This viral claim — “Put a sheet of aluminum foil in boiling water, even rich people do it” — is circulating all over social media.
Most versions exaggerate or mislead, but there are a few real uses for boiling aluminum foil. Some are harmless, some useless, and some unsafe.

Here’s the truth, without the clickbait:

✅ REAL Uses of Aluminum Foil in Boiling Water

These are legitimate, practical, and based on chemistry or kitchen experience:

1. To remove tarnish from silverware (real chemistry)

This is the only scientifically solid and widely used reason.

How it works:
Aluminum + boiling water + baking soda creates a reaction that transfers the tarnish (silver sulfide) from the silver onto the foil.

Used for:

Old silver spoons
Jewelry (only real silver, not plated)
Silver trays

⭐ This is the real “rich people do it” reason:
People with expensive silver often clean it this way because it’s gentle and effective.

2. To soften old aluminum foil (rarely used)

If foil has gotten crinkled or stiff, heating it briefly in boiling water can soften it — but this is not a common practice and not especially useful.

3. To scrub pots and pans

Some people boil foil, shape it into a ball afterward, and use it as a temporary scouring pad.

Not harmful, but not magical either.

❌ Fake / Misleading Reasons Seen in Viral Posts

These are NOT real and have no scientific basis:

“Removes toxins from water”
“Makes you look younger”
“Purifies food”
“Boosts your immune system”
“Makes old pots like new without scrubbing”
“Cures rust permanently”

None of these claims are true.

⚠️ When It CAN Be Unsafe

Boiling foil is generally safe in water, but dangerous if:

You boil aluminum foil with acidic ingredients (vinegar, lemon, tomato sauce) → can leach aluminum into food.
You use it in microwaves (fires, sparks).
You ingest anything that has dissolved aluminum particles.

So if you try the silver-cleaning method, use baking soda only, never acids.

🔍 The Bottom Line

The only real science-backed reason anyone (rich or not) would put aluminum foil in boiling water is:

👉 To clean tarnished silver using the aluminum + baking soda reaction.

Everything else online is marketing, exaggeration, or clickbait.

If you want, I can give you the step-by-step safe method for cleaning silver with aluminum foil — it actually works beautifully.

Put a sheet of aluminum foil in boiling water, even rich people do it: reason