How to Clean Dull Silver Jewelry

It only takes a moment to clean dull, silver jewelry.

Though your silver jewelry sparkled when you first bought it, time has taken its toll on it. Even if you don't wear it often, silver will tarnish due to humidity in the air. Restore your silver jewelry's shine before the next occasion when you may want to wear it. With a couple of minutes and a few simple materials you can find around your house, you can make your silver jewelry sparkle again.

Things You'll Need

• Mild detergent
• Soft, clean cloths
• Soft toothbrush
• Clean towel
• Shallow dish
• Aluminum foil
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Add a few drops of detergent to warm water, and swirl to mix. Dip a soft, clean cloth into the solution.

2. Wipe down your jewelry with the soapy water to remove any loose dirt or grime. Use a soft toothbrush dipped into the soapy water to get into hard-to-reach places.

3. Rinse the jewelry under warm, running water, and set it aside on a clean, dry towel.

4. Line a shallow dish with aluminum foil, and place your jewelry into it.

5. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the jewelry.

6. Pour hot water into the dish. Make sure that the jewelry is completely submerged.

7. Allow the baking soda to stop fizzing and the water to cool down before taking the jewelry out.

8. Rinse the jewelry under warm, running water.

9. Buff your jewelry with a soft, clean, dry cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• You may have to repeat this process for badly tarnished silver. If you can’t restore its shine after several attempts, consult a professional jeweler for more options.

• If you choose to use a commercial silver polish or cleaner on your silver jewelry, read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

• Ensure that the dish you use to soak your jewelry is not stainless steel. Stainless steel and silver react to each other in a way that can permanently damage the silver.

References

• LuShae Jewelry: How to Clean Silver Jewelry
• Berkley Parents Network: Cleaning Silver and Jewelry