How to Polish Scratches Out of Silver
- 1). Clean your silver item with soap and water and a soft cloth. Then dry it completely. This initial wash removes any possible accumulation of food, old polish and oils from hands.
- 2). Create a runny paste using fine calcium carbonate, also called "whiting," mixed with equal amounts of ethyl or denatured alcohol and distilled water, as recommended by the Benson Ford Research Center.
- 3). Rub the polish mixture onto the silver in gentle circles.
- 4). Use cotton swabs to polish corners, crevices and other hard to reach areas.
- 5). Wash and rinse carefully. Residual polish left on silver will cause deterioration and corrosion.
- 6). Rinse one additiona; time. For this final rinse, the Benson Ford Research Center recommends using ethanol or ethanol mixed with distilled water.