Melchior is a beautiful metal that resembles silver in many ways. The attractive appearance of cupola became the basis for the manufacture of tableware, candlesticks, jewelry and other decorative elements. Wear-resistant, easy to care for and not very expensive, the alloy is appreciated and actively used in everyday life. In this article, we will tell you how to clean cupronic acid effectively at home.
Melchior as such does not exist in nature: in fact, it is a group of compounds made of copper with the addition of nickel, iron, zinc, manganese and some other metals. Most often, it is an alloy of copper and nickel, which has its own specific features and properties.
According to historical sources, nickel silver was invented in China in the 8th century BC and given the sonorous name “pakfong”. All attempts by European alchemists to unravel the composition of “Chinese silver” were unsuccessful: only at the beginning of the 19th century did mass production of cupric silver begin in Germany. At first, the European nobility considered such dishes “poor people’s dishes”, and therefore still preferred dishes made of other metals – gold and silver. It was not until the 20th century that production increased everywhere.
Is cupronickel harmful to health
There is an opinion that cupronic acid is dangerous for health. There is some truth in this, as copper inevitably oxidizes when it comes into contact with food. At the same time, there is nothing to worry about, since all cutlery is tinned – covered with tin or another composition that does not oxidize. Thus, claims about the harm of Melchior are unfounded.
On the contrary, it is believed that dishes made of cupronickel are good for the psyche. The unobtrusive, calm, noble luster of the alloy calms the nervous system, relieves tension and adjusts to a calm rhythm.
How to clean spoons, forks and other crockery
There are several standard rules for the care of cupronickel products, the implementation of which guarantees shine and cleanliness:
- Regularly wash the cutlery with a regular dishwashing gel.
- Use only soft sponges for cleaning.
- After washing, wipe the products thoroughly, do not leave any moisture on them.
- Rub the nickel silver with a microfiber cloth or velvet to add shine.
- It is advisable to store cupronickel in a dry place, wrapped in paper.
It happens that daily care is not enough. In this case, general cleaning with the use of active agents will help.
- Baking soda
Water is poured into a small container for boiling. Add two spoons of baking soda and boil. After boiling, the devices are immersed in water for 10 minutes. Then pull out and wash as usual with a sponge and detergent.
- Salt and eggshell
A liter of water is poured into an aluminum container. A large spoonful of salt and the same amount of crushed egg shells are added there. Drop the cup of silver into the water and wait for 2 minutes, then take it out and rub it with a dry towel.
There is another method using salt. Cover the bottom of a deep pan with foil. Place cupronickel objects on the foil. They are abundantly sprinkled with salt and a little water is added. They are left in such porridge for the night, and in the morning they are washed and dried.
- Household soap
To add freshness, it is necessary to prepare a soap composition: dissolve a shaving of household soap in warm water. Wash and dry the items.
- Vinegar
It will help if the silver has been in a wet state for a long time. They wipe the devices with them, and then rinse and dry them.
- Sugar
You can clean the cupric alloy with sweet water and sugar. Objects are lowered into it for 10 minutes, then cleaned, rinsed and rubbed.
- Onion juice
Also removes pollution. They need to wipe the appliances, and then continue washing in the usual way.
- Hydrogen peroxide
Removes even very stubborn dirt. It is used to wipe appliances, especially greased places on the handles and prongs of forks.
- Ammonia
A teaspoon of ammonia, ordinary shampoo and peroxide are mixed. Dirty products are wiped with the composition, after which everything is washed off. The alcohol solution acts similarly to peroxide. After such cleaning, the products acquire a second life.
Importantly! Melchior loves running, flowing water. It is necessary to rinse it after cleaning, regardless of the specific method. The temperature of the water should be cool, as the shine will disappear from hot water.
Special means
They must be free of chlorine and abrasive particles, which are harmful to the cupric alloy.
The most popular are the “Sif” gel, the “Amethyst” composition, the “Polymet” paste, and the “Fairy” cleansing gel. All these tools are used as regular cleaning at least 2 times a week. Chemistry must be washed off with running water, and the products are dried with a soft towel.
Importantly! Iron scourers should not be used when cleaning pewter, as they erase the coating and make the product hazardous to health. It is possible to clean the alloy with a sponge, a rough brush, dish towels. Rub the product with soft rags and microfiber.
How to add shine and remove blackness
Sometimes cupronickel knives and forks lose their former luster and begin to turn black. This is a common disadvantage of cupric alloy. The reason for the loss of color is often high humidity. The following methods will help here:
- Cleaning with soda. Baking soda is turned into gruel and rubbed on tableware. Then they are washed and dried, and if necessary, the procedure is repeated again.
- Use of ammonia. Devices are wiped with ammonia and rubbed to a shine with a dry napkin.
- Cleaning with chalk. Chalk and shavings of household soap are mixed with a liter of water in such a way that a saturated composition is obtained. Melchior is placed there and cleaned. After the procedure, everything is rinsed and dried.
- Eggshell will help remove old stains. The shell of two eggs is mixed with a liter of water and boiled. The devices are immersed in the hot solution for 20 minutes, then rinsed and dried.
- Potato decoction is good for getting rid of blackness. Products are dipped in boiling potato broth for at least a quarter of an hour, and then taken out. Everything is rinsed with clean water and rubbed to a shine.
- Garlic husks. It is added to boiling water and boiled. Place pewter spoons and forks there for a quarter of an hour, after which they begin to shine.
- Cleaning with food foil. An original and effective method. A sheet of foil is placed on the bottom of the aluminum container, and the devices are laid out on it. Everything is poured with a solution of baking soda and boiled. During this time, a reaction takes place, as a result of which the foil takes away the contamination. Then everything is washed under the tap and rubbed. Products will shine. Such cleaning with foil cannot be carried out with gold and silver coating, as it will inevitably suffer as a result of the reaction.
Melchior cleaning is a simple task that requires a minimum of effort and resources. The above cleaning methods are effective and safe. They guarantee high-quality care and a long service life of tableware.