How to get antique silverware out of the dark, other tips

Am I the only one with a drawer full of odd, yet beautiful, antique silver pieces? I have to admit that my favorites are nearly black with tarnish, not because I don’t like them but because out of sight, out of mind.

I was happy to hear from a fan of this column recently who shared a couple of great tips to get my silver out of the dark and back into service. Anyone with me on this? Silver secrets: Here are two quick tips to slow the tarnish: 1) Tie a few pieces of ordinary chalk in a piece of cheesecloth or other open-weave fabric, and store in the drawer with the silver. 2) Use it. Frequent use followed by hand washing in soap and water followed by thorough drying will keep the pieces shiny and beautiful. — Millie, Ohio.

Clean corn: Keep a clean toothbrush handy with your kitchen utensils for when you serve fresh corn on the cob. Just a few swipes will easily lift away any stray threads of silk on those freshly shucked ears of corn. — Misty, Connecticut.

“Dry” ice: Don’t you hate it when you set out a bucket of ice for beverages on the patio or summer party, and before you know it, the cubes are swimming in a pool of water? Here’s a quick remedy: Set a colander over a bowl that is small enough to keep the colander suspended over it.

Now put the ice in the colander. As it melts, the water will go into the bowl beneath, leaving the ice cubes, albeit growing smaller, solid and easy to grab.

— Marty, Iowa.

Mask with foil. Before painting a door or other item that has a hardware attached (knob, hinges, etc.), carefully mask them using aluminum foil rather than removing them. The foil will adhere easily, plus it can be coaxed into cracks and crevices.

Now you can paint right up to the hardware item, assured that you won’t get paint on it. This is so much easier than trying to wrestle with masking tape on non-flat and irregularly shaped surfaces. — Ralph, Canada.

I’ve heard of mortgage-burning parties, but I would categorize them along with the Pony Express and covered wagons — things from a bygone era.

There was a time when mortgage-burning parties were common. It was like putting the cherry on top of the American Dream. And this burning thing was not figurative.

Once that last house payment was made, the mortgage company would send the mortgage agreement to the borrower stamped “paid in full.” This would be such a cause for celebration that the new homeowners would invite everyone over to watch them set the document on fire, all the while cheering as it went up in smoke.

Things have changed, especially in recent years as mortgage rates have dropped so low. Some financial advisors actually advise their clients to not pay off their mortgage and instead invest the money to build greater wealth. Of course, this action provides a healthy income for the advisor, who collects commissions when a client takes that advice.

You may be tempted to follow that advice — refinancing and stringing out your mortgage for as long as possible — even into your retirement years, while you try to get a higher return on your investments.

Before you decide to stick with minimum payments, consider the following benefits of having no mortgage payments by the time you reach retirement.

Guaranteed high-yield investment. Investing in your debt pays you a guaranteed rate of interest equal to the amount of the interest you were paying on that debt. Here’s how that works:

If your mortgage is subject to 5 percent interest, every dollar of principal you pay off is a dollar you won’t have to pay interest on in the future. You get to keep the 5 percent interest you would have paid. That’s your return for investing in your debt. Peace of mind. Once you eliminate your mortgage, you have just eliminated your biggest monthly bill. You are able to live rent-free, so to speak.

You also don’t need to agonize about whether your investments are outperforming the interest you are paying on that mortgage.

Without a mortgage, you have the option to invest. You gain complete control over where you live. You can downsize or move as soon as you feel it’s best, or choose to stay in your home for the rest of your life.