To make pewter shine like silver, you typically need to clean and polish its surface to remove tarnish and restore its luster. According to the provided reference, one effective method involves using a homemade paste.
Polishing Pewter with a Homemade Paste
A simple yet effective way to bring a shine to your pewter pieces, making them resemble silver, is by using a paste made from common household ingredients. This method targets the surface dullness and tarnish that accumulate over time.
Creating the Polishing Paste
Based on the reference, the specific paste recipe is:
- Combine: 1 cup distilled white vinegar
- With: 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Mix these two ingredients together until they form a consistent paste.
Application and Polishing Steps
Once the paste is ready, follow these steps:
- Apply: Using a soft cloth, apply the paste to the surface of the pewter item.
- Polish: Work the paste into the surface using gentle circular motions.
- Let Sit: Allow the paste to remain on the pewter for 30 minutes. This dwell time permits the cleaning agents in the paste to act on the tarnish.
- Rinse: After the 30 minutes have passed, thoroughly rinse the pewter item with clean water.
- Dry: Dry the piece completely with a clean, soft cloth to prevent water spots.
Why This Method Works
The distilled white vinegar in the paste is acidic. This acidity helps to dissolve or lift the layer of tarnish (typically metal oxides or sulfides) that forms on the surface of pewter over time, which is what causes it to look dull. The flour acts as a mild abrasive and a binding agent, helping the vinegar stay in contact with the surface and providing gentle scrubbing action to aid in removing the loosened tarnish. The combination effectively cleans the surface, allowing the underlying metal's shine to be revealed, resulting in a finish that can appear similar to polished silver.
This process revitalizes the pewter, bringing back its natural gleam and achieving that desirable silver-like brilliance.
