How to Clean Sterling Silver Silverware

Sterling silver has a warm, luminous character that adds elegance to your table -- except when the silver is brown and tarnished. As your silver is exposed to dirt, dust and acidic foods, it can begin to tarnish and lose the shiny luster it had when it was new. The best way to avoid this is to take preventative measures before the tarnish takes over your flatware by cleaning it after every use with warm water and soap. There is also a home remedy that will help restore your silver's shine.

Things You'll Need

• Large plastic bowl
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic spoon
• Colander or strainer
• Towel
• 1/4 cup washing soda
• Mild soap
• Soft cloth

Instructions

Tarnish Removal

1. Line the inside of a large plastic bowl with one to three large sheets of aluminum foil, shiny side facing up.

2. Place the pieces of flatware in the bowl. Each piece should be touching another piece of flatware or the aluminum foil.

3. Boil 1 gallon of water. Pour boiling water into the large bowl, followed by 1/4 cup washing soda, which you can find at your local grocery store. Stir the mixture with a plastic spoon until all ingredients dissolve in the water. Allow the flatware to soak for at least 10 minutes.

4. Pour the solution and flatware into a colander or strainer. Rinse the sterling silver well with cold water, removing all of the salt residue.

5. Dry the sterling silver flatware. Buff the flatware with a clean towel to remove residual tarnish.

Everyday Cleaning

1. Wash your silver flatware with hot water and mild soap after every use. This is especially important when the flatware has come in contact with foods that are more likely to cause corrosion, such as tomatoes, mayonnaise, eggs or salt. Avoid detergents that contain chloride or have a lemon scent, as they may damage the silver.

2. Rinse the flatware with clean, hot water. Avoid totally immersing the flatware in hot water for extended periods of time, as this may damage the metal.

3. Hand-dry the flatware immediately with a soft cloth. This will help avoid spotting.

Tips & Warnings

• Store your flatware in a clean, dry place such as an airtight silverware chest or plastic container to slow down the tarnishing process.

• Frequent use of your flatware will reduce tarnish and the need for polishing.

• Do not use the home remedy on flatware with hollow handles or glued sections.

• Do not wrap your flatware in plastic, newspaper or rubber bands, and do not allow the silver to sit in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

• Do not store your flatware in any type of foil.

References

• Good Housekeeping: How to Clean Flatware
• Online Sterling.com: How to Care for Sterling Silver Flatware