Aluminum balls in the freezer viral gimmick or real hack?

You've probably heard of this popular trick for polishing silverware: wrap each piece in aluminum foil and place them in a pot of boiling water with baking soda to remove all tarnish (via Everbrite Coatings). However, a much simpler method is gaining popularity on TikTok—one that doesn't require waiting for the water to boil or washing the dishes after you're done. It works the same way as the old method, but uses dishwasher detergent instead of boiling water and baking soda. Plus, you don't need to cover your dishes with foil; instead, simply placing a ball of it near your silverware will make them sparkle.

Home Hacks" is no stranger to viral cleaning techniques. However, some comments on this video were skeptical about how it could work. One account tried to explain the phenomenon: "A chemical reaction from [a] dishwasher tablet and aluminum foil. This should work!" To see if this hack really works, we tested it ourselves. Like the commenter, we were hoping to see sparkling silverware after everything was done.

To complete this hack, you'll need a simple item commonly found in the kitchen: aluminum foil. Tear off a small sheet and roll it into a ball. You can use any brand, but we used Up & Up, which you can buy at Target for less than $4. When making the ball, consider the size of your dishwasher's silverware basket, as it should fit in a compartment with a few utensils. Of course, you'll also need a dishwasher, dishwasher detergent, and unpolished silverware.

Because foil is reusable, you can use the same ball for multiple dishwasher cycles, saving you money and making your kitchen more sustainable. However, there's no limit to how many times this material can be reused. There's no set number, but you may want to switch to a new sheet when the ball starts to show signs of wear and tear.

A big advantage of this hack is that it's very easy to do and doesn't interfere with how you store your silverware in your dishwasher. All you have to do is place a foil ball in a compartment of your silverware basket, add detergent, close the door, and start the dishwasher. After the cycle is complete, you can remove the foil ball along with your other dishes.

When we tested this hack, we followed the steps above and noticed a slight improvement in the appearance of the silverware when removing it. To see if this trick made a difference, we compared the silverware before the cycle with its afterward appearance. While unpolished pieces looked dull and had some water marks, they did shine a little more after washing with foil. While we wouldn't say it was very noticeable, it The hack definitely made a difference.

As stated, this hack did exactly what it promised—it made our silverware more polished. While TikTok by McCauley showed a huge difference in the before and after, that wasn't the case for us. While our silverware may have looked a little shinier, there were still some marks and scratches on the pieces, as you can see in the photo above, taken after the test. So, while this method will improve the look of your silverware, it's certainly not a miracle that can restore old, worn-out forks and spoons.

Also, because this hack is so easy and inexpensive, the shorter results may be beneficial for some people. For example, if you're having guests over or your silverware is quite old, it could be beneficial. It's also much easier than wrapping each piece in foil and placing it in a mixture of boiling water and baking soda.