How to Clean Tarnish From Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Silver tarnishes when exposed to air, with tarnish occurring more quickly in damp conditions. In this article, you will learn three methods to clean sterling silver.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Toothpaste
• Aluminum foil

1. Baking Soda Method: Apply a paste of baking soda and water. Rub, rinse, and polish dry with a soft cloth.
2. Toothpaste Method: To clean off tarnish, coat the silver with toothpaste, then run it under warm water, work it into a foam, and rinse it off. For stubborn stains or intricate grooves, use an old soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. Aluminum Foil, Baking Soda, and Salt Method: Place a sheet of aluminum foil in the bottom of a pan, add 2-3 inches of water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil. Add silver pieces, boil 2-3 minutes, making sure the water covers the silver pieces. Remove silver, rinse, dry, and buff with a soft cloth. This method cleans the design and crevices of silver pieces.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear cotton or plastic gloves when polishing silver.
• Deeply carved silver should be hand polished using commercially available high quality silver cream or polish.
• Store sterling silver in treated paper, cloth, or plastic wrap.
• Do not wear or use rubber when cleaning or storing silver. Rubber promotes tarnish and corrosion in silver.