Simple ways to remove tarnish and make silver shine again before Diwali

Diwali is only a few days away, and households have begun cleaning and decorating their homes. Cleanliness and decoration carry special importance during the festival. Silver coins, plates, lamps, bowls and jewellery used for Lakshmi Puja in particular are considered necessary to keep clean.

However, silver items left shut away in cupboards or home shrines for months turn black and lose their shine. Sulphur in the air, moisture and sweat leave a dark layer on silver. Before the Diwali puja, a few simple methods can easily bring back its old shine.

To clean ordinary silver items, mix a little mild liquid soap in lukewarm water. Keep the silver vessel or jewellery in the water for a short while and scrub it clean with a soft cloth or a very light brush. Then rinse it in clean water and wipe it with a dry, soft cloth. This method works very well for puja plates and bowls. For light stains, a special cloth available in the market, a silver cleaning cloth, is useful.

People often rush and scrub silver with toothpaste, baking soda or harsh chemicals. This is a big mistake. It strips the shine from silver and can leave permanent scratches. Jewellery with fine detailed work can be damaged by such methods. Only methods that are gentle on the surface should be used.

Silver items need care after the Diwali puja as well, so that their shine lasts a long time. After the puja, clean all the vessels and coins, dry them completely and store them in an airtight box or a cloth bag. It is always better to keep silver away from perfume, fragrant sprays and other household chemicals.

If these small but important tips are followed, your silver vessels and coins will look new and bright this Diwali.