Home Remedies for Cleaning Silver Flatware

Home ingredients can clean tarnish from silver flatware.

Silver flatware that you use infrequently can tarnish when the silver oxidizes from contact with air. Using a simple home remedy to clean the tarnish from your silver saves you money, and is environmentally friendly. The ingredients for a silver flatware cleaner are available in most kitchens, and require only a little time and effort.

Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil cleans tarnish from silver flatware, and can also prevent tarnish from occurring. To clean silver flatware with aluminum foil, line the bottom of a basin or small plastic tub with aluminum foil, making sure the shiny side of the foil is facing upward. Place the flatware in the basin. The pieces must be in contact with the foil or another piece of flatware that is in contact with the foil. Use 1/4 cup of washing soda on the flatware, and pour a gallon of boiling water into the basin. The pieces should soak in the basin for 15 minutes. Remove from the basin, then wash the flatware with plain water, and polish dry. A piece of aluminum foil in the silverware drawer may help prevent silver flatware from tarnishing.

Olive Oil

Olive oil helps remove streaks and spots from silver flatware. Rub a small amount of the oil onto the flatware with a soft cloth. Rinse off the silver pieces, and polish to a shine.

Cornstarch

A paste made from cornstarch and water cleans the tarnish from silver flatware. Add as much water as necessary to get a paste consistency for the flatware cleaner. Give the paste time to dry on the pieces before wiping it off to remove the tarnish.

Silver Cleaning Bath

To create a bath for the silver flatware, use an aluminum pan filled with boiling water. In 1 gallon of water, add a teaspoon of soda and a tablespoon of salt. You can also use a tablespoon of baking soda for each quart of boiling water for a silverware soak. Allow the pieces to soak in the solution for a minimum of 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Clean Silver Flatware: Traditional and Homemade Methods
• Decorating Country Home: Silverware Care and Cleaning