How to Clean Tarnish from Sterling Silver

Clean Tarnish from Sterling Silver

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The luster of sterling silver makes it a favorite choice in jewelry, flatware and many other items. Keeping your sterling silver shining like new is not difficult but there are some do's and don'ts that will help preserve the quality of your sterling silver and make cleaning it a much easier task.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

baking soda
toothpaste
soft bristle toothbrush
soft oil-free cleaning cloth
plastic sealable bags
anti-tarnish strips

How to Clean Tarnish from Sterling Silver

Step1

Sterling silver tarnishes because of the copper in it being exposed to sulfur and oxygen. Over time, the finish becomes dull and yellowish. The shine can be restored but the method you use really depends on the piece. Items that are heirlooms and have ornate designs, such as bowls and trophies, should be cleaned very gently with a polish made especially for sterling silver. Follow directions on the polish closely to carefully restore tiny grooves and indentations. A clean, soft polishing cloth should be used, and you should always polish the surface lightly. Take care not to let polishing solutions get on gemstones.

Step2

Another method for cleaning sterling silver is good old fashioned baking soda. Sprinkle the soda onto a damp, soft polishing cloth and rub very gently. If you use baking soda on ornate items, use a very soft bristle toothbrush to gently remove soda from the small areas. Rinse with warm water and dry completely with a polishing cloth.

Step3

A gentle toothpaste can also be used to clean sterling silver. With your fingers, rub the toothpaste over the item and then run a small amount of warm water over it, just enough to work the toothpaste into a small foam. Gently massage the foam over the item with a soft cloth, rinse with warm water and completely dry and buff with a clean polishing cloth.

Step4

Preventing sterling silver from tarnishing is preferable to having to remove the tarnish. For jewelry, you can clean the piece and place it in a dry, sealable plastic bag with an anti-tarnish strip. For larger items, keeping them away from sulfurs is very important. For example, sterling silver should not be used to serve dishes with ingredients high in sulfur, such as vinegar or eggs. It is possible to permanently damage the finish, so take precautions on how to best use your pieces.

Step5

Many of us remember our grandmothers and mothers sitting around the kitchen table carefully polishing the silver one piece at a time for special events and holidays. While there is a flood of products on the market today that claim to zap the tarnish from sterling silver, we are likely to find ourselves sitting around our kitchen table, restoring that beautiful shine back into our own special pieces. Perhaps it is this time honored tradition of care that makes these beautiful pieces so special.

Tips & Warnings

store sterling silver away from moisture and extreme temperature changes
do not use harsh chemicals, detergents, or brushes on sterling silver pieces
for antique pieces with extensive damage, consult an expert in restoration before applying any cleaners
avoid storing sterling silver with sharp objects such as knives or ice picks, which can permanently scratch the surface