Whats good on REALLY tarnished silver?

[HunterGatherer]

Picked up an old spoon today in a city-owned, dozed dump (it breaks my heart every time I go there) and its obviously silver. Whats the best way to clean it? I have it soaking in vinegar right now.

 

[capsoda]

Get some cheap silver polish from Wally World or a silver polishing cloth.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Does that work on layers of encrusted crap?

 

[cc6pack]

hunter

coin silver or sterling normally comes out of the ground looking very good, unless you are near salt water or sulfur. You may have a plated piece. Is there anything marked on the back of the handle. A pic wouldn't hurt.

 

[epgorge]

I would imagine it is silver plated. The one I found today most likely is. Most people around here couldn't afford real silver ware.
I used Twinkle silver polish. I caked it on and am letting it set over night.
Joel

 

[HunterGatherer]

Vinegar seems to be helping a bit. Now that its coming cleaner, I can tell its plated. A pic wouldn't really help either; its just a spoon with apparently no embossing or design. Words are starting to appear on the obverse though, I can just make out "redrum" ... or that might be "Co."

 

[CrewelaDeVil]

can just make out "redrum" ... or that might be "Co."

Uh oh- could it be from The Stanley Hotel?? REDRUM REDRUM!
(The Shining)
Sry...couldn't resist.
Pam

 

[HunterGatherer]

Just kidding about the redrum bit of course.

I left the spoon in vinegar overnight; would have left it longer but dad spilled it this morning. Most of the junk has come off and I have realized 2 things.

1. I still can't read the teeny eeny iny little company name.
2. The name doesn't matter, the spoon was in a dump for a reason.

 

[whiskeyman]

HUNTER...try some Tarn-Away.