silver polish

[rm]

When I was a kid you could buy those silver polishing cloths at Woolworths. Of course, we don't have Woolworth's anymore, and people don't use good silver on a regular basis either, clearly.

Where the hell do I buy silver polish? (preferably the cloths, but I'll buy the tub of pink gunk if I have to) these days? Duane Reade doesn't have it.

ETA: I LOVE that you all know exactly what I'm talking about and where to find it.

Comments

[karnythia.livejournal.com]

I've seen them at hardware stores.

[melebeth]

Bed bath and beyond, or one of those home stores. I KNOW Williams and Sonoma has it.

[dragonlady7.livejournal.com]

I got some at the grocery store last year. It was a bottle of white goo, instead of the normal tub of pink gunk (my parents have had one for longer than I've been alive so the label's long since worn off, i don't know what it's called), but it did the job.

[fleur.livejournal.com]

Bead/jewelry or craft store that sells beading supplies.

[blu-22.livejournal.com]

The only place I know of that sells the cloths is a jewelry kiosk called Piercing Pagoda, I know there's one in Queens Center Mall and Kings Plaza Mall. I don't think they're in any other place in NYC proper.

[lawnrrd]

I don't know if they have it in their stores, but Gracious Home has the cloths on their web site.

[karnythia.livejournal.com]

We all seem to have seen them somewhere different though, so that's extra funny.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

Music stores sell them...for all those silver trumpets and trombones.

[lady-ravenlocke.livejournal.com]

And flutes. ^_~

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

The Container Store has cloths and pink gunk. I have to admit: I grew up with both, so I use the pink gunk and cotton swabs/soft toothbrushes on items, then buff them to a bright shine with the cloths. It's a ritual, like polishing shoes with the brush and cloth and spritzer, that makes me feel solidly anchored in where I am and my relationship to my belongings.

And I miss Woolworth's. You can't just go in and buy peppermints and hooks and eyes anywhere.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Easiest access would be Container Store, Bed Bath Beyond, or department stores, either in silverware or jewelry sections. Fancy jewelers often have them as well.

I think the sorts of people who use real silver flatware keep it in tarnish-proof bags these days, but I am not in a position to know. (Although I could ask Mom what she does with the silver, come to think of it.) I keep a cloth in my jewelry box and in theory have some gunk and an old toothbrush in my jewelry-work box, but I haven't seen my hardware box in months.

[kiji-kat.livejournal.com]

If you want to take the eco-friendly route, here are some recipes:

"Silver: line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth." (From this site.)

Several more ideas here.

"To clean silver: Use toothpaste as you would a commercial cleaner. This is great because the toothpaste is readily available in the bathroom. Rub it on with a soft towel, sponge or fingers. Wipe off, rinse and dry well." (From this site.)

I've used a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean my ring before, and it worked very, very well. Just make sure you rinse everything thoroughly to avoid post-wash stickiness. Good luck!

[sociallyawkrd.livejournal.com]

We use the aluminum foil/baking soda/water polishing trick all the time on heirloom silver. I like it better personally.

[ladypeculiar.livejournal.com]

I was about to recommend this! I always use toothpaste, it works scarily well.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

I see it in most every major grocery store I've been in ( both cloth and pink goop ) but with items that I am going to use to eat with good 'ol toothpaste is the way I go.

Aside, you cna get fairly cheap ultrasonic cleaners too. I use those for silver jewelry and such.