A new set of cutlery can make any meal feel like a special occasion but cleaning your old flatware can feel like a chore. However, one clever cleaning expert has looked to the past to bring your knives and forks back to their best.

Jess from @modern_motherhood took to social media to share her secret to achieve sparkling cutlery, demonstrating how she used just four items to save her silverware.

In a video posted to TikTok, Jess lined her sink with aluminum foil, “shiny side up” then added boiling water (with a plug in the sink).

“Then add your cutlery, some bicarbonate of soda and sea salt,” she instructed.

Lastly, she added white vinegar to the soaking silverware.

“Now leave that for a couple of hours,” she said.

“The tin foil will create a chemical reaction where all of the dirt from your cutlery transfers to the tin foil.”

After returning, Jess then compared a treated fork to a tarnished one.

“You can see the difference,” she said, then explained that the cleaning trick worked on steak knives too, noting “especially ones with wooden handle”.

@modern_motherhood This will have your cutlery sparkling 💫 #lifehack #cleantok ♬ original sound – Jess

Fans were impressed with the results, many keen to try her method out for themselves.

“Ok I’m trying this,” one wrote.

“Another thing to add to my nesting list,” another added.

While another left the comment, “Wow.”

Besides tarnished cutlery, aluminum foil can also treat built-up rust.

No need to replace your rusty showerhead, sink, or bicycle, simply take a piece of foil, around 8-10cm should be sufficient, and soak it in warm water. Rub the rusted area with the foil until it clears, if the rust is bad this may take some time and elbow grease. You could also try washing the area down with vinegar prior to using the foil if it looks to be particularly stubborn. Then wipe the residue off and your area should be shiny as new.