Key Takeaways
- Clean silver with baking soda and water by soaking or applying a paste, then rinse and dry.
- Store silver in anti-tarnish cloth and avoid rubber to slow tarnishing and reduce cleaning needs.
- Rare silver antiques may lose value if cleaned improperly, so consult an expert first.
Keeping your silver pieces in tip-top shape can be easy when using the proper materials at home. There are many silver items you may have at home that can use a bit of cleaning due to tarnish, including jewelry, coins, candlesticks, lamps, antique trinkets, and silver dining sets like serveware, dinnerware, silverware, and drinkware. These items look their best when they shine, but they dull when exposed to hydrogen sulfide in the air.
Most silver items are made using sterling silver, a silver alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. “Alloying this small amount of other metal with the silver greatly increases the strength and durability of the silver, but it also greatly increases its susceptibility to tarnish,” explains Emily Hill, co-founder of AL&EM Fine and Permanent Jewelry, based in Charleston, South Carolina. “Because of this, some silver items may need to be cleaned often.” Learning to clean your silver at home will make maintaining your silver items much easier and more convenient.
While many silver items at home can be cleaned with baking soda, there are a few that shouldn’t. “Rare silver antiques should not be cleaned with baking soda, at least without consulting an expert first,” says Alex Klaes, co-founder of AL&EM Fine and Permanent Jewelry. “These pieces could be very valuable and cleaning them may actually lower their value.” These collectibles develop unique discolorations, known as a patina, over long periods of time. This patina is an extremely desirable trait to some collectors, as it highlights the piece’s authenticity and age. Hill advises to ask a professional with expertise in the specific type of silver antique you have before cleaning.
Below, Hill and Klaes give us the rundown on how to properly clean your silver pieces at home with baking soda.
How Often To Clean Silver
This will depend on several factors, including how it is stored and what it is exposed to. “Storing your silver in anti-tarnish cloth will greatly reduce the speed at which your silver will tarnish, so it will need to be cleaned far less often,” explains Klaes. “Exposure to sulfur will tarnish your silver quickly, so avoid rubber bands or other rubber products.” Proper storage and treatment will reduce how often you should clean your silver. As a general rule, it should be cleaned a few times a year or more often if it’s displayed out in the open.
What You Need
- Baking soda
- Hot water
- Soft cloth
- Large container to hold silver item
- White vinegar (optional)
- Salt (optional)
- Aluminum foil (optional)
How To Clean Silver With Baking Soda
Step 1: Gather Materials
To clean silver with baking soda you will need to gather all your materials, including baking soda, hot water, a soft cloth, and a container large enough to hold the silver item.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients
Combine 1 cup of baking soda per gallon of hot water in the container.
Step 3: Soak
Soak the silver in the mixture until all tarnish is removed.
Step 4: Rinse And Dry
Remove the silver, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth.
How To Clean Large Silver Items With Baking Soda
This method is best for larger silver items that are too big to be soaked.
- Gather all your materials, including baking soda, hot water, and a soft cloth.
- Combine baking soda and water to create a paste.
- Apply the paste to a soft cloth, and wipe the surface of the silver to remove tarnish.
- Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
- To clean silver with baking soda and vinegar you will need to gather your ingredients including baking soda, vinegar, salt (optional), hot water, a soft cloth, and a container large enough to hold the silver item.
- Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda per 2 cups of hot water in the container and then soak the silver in the mixture. Adding a tablespoon of salt to the mixture will increase its effectiveness, but it is not required.
- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the mixture to accelerate the cleaning chemical reaction.
- When all the tarnish is gone, remove the silver from the mixture, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth.
Baking Soda And Aluminum Foil
- To clean silver with baking soda and aluminum foil, you will need to gather your materials, including baking soda, aluminum foil, hot water, a soft cloth, and a container large enough to hold the silver item.
- Line the container with aluminum foil, then fill with the hot water and baking soda, combining 1 cup of baking soda per gallon of water.
- Soak the silver in the mixture until all tarnish is removed.
- Remove the silver, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth.
Tips To Keep Your Silver Clean Longer
- Store silver items like jewelry, flatware, and serving pieces in a velvet-lined box or soft anti-tarnish storage bags to prevent tarnish.
- Polish silver items regularly with a lint-free cloth, even if they don’t appear dirty.
- For jewelry, avoid lotions, shampoos, and other beauty products because they contain sulfates, which cause tarnishing.
- Wash silver serving ware and utensils with soap and water after using to keep the silver’s shine and remove acidic or sticky residue that can harm its surface.
- Use your silver. Regular use can help delay tarnishing.
- Dry silver with a soft cloth immediately after getting it wet, buffing to a high shine.
- Don’t wrap silver in newspapers or use rubber bands since these items contain chemicals that can react with silver.