How to Clean Tarnish From Sterling Silver

Whether you have your favorite sterling silver jewelry or grandma's flatware, here are several ideas to help you clean it and keep it clean.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aluminum Foil
• Baking Soda
• Toothpaste

1. 
   aluminum

   For your badly tarnished jewelry or teapots, etc., here is a easy natural way to clean it. Cover the inside bottom of a glass heat proof dish and place a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up inside it. Put the tarnished silver in the bottom of the dish and add 1 big tablespoon of baking soda, and then slowly pour boiling water over it until it covers the piece. The tarnish will gradually collect on the aluminum foil and clean the sterling. See my tips below on flatware care.
   
   d.) Remove your silver, rinse thoroughly, and polish.

2. 
   Baking Soda

   For jewelry and other items, baking soda is better. Put on a paste of baking soda and water. Rub gently and then rinse with water and then polish dry with a soft cloth. If you would rather do this with your flatware, you can, just sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth and rub it on the silverware until tarnish is gone.

3. 
   Toothbrush

   You can also use toothpaste to clean off tarnish. Coat the silver with toothpaste, then run it under warm water, and work it into a foam. Rinse off. For stubborn stains or where there is a lot of hard to reach places, use a soft toothbrush.

4. 
   Flatware

   For your flatware, first wash in warm water with dish soap. Do not let your hollow handled silverware soak in the water as a combination of heat, water, and detergent may loosen soldering. See more tips below.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to rate my article up on the top. Thanks!
• Sterling Silver jewelry stays clean if you wear it every day, but keep perfume or aftershave away from it. Here's a trick for daily cleaning. Use a simple jewelry polishing cloth and store your cloth in a plastic zip-lock bag.
• Some sterling silver is plated and the less you clean it the better. These pieces should particularly be put in air tight containers so that they do not need to be cleaned as often. Silver cleaner bought at a store can be harsh on them.
• Rubber is not good for sterling silver, neither is table salt, olives, salad dressings, eggs, vinegar and fruit juices.
• Do not over rub or clean as you may rub the sterling silver finish right off over time.
• Silver tarnishes in air, so smaller items can be put in air tight containers or zip lock baggies.
• Silverware may be washed in the dishwasher but the patina on fine silver is enhanced by the rubbing that occurs when washing and drying by hand. Hollow handles may be loosened with exposure to heat and detergent in the dishwasher.Aluminum, salt, soda and hot water are not recommended for cleaning silver with an oxidized or French gray finish. Do not spill dry dishwasher detergent on flatware; it may cause dark spots. If washing both silverware and stainless steel flatware in the dishwasher, do not put in the same basket section or let one metal touch the other, or the silver may be permanently damaged.

[abcfrye]

on 2/6/2009 Oh my goodness. The ring my mom gave me for my baby girl (which was mine 30 years ago) was completely black. Within seconds you could see the baking soda working. It is beautiful once again. Thanks!!!!

[iSeeHowNow]

on 9/8/2008 I made the mistake of wearing my ss cross and chain in a relative's (sulfer water) shower...it was immediately black and so, I've had it put away for a year or so...I just tried step one and wallah! I can wear my beautiful chain again! Yeah! Thank you! It also restored my ss omega chain. BTW...I ADDED A 1/2 TSP OF SALT TO THE BAKING SODA AND HOT WATER SOLUTION.

[pianistic]

on 7/16/2008 Thanks for your feedback!

[DATDeb]

on 7/16/2008 Step 1 worked so quickly and super easily on my nice silver rings, earrings, and chain.

My brother needs to clean his silver utensils, so I've shared this method with him.

How well it works is simply delightful. Whoo-hoo!

[parvenue]

on 1/23/2008 I'm so happy. Thanks a bunch. Now I know how to clean the pesky cake knife I inherited!