How to Clean Tarnish From Sterling Silver

Silver is one of the most beloved of all metals. It is used in jewelry and in eating and serving utensils. However, it is subject to corrosion and tarnishing as a result of reacting with certain elements in the air around us. The good news is that this corrosion can be removed resulting in silver which looks shining and new. There are a number of products on the market made to remove or reduce tarnish. These can be found in the housewares section of almost any grocery store, drug store or hardware store. Some are liquids and some are pastes (and you should always follow the directions given on the product’s container exactly) but they all pretty much follow the sequence of: 1. With a clean dry cloth (or sometimes damp - check directions), rub some of the liquid or paste onto the silver. 2. Rub the liquid or paste in gently. Force and pressure do not take off the tarnish, the formula takes it off. You will see the tarnish transfer from the silver to the cotton or cloth you are using. 3. When the cotton or cloth is dirty, discard and use a new section of cotton or cloth. Apply the liquid or paste and repeat the above steps. 4. Continue this procedure until all tarnish has been removed. Follow the directions on the bottle or tin you are using. Some ask you to rinse the silver in warm water and then dry thoroughly. Others simply have you give your silver a final rubbing with a clean dry cloth to a shine. If you do rinse the silver, make sure you dry it completely before storing it. There are a great many products on the market for cleaning silver and other metals. I have seen web sites which advocate the use of ordinary household product such as baking soda or toothpaste to clean silver but I would not advise it as they can be harsh and can scratch or otherwise damage your silver. USE ANY PRODUCT YOU PURCHASE ONLY AS DIRECTED. The best products I have found is called Nevr-Dull by The George Basch Company. It has been around for over 70 years and will clean almost any metal of corrosion or tarnish. It can be found in some hardware stores. You can also go to their website at www.NevrDull.com for a listing of stores which carry their products.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. 1. With a clean dry cloth (or sometimes damp - check directions), rub some of the liquid or paste onto the silver.
2. 2. Rub the liquid or paste in gently. Force and pressure do not take off the tarnish, the formula takes it off. You will see the tarnish transfer from the silver to the cotton or cloth you are using.
3. 3. When the cotton or cloth is dirty, discard and use a new section of cotton or cloth. Apply the liquid or paste and repeat the above steps.
   4. Continue this procedure until all tarnish has been removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Always follow the manufacturer's directions exactly.