Homemade Silverware Cleaner

There are many methods for cleaning and shining silverware.

While there are many commercial products on the market for cleaning and polishing silver, there are benefits associated with using homemade, non-toxic solutions. Many times using materials you have on hand saves you money over trying use-specific cleaners. Homemade solutions that do not contain toxins are also safer to use in your home and environmentally friendly.

Aluminum Foil

When it comes to coaxing the tarnish off your silverware, nothing works quite like aluminum foil, an item often readily available in the home. Line a glass or heavy plastic container (like a dish pan) with foil, shiny side up. Add 2 tsp. of baking soda and 2 quarts of boiling water. Place the silver into the pan so that each piece is touching the foil or a neighboring piece of silver and leave it there for up to 1/2 an hour. The aluminum foil draws the tarnish evenly off the silver. Afterward, wash and buff the silverware with a dry cloth.

Washing Soda

Follow the procedure above, but replace the baking soda with a quarter cup of washing soda. Washing soda is available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets. Use a gallon of boiling water, add the silverware and stir it well to mix in the soda. Allow the silver to soak in the solution for up to 15 minutes. Remove it carefully, wearing rubber gloves, and rinse and buff to a shine.

Ammonia

Clean your silver with ammonia. Use ammonia with caution as the fumes can be strong and caustic. Be careful not to mix ammonia with other chemicals. Mix one cup of warm water with a 1/4 cup of ammonia in a glass bowl. Use a soft-bristle brush dipped in the solution to pre-treat the tarnished silver, then soak the silver in the solution for up to 20 minutes. Remove the silver and allow it to dry, or dry it with a lint-free cloth. Wear gloves when handling ammonia.

Dish Soap

Clean silver by adding a drop or two of dish soap to the aluminum foil/baking soda recipe, or combine a tsp. of soap with 4 tsp. of ammonia. Soak the silverware in this solution for up to five minutes before removing it and using a soft brush to scrub away tarnish. Rinse it thoroughly in cold water and submerse it in rubbing alcohol for a spot-free finish. You may increase this recipe to accommodate the amount of silver you have to clean.

References

• "Consumer Reports"; Homemade Cleaning Products; January 2009
• "Good Housekeeping"; Clean Silver Flatware: Traditional and Homemade Methods; April 2011
• Silver Jewelry Cleaner: Homemade Silver Cleaner

Resources

• Eartheasy: Non-toxic Home Cleaning
• Going-Green-Challenge.com: Homemade Silver Polish Recipes