Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[friendof]

Hello, I've have a few items in my house made of Tibetan silver, which is to say it's made of mostly nickel and a little bit of silver and copper I believe as well. Problem is, these items get spots of green which also "grow" these white crystal-like powder substances. I can scrape off the white powder, but it damages the item ecah time. I need to figure out how to clean these things before the white powder arrives. Anyone know what chemicals can clean nickel to keep it from turning into a green/white-powder mess? Silver polish and toothpaste do not work. My guess is that it's some sort of oxidation, but it's not really the green I'm worried about so much as the white powder. Anyone know how to clean these types of items????

[mrscleannw]

Hello friendof,
Welcome to the Mrs. Clean Forum!
Cleaning jewelry and household items that are made or plated with different metals can be tricky to clean. For example, something that works great for cleaning nickel, may not work for brass, and could turn your silver black! So, you must be careful when choosing what products to use for cleaning and polishing your collectibles, especially if there is a possibility that the item has more than one metal in the mix.
This is why it is a good idea to use something that is good across the board.

You may want to try a product called a ‘Sunshine Polishing Cloth.’
These cloths are made of a soft material and contain non-toxic chemicals, and non-scratch microfiber abrasives.
Sunshine polishing cloths are safe for most metals including: sterling silver, gold, brass, copper and nickel. It may be just what you need to restore your item’s beauty and luster.
You can find them in many craft and hobby retail outlets and in many places online.


Good Luck, and let me know how it turns out!
Mrs. Clean