How to Polish a Crown is certainly a topic everyone can use, especially since we’re headed into the holidays—bringing out the good silver, and shining the jewels…and of course, Our Crowns! Almost everyone has something that can benefit from a good polishing. I never liked the smell of silver polish, and the old traditional way of shining things up with paste and a cloth.

Each Fall, I use this method to polish the silver, tossing in any silver jewelry needing a boost. I found this method years ago in a tiny book, Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing by Michael DeJong.

As many of my readers already know, I was a past Queen of the East Texas Yamboree, which is the longest running festival in the State of Texas. At that, I have a Crown, and this month, I’ve had several opportunities in East Texas to wear my Vintage Crown—so I’ve been doing a bit of polishing.

In honor of the 81st East Texas Yamboree, and the past Eighty Crown Wearing Queens…here’s and easy way to Polish Up Those Crowns, Girls!—and the sterling for the Royal Tea Parties!

When polishing silver flatware, I line the kitchen sink in heavy aluminum foil. For the crown, I needed something smaller, so I lined a soup pot.

 

The Recipe

What You Need

• Kitchen sink, stainless steel pot, or glass dish.
• Baking Soda
• Boiling water
• Kitchen tongs

The Process

• Line the vessel with aluminum foil.
• Lay in the items to be polished. Place them where they are each touching the foil. Do not overlap items, give each it’s own space.
• 1 heaped tablespoon baking soda per one quart water to be used. Sprinkle baking soda onto the dry foil.
• Boil as much water as needed to cover items. Remember, the baking soda is in the vessel, not in the water you’re boiling.
• Slowly pour the boiling water over the items.
• You will have a bubbling, hissing reaction.
• After a minute, use the tongs and move the items around turning them.
• Give the process about five minutes.
• You will notice the tarnish has jumped off the silver, and onto the foil—which is now brown.
• That’s it!!!
• Rinse the items in cool water and buff with a cloth.
• Your “Crown” or silver should look good as new.

Special Note

• If it is a Crown, using the kitchen tongs turn the Crown upside down, then back upright again. Roll the Crown around, so almost every piece of it touches the foil at some point in this process. Allow about five minutes. Once should be enough, but feel free to repeat the process if Royal Duties require an extra shiny Crown.

Another Special Note

• Some recipes online mention using sea salt and white vinegar. I have never used these, and find the baking soda to be enough. I’m afraid to use sea salt, as this could be too abrasive and over time potentially cause wear on the surface. However, this is only my unproven opinion.

Some Occasions to Wear My Crown