The Easiest Way to Clean Tarnished Silver

Give your silver a pick-me-up with this simple cleaning trick.

My go-to method for cleaning tarnished silver has been this easy, fast, and safe method. Silver restoration isn't something everyone recommends, especially when it comes to antique silvers, but for items used day-to-day, cleaning goes a long way. 

I've used it on solid silver and silver-plated items alike. It works in a pinch for silver-plated utensils, silver platters, sterling silver, antique silver, and finer silver jewelry. It's inexpensive and gets the job done right in front of your eyes.

How does it work?

It's an acidic reaction! Other tutorials will point out that toothpaste, vinegar, and lemon juice are household products that clean silver (they do!). This technique just works a little harder with less elbow grease.

You’ll Need

• Aluminum foil
• Boiling water
• Baking soda
• Salt
• A non-metallic container (like a glass or plastic dish)
• Tongs or a spoon

Step 1: Line a Container With Aluminum Foil

• Line a glass or ceramic bowl or dish with aluminum foil. A small container works well for silver jewelry, but for larger dining silver pieces (like forks, knives, and small accessories), a glass casserole dish is my go-to because I can lay items flat and fully submerged.
• Contact with the foil is important — the foil fosters an electrochemical reaction that'll remove the silver sulfide (tarnish) from household silver.

Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda and Salt

• Add dry ingredients to the foil. We recommend 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt for each cup of water you'll add to the container in Step 4.
• Sprinkle these dry ingredients across the surface of the foil before adding water or silver items.

Step 3: Boil Water

• Boil enough water to fully submerge your tarnished silver items. Depending on the size of your container and the amount of silver you’re cleaning, this could be anywhere from a couple of cups to a few quarts.

Step 4: Add the Cleaning Ingredients

• Pour the hot water into the foil-lined container, covering the entire surface. You’ll notice some bubbling as the ingredients dissolve, which is perfectly normal.

Step 5: Submerge Your Silver

• Place your tarnished pieces into the solution. Make sure each piece is touching the foil to ensure the reaction occurs. Don't stack items.
• The tarnish will begin to lift almost immediately due to the chemical reaction. You might even see it transferring to the foil!

Step 6: Wait and Watch

• Let your silver soak. 10 minutes is usually enough, depending on the level of tarnish. For particularly stubborn spots, you can leave it a bit longer or gently rub the area with a soft cloth while it’s submerged.
• You can also repeat the chemical experiment, adding a higher volume of salt and baking soda to the dish to deep treat tough oxidation.
• Still not dissolving tarnish to completion? A silver cleaner might work more effectively at this point, now that the bulk of the tarnish has been eliminated.

Step 7: Rinse and Dry

• Remove your silver from the solution using tongs or a spoon, and rinse it thoroughly with warm water.
• Dry each piece with a soft, clean cloth to prevent water spots and create a nice shine. 

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Products for Polishing Silver

Polishing silver jewelry after cleaning it with the tin foil and boiling water method isn't necessary, but it does do something a little extra. "When I’m setting the table, I like to give silver pieces a quick refresh with Weiman Silver Polish for an extra shine," shared Jill Koch, creator of blog Jill Comes Clean. Wright's Silver Polish is another go-to for many consumers.

If you decide to polish your silver jewelry, use a soft cotton cloth designed for polishing silver. A microfiber cloth or a special silver polishing cloth works best.

Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive materials, as they can scratch and damage the silver.

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Does the lemon-lime soda trick really work to remove silver?

Meh, not for us. This method relies on the acidity of the soda, which can help break down tarnish. While it could work for minor tarnish, the tin foil and boiling water technique is more effective on heavier oxidized tarnish.