Make your own homemade Silver polish

Here is a recipe for a good all-purpose mix that contains an abrasive for cleaning silver. It also has a cushioning agent to reduce scratching.

To make 1¼ pints/725 ml

• 16 tablespoons soap flakes
• 16 tablespoons whiting
• 1 tablespoon household ammonia
• 16 floz/450ml boiling water

Combine the soap flakes, whiting and ammonia in a small enameled saucepan. Add the boiling water and stir until all the solid particles have dissolved. Leave the mixture to cool and then transfer it into a clean 2 pint/1.1 liter glass jar. Label, screw on a tight-fitting lid and store out of the reach of children.

Before use, shake the jar well. Wash the silver with soap and warm water, and apply the polish with a sponge. Rub gently with a clean cloth, rinse and dry.