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How to Clean an Old & Rusty Silver Bit

As time passes, once shiny and lustrous silver can tarnish and corrode, dulling the shine. This is because silver is a reactive metal, and exposure to air and water can cause a chemical reaction that can modify silver's appearance. Cleaning a rusty silver bit is an easy process that can restore the object to its original luster and shine.

Things You'll Need

Toothbrush
Toothpick
Bowl of water
Silver tarnish remover
Cotton cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Soak the bit. For 10 minutes, soak the bit in water to soften any encrustations on the surface.
- 2
  Clean the surface. Using a soft toothbrush, gently clean the surface using water to remove any easily removable surface encrustations. Use a toothpick that has been softened in water to remove any dirt from hard-to-reach areas. Let the bit dry for several minutes.
- 3
  Place the bit in a silver dip. Silver dips are made to remove tarnish from the surface. Dip it very quickly first, and then rinse the item off. Repeat as needed until the item is tarnish free and shiny to your liking.
- 4
  Buff the bit with a soft cotton cloth. Doing this will remove any residue and bring out the shine of the piece. Using a jeweler's cloth can also leave a protective coating that may prevent further tarnishing.

Antiques