How to Clean Silver and Prevent Tarnish Using Pantry Ingredients

How to Clean Silver with Dish Soap

For routine care, a quick wash in soapy water can be a sufficient way to keep silver shiny.

1. Wash Silver in Soapy Water

   Mix a few drops of mild dishwashing soap in warm water and gently wash silver pieces.

2. Rinse and Dry Silver

   Rinse and buff dry with a soft cloth.

3. Store Silver

   In between cleanings, store silver in a cool, dry place to prevent excess tarnish.

How to Clean Silver with Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil

You can clean tarnished silver (even heavily tarnished pieces) with a simple homemade solution, and you likely already have all the ingredients that you need. Cleaning silver with a combination of aluminum foil, baking soda, and salt typically does the trick for both small and large silver pieces.

1. Prepare the Pan or Sink

   Line a pot or roasting pan with aluminum foil. Make sure the foil covers the entire surface. If you are cleaning large silver items, line your sink with foil. Again, make sure to cover the entire surface, including the edges.

2. Add Boiling Water

   Fill the pan or sink with boiling water. Use enough water so your pieces will be fully submerged.

3. Add Baking Soda and Kosher Salt

   For small silver items, add 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 tsp. kosher salt to the water and stir. You should see bubbles form.

   For large silver items, add 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup salt to the water. Stir the mixture. Bubbles will form.

4. Add Silver Items to Cleaning Solution

   Mix the solution, then carefully place silver pieces into the pan, ensuring the pieces don't ram into one another or the sides of the pan. Allow silver pieces to soak for up to 30 minutes.

5. Let Cool and Dry Silver

   Once the water is cool, remove and dry your silver items with a soft cloth. Your silver pieces should now be shinier and free of tarnish.

How to Clean Silver with Vinegar

For a more vigorous silver polishing, incorporate the cleaning power of vinegar. This method works especially well for cleaning silverware. As with any new cleaning method, you should test these techniques on an inconspicuous spot first before diving in.

1. Line Pan or Sink

   Line a large roasting pan or your sink with aluminum foil.

2. Mix Vinegar Cleaning Solution

   Add 1 Tbsp. baking soda and 1 Tbsp. kosher salt to the aluminum-lined dish. Pour 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar into the dish and the mixture will begin to bubble.

3. Add Boiling Water

   Add 1 to 2 cups boiling water. You'll need enough liquid to completely submerge your silver pieces.

4. Add Silver and Let Soak

   Place pieces into the dish in a single layer. Soak lightly tarnished pieces for 30 seconds or up to three minutes for more heavily tarnished pieces.

5. Dry and Buff

   Remove the silver items with tongs, then dry and buff until clean.

More Ways to Clean Silver

There are many home remedies for cleaning silver. Try ketchup, lemon, or toothpaste on tough-to-clean silver tarnish.

Polish Silver with Ketchup

For extra sheen, try cleaning silver with ketchup. The condiment can be used as a paste to polish tarnished metals including brass and silver.

Remove Water Spots from Silver with Lemon

Lemon is an effective natural cleaner that can be used on silver, too. Remove water spots from silverware by dipping a microfiber cloth in a bit of concentrated lemon juice and polish away. When storing, keep silver in a dry, cool spot and give delicate pieces some space so they aren't prone to running into one another.

Restore Shine with Toothpaste

Cleaning silver with toothpaste can produce sparkling results. Dilute toothpaste with a little water, polish the silver with a soft cloth, and rinse.

How to Clean Silver-Plated and Antique Silver Items

Cleaning silver-plated items, such as silver necklaces, rings, and other jewelry, can be tricky. Because these pieces only have silver plating over the surface of another metal, vigorous cleaning or submerging items in a liquid solution, along with regular wear and tear, can cause flaking. Test methods in an inconspicuous spot before proceeding with a deep clean.

If your silver jewelry has gemstones or other embellishments, use a few drops of mild soap or baby shampoo mixed into water to wipe down before storing. Use cotton swabs or a soft bristle brush to get into nooks and crannies. If you use a brush, use a light hand so you don't unintentionally scratch the surface.

For antique silver or pieces with a high value, consider consulting with an antique dealer, jeweler, or professional restoration company before cleaning silver. A pro can give you pointers specific to your piece and the best advice for how to clean your silver.

How to Polish Silver

While the natural silver cleaning methods outlined above will help restore shine, you'll also find plenty of commercial silver polish products online and in stores. Be sure to choose a cleaner that's specifically intended to clean sterling silver or silver-plated items. Some are formulated for specialty applications, while others are more general purpose. Always read the instructions before using silver polish products and follow all instructions carefully.

Knowing how to clean sterling silver, silver antiques, and silver jewelry isn't something that takes hours to learn. Routine care, preventative maintenance, a simple silver cleaning method, and a little polishing will help keep your silver pieces shining for years to come.

How to Store Silver and Prevent Tarnish

Tarnish, which occurs due to particulates in the air, is inevitable with silver. While there's no way to completely prevent tarnish, you can slow the process by storing silver in a drawer, cabinet, or other space that limits its exposure to air and humidity.

For large silver items, consider wrapping them in acid-free paper and placing them in a cotton bag until needed. You can also use silver cloth wraps and drawer liners for silver cutlery or serveware. Avoid storing silver jewelry in the bathroom, where humidity is frequent.