Homemade Silver Polish or Cleaner

Keep your silver looking its best by cleaning and polishing it regularly.

Silver jewelry, flatware, serving sets and any other silver items must be cleaned and polished regularly to remove stains and tarnish. Commercial products are available to clean and polish silver. Save yourself some money and a trip to the store by making homemade silver polish and cleaner.

Things You'll Need

• 2 small saucepans
• 1 cup soap flakes
• 1 tbsp. household ammonia
• 1 cup whiting powder
• Spoon
• 2-pint glass jar or container with a lid
• Soft sponge
• Clean cloths
• Aluminum foil
• Glass or plastic dish
• Medium saucepan
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 tsp. cream of tartar

Instructions

Recipe 1

1. Fill a small saucepan with 16 oz.of water. Bring the water to a boil on the stove.

2. Combine 1 cup soap flakes, 1 tbsp. household ammonia and 1 cup of whiting into a separate small saucepan while you are waiting for the water to boil. Do not put the saucepan on the stove to heat.

3. Pour the boiling water into the saucepan with the soap, ammonia and whiting. Stir the mixture with a spoon until all of the soap flakes and whiting powder has dissolved.

4. Allow the mixture to cool for a few hours. Transfer it to a 2 pint glass container or jar with a lid. You will not use all of the mixture at once so be sure to label the jar so that you know what it is for future use.

5. Use the mixture with a soft sponge to polish your silver pieces. Rinse the silver with warm water after polishing it and buff dry with a clean cloth.

Recipe 2

1. Lay aluminum foil down into a glass or plastic dish. You may need to adjust the size and type of dish you use according to the size of the pieces of silver you are polishing. A 9 inch by 13 inch dish works well for silverware and jewelry. Avoid using a metal dish.

2. Lay the silver on top of the aluminum foil. The reaction between the aluminum foil and the tarnish will transfer the tarnish from the silver to the foil.

3. Fill a medium saucepan with 1 quart warm water. Bring the water to a boil on the stove.

4. Add 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. baking soda to the boiling water. Stir with a spoon to dissolve the ingredients.

5. Pour the boiling water directly onto the silver. Use caution when pouring the boiling water so that it does not splash onto your skin.

6. Allow the silver to soak in the solution for 30 minutes. Rinse the silver with plain water. Buff the silver dry with a soft cloth.

Recipe 3

1. Fill a glass or plastic dish with 1 cup whole milk. Add 3 tsp. cream of tartar to the milk. Double or triple the recipe if the silver pieces you are cleaning and polishing are larger than just jewelry or silverware.

2. Stir the milk and cream of tartar with a spoon.

3. Place the silver into the dish. Allow it to sit in the milk mixture overnight.

4. Rinse the silver the next day under cold water. Buff the silver dry with a soft cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Whiting powder is a chalk-like powder that is used to remove oil and polish glass. It can also be used on silver. Buy whiting powder at most home improvement centers.

• Rub non-gel toothpaste onto your silver for a quick way to polish.

References

• Make Your Own: Make Your Own Homemade Silver Polish
• Casa Sugar: Recipe for Clean: Silver Polish
• GoingGreenChallenge.com: Earth Friendly Staples Transform Into Homemade Silver Polish