The most common method of cleaning silver, is with pulverized whiting and whisky, or with spirits of wine, which is better; the whiting must be made as fine as possible, for if there are any coarse or rough particles among it, they will scratch the silver; you may powder it very finely, either by pounding it in a mortar, or by tying it up in a clean rag, and beating it with a hammer, after which, spread it thinly over a large plate, and place it before the fire to dry, then sift it through a piece of coarse book-muslin or leno, mix the whiting into a paste or cream, with whisky or spirits of wine, dip a flannel or sponge into it, and coat the silver all over with the mixture, after which, lay all the articles in the sun to dry, or place them on an old waiter before the fire, but not very near it; the paste must become so dry on the articles that you may dust it off them like flour, with a soft cloth, afterwards, with the smallest brush, rub between the prongs of the forks, and go over all the minute or delicate parts of the silver; the plain or unornamented parts are best rubbed with flannel, as they show the most trifling scratches; next polish with a buckskin or a chamois leather, and finish with a soft silk handkerchief; before you begin to clean your plate, wash it in boiling water, that no grease or syrup may remain on it.

Another Mode Of Cleaning Silver

Silver door-plates are most expeditiously cleaned with a weak solution of ammonia and water, say, one teaspoonful of ammonia to one teacup of water, applied with a wet rag; it is equally useful in cleaning other silver plate and gold jewelry.

How To Clean Block Tin Dish-Covers, Etc

Having washed the block tin articles quite clean in warm water, rub the inside with soft rags moistened with fine wet whiting. Then take a soft linen cloth, and go over the outside with a little sweet oil. Next rub it all over with fine whiting, powdered and sifted and put on dry. Afterward finish with a clean dry cloth.

Block tin dish covers cleaned in this way with oil and whiting will preserve their polish, and continue to look new, provided that they are always wiped dry as soon as they are brought from the table. Block tin pans and kettles may be cleaned with fine whiting and water, inside and outside.