Blue silver.

Millie

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I use Mom's sterling silver flatware every day, have since 1997.
Recently I've pulled some out of the tumbler I keep them in before washing them and they're blue!
Any ideas? Nothing has changed on my end that I know of.
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Left spoon is as they look all the time.
 

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This happens when someone handles them who has been in close proximity to firearms. You know blued steel ones. Just kidding. Silver cleaner should take care of it.
 
This happens when someone handles them who has been in close proximity to firearms. You know blued steel ones. Just kidding. Silver cleaner should take care of it.
It does, though it's harder to remove the blue than the tarnish. I'm asking if anyone knows why my silver is blue all of a sudden...:rolleyes:
Same water in the tumbler I soak the sliver in, same dish soap, same old lady doing the washing.
 
Have you changed the dishwashing soap youā€™ve been using?


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Have you changed the dishwashing soap youā€™ve been using?


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Same everything, soap, me, water (I hope it's not the water).....
 
Itā€™s being exposed to hydrogen sulfide, probably coming in the tap water but low enough that you donā€™t smell it.
 
Itā€™s being exposed to hydrogen sulfide, probably coming in the tap water but low enough that you donā€™t smell it.
How do I fix it? Is it bad for me? I filter the drinking water. The well has a lot of iron in it, always has.
 
How do I fix it? Is it bad for me? I filter the drinking water. The well has a lot of iron in it, always has.
You can try using bottled water for a day and see if that clears it up, if it does then you know. Best thing would simply be not to soak the silver.
 
You can try using bottled water for a day and see if that clears it up, if it does then you know. Best thing would simply be not to soak the silver.
Great idea, and thanks.
 
I use Mom's sterling silver flatware every day, have since 1997.
Recently I've pulled some out of the tumbler I keep them in before washing them and they're blue!
Any ideas? Nothing has changed on my end that I know of.
View attachment 234736 View attachment 234736 View attachment 234737
Left spoon is as they look all the time.

Looks like your silverware has come in contact with Sulfur.
Are you using the same medium in the tumbler, for the silver ware and gun brass?
If so its the gun powder residue from the brass. The gun powder contains sulfur and the sulfur is reacting with your silver ware.
We have cleaned our silver with the aluminum, baking soda and hot water method with great success. Hope this helps. Good Luck.
 
@Millie when you say ā€œtumblerā€ that you are keeping them in, do you mean just like a cup/container?
Or do you mean a tumbler (machine) like we use to clean brass ammo cases or polish rocks?
 
Looks like your silverware has come in contact with Sulfur.
Are you using the same medium in the tumbler, for the silver ware and gun brass?
If so its the gun powder residue from the brass. The gun powder contains sulfur and the sulfur is reacting with your silver ware.
We have cleaned our silver with the aluminum, baking soda and hot water method with great success. Hope this helps. Good Luck.
By tumbler I meant a plastic drink glass, not a brass tumbler.
It's a big plastic "glass" I put soap and water in to soak my sliver flatware before I hand-wash them. Just water and dish soap, nothing has changed for 20 years.
I have many pounds of mixed brass here, but none has come in contact with anything but the bags its in.
 
@Millie when you say ā€œtumblerā€ that you are keeping them in, do you mean just like a cup/container?
Or do you mean a tumbler (machine) like we use to clean brass ammo cases or polish rocks?
Plastic cup/container. Guess I should have used another term, but I wasn't thinking brass tumbler, and "plastic glass" didn't sound right.....lol.
 
Plastic cup/container. Guess I should have used another term, but I wasn't thinking brass tumbler, and "plastic glass" didn't sound right.....lol.
You have to consider your audience. :D
 
It could be worse Millie. I was recipient of Mom's silverplate. Over time silever polish removes the plating. Fortunately, I learned this early and merely wash with regular dishwashing soap and use a soft cloth to polish the heck out of it to return to proper luster.

Also, the stuff is much too "froo-froo" (Victorian) for me. I so very rarely use it.
 
It could be worse Millie. I was recipient of Mom's silverplate. Over time silever polish removes the plating. Fortunately, I learned this early and merely wash with regular dishwashing soap and use a soft cloth to polish the heck out of it to return to proper luster.

Also, the stuff is much too "froo-froo" (Victorian) for me. I so very rarely use it.
I dragged all that stuff out of the silver chest as soon as I moved here to take care of Mom. I figured, why not use it, it's lovely!
It rarely needs polishing now that it's in regular use. I've never seen it turn blue ever! Very odd.
 
Your water may have changed. You could test this by putting some in a tumbler of tap water and another batch in a tumbler of bottled water. set them side by side and see what happens. Make sure everything else is the same except the water.
 
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