How to Clean Silver Jewelry

Silver is a versatile metal with a brilliant shine that can create beautiful jewelry. However, it is quite delicate compared to other common metals, and it can quickly tarnish, get dirty, or scratch. Cleaning silver jewelry is not an easy task because of its fragile nature. Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert or use expensive tools to clean it yourself. Read Step 1 to learn how to clean silver jewelry at home.

Pour two cups of hot water into a bowl. You only need enough water to cover the entire surface of the jewelry you want to clean. This method acts as a gentle cleanser to remove tarnish without causing corrosion to the silver. If your silver jewelry is only slightly tarnished, saltwater will help clean the discoloration.

• If cleaning multiple pieces of jewelry at once, you can add more water. For cleaning just one piece, use only a small amount of water.
• If your jewelry has gemstones, be sure they won’t be affected when soaked in saltwater. While saltwater is generally gentle on most gemstones, for valuable pieces, it’s best to take them to a jewelry store where experts can clean them properly.

Add salt and aluminum foil (foil paper) to the bowl. Add one tablespoon of salt to the hot water and stir until it dissolves completely. Then tear some pieces of aluminum foil and place them into the bowl. The salt and foil mixture will react with the tarnish on your silver jewelry’s surface, restoring its shine.

• Tarnish forms when silver combines with sulfur to create silver sulfide, which is typically black. When silver sulfide encounters the salt-aluminum solution, the chemical reaction between the two materials will make the silver shiny again. This reaction works faster when the solution is warm.
• If you don’t have regular salt, you can use baking soda as a substitute. Baking soda has similar properties that enable it to create the same chemical reaction.

Soak the jewelry in the solution. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir gently to check if the tarnish has disappeared. Once you notice that your jewelry has regained its shine, remove it from the solution.

• If your jewelry is heavily tarnished, you should repeat this process a few times. Make sure the solution is hot enough because the reaction will slow down if you use cold water.

Rinse the jewelry. Rinse the jewelry with cool water to remove any remaining salt residue, then use a soft cloth or microfiber towel to gently pat it dry. Your jewelry will look as good as new. However, if you notice any remaining tarnish, repeat the process until your jewelry is fully restored.

Use silver polish specifically for metals. When tarnish forms on silver, soaking the jewelry in the salt-aluminum solution may not be enough to remove the stains. A special silver polishing solution is the safest choice for polishing silver jewelry, especially for antique pieces or those with intricate designs.

• Even specialized polishing solutions can remove a layer of silver, so if you're dealing with delicate jewelry, it’s best to take it to a professional for cleaning.
• Rather than buying regular polishing products from common stores, consider purchasing them from a jewelry store or a shop that specializes in high-quality jewelry.

Gently rub some polish onto the jewelry. Dampen a soft cloth designed for silver polishing or the sponge that comes with the polish you purchased, then apply some polish to the cloth. Gently rub the solution onto the jewelry. Be sure to rub in straight lines and up-and-down movements. Avoid pressing too hard or rubbing in circular motions as this may leave scratches or marks on the surface of the jewelry. Let the polish do its job.

Rinse and dry the jewelry. Rinse the jewelry with cool water. Be sure to rinse off any remaining polish so it does not continue to corrode the surface. Then, use a soft cloth to dry the jewelry.

Try using a silver dip solution. Silver dip solutions can remove tarnish without requiring you to rub the jewelry, but they can wear away a layer of silver. Therefore, this should only be used as a last resort. Contrary to what the term “dip” might imply, experts sometimes dip silver in these solutions to remove tarnish, but they don’t leave it submerged for too long. These solutions are typically strong chemicals and can be hazardous, so be sure to follow the instructions and consult a professional if you have any concerns.

Clean jewelry regularly. Clean silver jewelry often, and do so immediately after each use. Jewelry that is worn frequently rarely tarnishes. When tarnish is yet to form, or is just beginning to appear, rinse the jewelry with warm water (not hot) and use a mild, phosphate-free cleaner.

• It is particularly important to clean your jewelry promptly when it has been exposed to foods containing sulfur, or to items that are acidic or salty. Common foods like salt, eggs, some fruits, onions, mayonnaise, and vinegar can harm silver.
• In any case, you should rinse your silver jewelry immediately after wearing it, or at least rinse it with warm water, and avoid letting it come into contact with dirty dishwashing water that contains food residues.

• Warning: This method effectively removes tarnish, even the toughest of tarnish marks. Pour saltwater into the drain pipe after the water has cooled. This is a simple reaction between aluminum metal and silver sulfide. Table salt acts as an electrolyte, allowing the reaction to take place.