Top 9 Methods to Clean & Polish Silverware and Prevent Tarnish

Silverware and silver jewellery are among the common household items that are often neglected. Silverware needs occasional attention similar to other things in the house. However, it’s not a difficult job to keep silverware cleaned and polished and you only need to do them a few times a year. This way, not only your silverware are always shiny and spotless but also you can prevent them from tarnishing and degrading.

In this article, we will explore the best DIY methods to clean and polish silverware and prevent tarnishing using materials you already have in your home.

#1 Cleaning with Dish Soap

The first and easiest way to maintain your silverware is to occasionally wash them using dish soap.

To do this, follow these simple steps:

1. Mix a few drops of washing-up liquid (dish soap) in warm water.
2. Soak your silverware in it and start scrubbing it gently with a microfibre cloth.
3. Rinse them with warm water and dry them gently with a dry microfibre cloth.

Also, don’t forget to store them properly in a cool and dry place to prevent tarnish.

#2 Polishing with Backing Soda Paste

Baking soda is a magical solution when it comes to cleaning. You can also clean and polish silverware with it.

The best way to clean silver with baking soda is to make a baking soda paste. To do this, add 3 to 5 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl and slowly add water while mixing. Continue adding water unless a foamy and soft past solution is formed.

Now follow the steps below to clean and polish your silverware:

1. Dip a non-abrasive clean sponge into the paste.
2. Apply the paste on silverware and rub for a few seconds. Try to cover the whole surface with baking soda paste.
3. Leave the paste on the silver for 10 minutes. If they are heavily tarnished, give it 10 more minutes.
4. Rinse the silverware in cold water and clean the excess paste off it.
5. Dry them completely with a clean and dry microfibre cloth and store them properly.

#3 Cleaning with Baking Soda, Hot Water & Aluminium Foil

This method is a tried and tested method to clean silverware and make it shiny by oxidising tarnish from silver to aluminium foil. However, it is best to use this method for cleaning smaller silverware or silver jewellery.

For this method, you need a large glass or metal tray, like a baking pan. You also need enough boiling hot water to cover the entire surface of the silverware. Also, you need baking soda and enough aluminium foil to cover the bottom of the pan.

Follow these steps to clean your silverware:

1. Line the bottom of the baking pan with aluminium foil. Remember the shiny side of the foil should face up.
2. Place the silverware into the tray and pour the boiling water. Make sure to cover the entire surface of the silverware.
3. Add two full and heaping teaspoons of baking soda to the tray. It’s better to sprinkle the baking soda evenly across the tray. Leave the silverware in the solution for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the silverware or silver jewellery and rinse them. Make sure all the excess baking soda is washed off the surface of your silverware.
5. Dry silverware with a clean and dry microfibre cloth and store them in a cool and dry place.

#4 Soaking Silverware Wrapped in Aluminium Foil

This method is similar to the previous one. However, this is suitable for large silverware. The ingredients are similar but you need more of them. Also, you have to use a large water bucket or a large pot instead of a tray. This method works especially great for heavily tarnished and soiled silverware.

Follow these steps to clean and polish your larger silverware:

1. Weap the silverware completely in aluminium foil. The shiny side of the foil should be toward the silverware. Therefore, the dull side should face out.
2. Place all the wrapped silverware in the large pot and pour enough boiling or very hot water to cover them completely.
3. Add a generous amount of baking soda and leave the solution and silverware in it for 30 to 40 minutes and more for heavily tarnished silverware.
4. Remove the silverware, unwrap them and rinse them with cold water.
5. Dry silverware with a clean and dry microfibre cloth and store them properly.

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#5 Boiling in Baking Soda, Salt & Aluminium Foil

Another method for oxidising tarnish from silverware to aluminium foil is to boil them in a pot lined with foil. This is a quick and easy method to clean and polish silverware before a party or special occasion.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Line a large pot with aluminium foil. The shiny side should face up.
2. Place silverware into the pan.
3. Pour enough water into the pan to cover all the silverware.
4. Add baking soda and salt (1 teaspoon each).
5. Place the pot on the stovetop and boil the water. Leave it boiling for 4 to 7 minutes. You can see the aluminium foil is absorbing the tarnish while the silverware is getting shiny.
6. Remove the silverware from the pot (use a pair of tongs) and rinse them with clean water.
7. Dry them completely with a microfibre cloth.

#6 Cleaning with Vinegar

Vinegar is another magical solution for cleaning almost anything. Accompanied by baking soda, it is the perfect solution for cleaning heavily tarnished and soiled pieces.

To clean silverware with vinegar, you need, of course, vinegar as well as baking soda, kosher salt, aluminium foil, boiling water and a glass or metal tray. The process isn’t much different from the previous methods.

Follow these steps to clean silverware with vinegar:

1. Line the tray with aluminium foil and keep the shiny side face up.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and pour half a cup of white vinegar into the tray. Mix the solution until it starts to bubble.
3. Fill 3/4 of the tray with boiling water.
4. Place all the silverware pieces into the tray and make sure they are fully covered with the solution. If not, add more boiling water.
5. Depending on the amount of tarnish on silverware, soak them from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
6. Remove the silver pieces and rinse them with cold water.
7. Dry them gently with a clean microfibre cloth and store them correctly.

#7 Polishing with Ketchup

One of the unconventional ways to polish silverware is ketchup. whether believe it or not, the condiment and ingredients in ketchup can polish tarnish off silverware.

To polish with ketchup, add some on a microfibre cloth and gently rub it on silverware in a circular motion. After a few minutes of rubbing, rinse the silver pieces with warm water, remove excess residues and dry them with a clean soft cloth.

#8 Removing Water Spots Lemon

If your silverware is relatively clean but has some hard water spots on its surface, you can easily eliminate water spots with fresh lemon juice.

Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice out of one half. Dip a clean microfibre cloth into the juice and rub it on the surface of the silverware. Dry them with another clean cloth and store them in a cold and dry place afterwards.

Lemon juice not only wipes off water spots but also effectively polishes silverware.

#9 Polishing Silverware with Toothpaste

And the last method for polishing silverware is another uncommon one. Toothpaste has certain ingredients and cleaning chemical agents (such as fluoride) that are perfect for polishing silverware.

But, this is considered a cleaning myth. If you regularly clean silverware with toothpaste, it can lead to corrosion and degradation. If you do this once a year or if you are desperate to get a bright shine out of silverware, you can try it.

To do this, dilute some toothpaste in water to form a liquidy paste. Then apply the paste on the silverware with a clean microfibre cloth and rub it for a few minutes. Rinse afterwards and dry properly.

How to Prevent Silverware From Tarnishing

Tarnish is a natural process that happens on silverware due to air and humidity. To prevent it, it’s best to store silverware in a cool and dry place in a cupboard away from external factors to limit exposure to air and humidity.

For more precious silverware or antiques, you can wrap them in acid-free paper and place them inside a cotton bag. You can also wrap them in a cotton fabric and place them in a cool and dry place away from air and humidity, like a cupboard as mentioned before.

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Conclusion

Cleaning and polishing silverware and silver jewellery once or twice a year is important for the longevity of the item. There are several ways to clean and polish silverware and get rid of the tarnish. In this article, we introduced the best DIY silver cleaning ways you can do at home using ingredients and tools you already have around the house. We also discussed how to store silverware properly to prevent tarnish and degradation.

The information provided in this article can help you correctly clean and polish your silverware, get rid of tarnish and store your silverware correctly to prevent tarnish.