How To Clean Pewter

Ever wonder how to clean pewter? Pewter is mostly made of tin with some copper and antimony, which is not supposed to rust but it can develop a dark patina which is unsightly and needs to be cleaned. Pewter is a simple alloy that needs simple cleaning. The homemade recipes listed below will help keep it in relatively good condition.

To clean Pewter, you will need:

• Dishwashing Detergent
• Soft Cloth
• Vinegar
• Flour
• Salt
• Linseed Oil
• Pewter Polish
• Rottenstone

1. Before starting, wash the pewter dish in warm water with the mild dishwashing detergent. Dry well using a soft cloth.
2. Make a paste of 1 tsp. salt, 1 cup vinegar and approximately a half cup of flour. Rub the paste on the pewter then wash off with warm water and dry well with a soft cloth.
   
3. Make a paste of rottenstone (which is decomposed limestone) and boiled linseed oil and rub your pewter well with it. Rinse the pewter well after a few minutes and dry with a soft cloth.
4. You may also use commercial pewter cleaning product as well, provided it is made specifically for pewter and you follow the exact directions. Take caution to ensure that you never use cleaning agents meant for silver or copper on pewter. Pewter dishes need cleaning twice a year and will keep for a long time.

Note:  Never put pewter in the dishwasher or microwave. It needs careful hand washing, so don't use any abrasive cleaners. Pewter can get stained with acidic foods like citrus so if you serve citrus in pewter, make sure you rinse it well and dry off with a soft cloth to prevent any spotting.