstores sell copper polish, which also works for bronze and brass. Copper polish is a liquid that you can rub over items with an old, soft cloth. This will restore the item's shine. If you want to polish an item with many details or engravings, it is better to use a copper polishing cloth instead of the liquid. The liquid is difficult to remove from the grooves and can leave a white residue if not fully rubbed in.

Tomato ketchup (or tomato sauce or paste) can also be used to clean bronze, brass, and copper. Tomatoes contain an acid that breaks down the tarnish on these materials. You can simply soak small items in a bowl of ketchup. Wash off the ketchup after about an hour with warm water and mild soap.

It can be difficult to soak larger items, so you can simply coat the item with ketchup and let it sit for an hour. After that hour, you can wash the item with warm water and mild soap.

Rust and small scratches can appear on steel items when they are used. There are some quick and easy ways to polish out small imperfections from steel items.

Just as there are silver and copper polishes, there is also steel and metal polish. This polish is a paste that you need to rub in with a soft cloth to remove small amounts of rust and scratches. If a steel item is very rusty, this is not sufficient. You must first remove the rust, about which you can find more information here: Maintenance of steel and metal

A cheap alternative to steel polish is toothpaste. Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, which means it can gently scrape away small amounts of rust and remove superficial scratches. It is advisable to try this first on a less visible spot, as some brands of toothpaste are more aggressive than others. Use a soft cloth to rub the toothpaste onto the steel. Do not rub the toothpaste too hard, or you may end up with a shinier finish than intended.

When you are finished polishing your steel, it is advisable to oil the steel or use a anti-rustspray to ensure the polished finish stays looking nice for longer.