Before we delve into the methods for how to polish pewter, it’s important to know two things: Firstly, never use silver polish on pewter, and secondly, always know the type of pewter you have, as this will help determine the best way to care for it.
TYPES OF PEWTER
There are three types of pewter.
Polished pewter is very shiny and smooth.
Satin pewter is not as shiny as polished pewter, and has a more grainy texture.
Oxidized pewter is the darkest type of pewter, and often looks very old. Here’s how to polish each type.
HOW TO POLISH PEWTER
How to Polish Pewter | Polished Pewter
For polished pewter, use a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid to gently remove any dirt from the pewter piece, then rinse it carefully and dry it with a soft cloth. You can also use a mixture of one cup of vinegar and half a cup of flour to clean polished pewter. Rub the mixture on the piece and let it sit for 20-30 minutes before rinsing and drying it.
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To polish, boil linseed oil and mix it with rottenstone (can be purchased at your local hardware store). Continue to add rottenstone to the oil until the mixture becomes thick. Let the mixture cool. In circular motions, rub the mixture into the pewter until you achieve the desired level of shine.
How to Polish Pewter | Satin Pewter
For satin pewter, use a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid to gently remove any dirt from the pewter piece. Rinse it carefully and dry it with a soft cloth. Again, you may also use the vinegar and flour mixture with a dash of salt to clean satin pewter. Rub the mixture on the piece and let it sit for 20-30 minutes before rinsing and drying it. Always rub along the grain when cleaning satin pewter, not in a circular motion, to avoid any unnecessary scratching.
You should only polish satin pewter every few years, and often a simple buff with fine steel wool rubbed gently along the grain will suffice.
How to Polish Pewter | Oxidized Pewter
Wondering how to polish pewter of the oxidized variety? The answer is simple:
don’t polish it. Oxidized pewter does not need to be polished. Polishing it runs the risk of removing the dark layer for which this type of pewter is known, devaluing the piece. To keep oxidized pewter looking its best, you should gently wash it with warm water and dishwashing detergent, then rinse and towel dry.
Now that you you know how to polish pewter and your pieces are looking shiny and new, don’t forget to spend some time cleaning and polishing the rest of your collection! Do you have your own for polishing pewter?
This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated.
