Even when you're careful to use and store your silver items correctly, it's still likely that they'll naturally tarnish over time. But if you're wondering how to clean silver, these expert tips can help get your pieces looking shiny and bright once again.
Silver jewelry, cutlery, and other items have a chemical reaction to sulfur in the air, which is what causes them to tarnish. It's hard to prevent this from happening entirely, but it's easy to polish your silver so it returns to its lustrous state. We tapped Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Cleaning Lab for her advice on several DIY methods for cleaning silver. She filled us in on which homemade cleaning remedies are best for polishing silver and how often you should clean silver.
How to clean silver with polish
What You'll Need
The easiest and most effective way to make silver sparkle is with a targeted silver polish like Good Housekeeping Seal star Weiman Silver Polish. Follow the product directions or this step-by-step guide to polish silver properly:
- Put a small amount of silver polish on a clean cloth, dampened if necessary.
- Rub the polish on your item in an up-and-down motion, not circular to avoid highlighting fine scratches.
- Turn the cloth frequently as you work, so tarnish isn't deposited back on your item.
- Wash and rinse in warm water and buff with a clean, dry cloth to shine.
How to clean silver naturally with soap or baking soda
What You'll Need
While Forté prefers a silver polish, we found some success with homemade remedies. If you're in a pinch, you can turn to your pantry for dish soap, baking soda or toothpaste.
- For silver that is dull, filmy or not yet discolored, mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water and dip in a soft cloth. Rub the item, then rinse in cool water and buff with a cloth until dry.
- For silver that is heavily tarnished, mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Wet the silver and apply the cleaner with a soft, lint-free cloth (not paper towels). Work the paste into the crevices, turning the cloth as it gets gray. Rinse and buff dry.
- For silver jewelry that is tarnished, apply a tiny dab of white paste toothpaste (not gel) on a soft cloth and very gently rub it on the silver. Rinse well with warm water and shine with a soft cloth.
How to store silver and prevent tarnish
Natural discoloration is unavoidable, but there are some ways to ensure your flatware, jewelry and trays don't lose their luster as quickly. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to prevent tarnish:
- Store each piece of silver jewelry in its own anti-tarnish bag in a cool, dry spot.
- Tuck a piece of chalk in an anti-tarnish bag to help absorb moisture from the air.
- Put jewelry on after spraying perfume to prevent your fragrance from landing on the silver.
- Don't be afraid to wear your silver: Friction slows down tarnishing, which means the more you wear it, the more it'll shine.
How often should you polish silver?
Polishing, while necessary, is abrasive so no matter how delicate your hand, there's no need to go overboard with cleaning — anywhere from two to six times a year works in most cases.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
