How to Remove Spots From Silverware

When you have guests over to your home for dinner, the last thing you want to do is set their place at the table with grimy looking flatware. Whether you have stainless steel flatware or genuine silverware, you should take care to remove the buildup that causes spots to appear.

Things You'll Need

• Silver polish
• White vinegar
• Buffing gloves or cloth
• Warm water
• Jet Dry rinse aid

Instructions

1. Try to clean your silverware with vinegar first. Vinegar is gentle yet effective at removing most spots from flatware. If you wash your flatware in the dishwasher, simply try adding 1 1/2 cups of white vinegar to the cycle. Simply pour it into the bottom of the diswasher as you hear the wash cycle begin.

2. Hand clean with vinegar. If you do not wash your flatware in the dishwasher, wash it by hand with vinegar. To do this, simply fill a bowl with equal parts warm water and vinegar and use a cloth dipped in the mixture to wipe away the spots. Rinse with clean warm water and buff to shine with either a buffing cloth or buffing gloves.

3. Try silver polish. If you have "true" silverware, you should probably skip right to the silver polish. You can order silver polish online. One excellent brand is Hagerty Dry Silver Polish. To order, see Resources below. Use the polish with either buffing gloves or a buffing cloth.

4. Keep spots at bay. In order to keep spots from returning, you should employ preventive maintenance. You should use Jet Dry or another rinse aid in your dishwasher. Or, for flatware that is not washed in the dishwasher, simply dry it completely after each use and impose a regular polishing schedule.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use rough cloths on your flatware as this can cause scratches.

• Do not use cloth that sheds lint as this will leave your silverware looking worse than before.