The task of cleaning and polishing bakelite can be a tedious chore or a calming meditation, depending on your mood.
So choose your time for this task carefully.
Authentic bakelite buttons and jewelry are anywhere from 70 to 100 years old, so it's likely that they've picked up some grime along the way. The best product for cleaning bakelite is Simichrome, a brand-name cleaner originally made to clean the chrome on automobiles.
I spent an hour this afternoon cleaning a dozen round bakelite beads and buttons. I used Q-tips, paper towels, and toothpicks, along with the Simichrome, which comes in paste form. The job requires patience when the buttons are small or when they have a lot of carving. You don't want to leave residue in the carvings, and that's where a toothpick or a soft toothbrush comes in handy.
Simichrome is also used to test bakelite to confirm that it is indeed genuine bakelite, but you shouldn't rely on this test alone. More on testing bakelite some other time.
See also: Bakelite
@ Jeanne Sather 2010.
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