Cleaning Your Silver

Published July 19, 2012

It’s time to start gearing up for the Holiday Season. You can feel it everywhere from the street signs to the store displays. Christmas is coming so it’s never a bad idea to start preparing for the entertaining season now. One of the most forgotten items to tend to is our silverware.

Silver tarnishes over time when it becomes exposed to air, especially damp or humid air. It is therefore important to keep your silver covered with plastic, cloth or specially treated paper once you have cleaned it.

It’s easy to keep your silver jewelry, serving pieces and flatware shiny and clean with simple, home remedies. If you prefer to stay away from harsh chemical cleaners, try the following methods to keep your silver looking beautiful.

Baking Soda:  Make a paste with baking soda and water. Coat the item with the mixture and carefully rub the mixture all over the silver. Rinse well and dry off.

Toothpaste: Believe it or not, silver can be polished with good, old-fashioned toothpaste. Simply coat the item with the toothpaste and place under warm water to make foam. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the silver. Rinse and dry well. This is a great way to clean the detailed parts of your silver.

Aluminum foil, salt and baking soda: Place a sheet of aluminum foil in the bottom of a heatproof pan. Cover with water. Add 1-teaspoon baking soda and 1-teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Add your silver pieces to the water making sure they are fully covered. Boil for 3 minutes and remove. Dry and polish with a soft cloth. The aluminum foil helps create a chemical reaction to clean the silver!

Don’t throw away that sour milk in the fridge! You can also use sour milk to clean your silver. Simply dip a clean cloth in the milk and rub on your silver pieces. Rinse and dry well.

If all else fails, you could always resort to the various choices of silver polish found on grocery store shelves. But why not try the safer and more natural methods first?

*Did you know?

White (blackboard) chalk can be placed in the chest or drawer where your silver is stored to help slow down the tarnish process?