5 Surprising Ways to Clean Tarnished Silver So It Can Finally Sparkle Like New

While silver pieces are beautiful and elegant, they come with regular maintenance to keep tarnish and dirt build-up at bay. There are plenty of commercial silver polishes you can buy, but a DIY cleaning solution is often more cost-effective with similar results. 

Here are five easy, homemade methods to clean your tarnished silver so it looks as good as new.

Baking Soda

Baking soda mixed into a paste creates an abrasive that cuts through tarnish to restore your silver’s original shine. Use this method sparingly to clean fine silver or silver jewelry since it may damage fine silver patterns or gemstones.  

1. Make a paste by mixing three parts baking soda to one part water in a small bowl.
2. Apply the paste to the tarnished areas using a soft, lint-free cloth.
3. Gently rub the silver until the tarnish is removed. Apply more paste as needed. 
4. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and dry with a clean cloth.

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Aluminum Foil and Hot Water

Aluminum foil, hot water, and a few other household ingredients create a chemical reaction to eat away at the tarnish. This method is most effective on heavily tarnished silver pieces. Use with caution on finer pieces of silver since the foil and mixture can erode delicate silver patterns.

1. Line a pan or bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
2. Place silver pieces on the aluminum foil. If there are multiple items, make sure they touch the foil, but not one another. 
3. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of table salt and 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the container.
4. Add hot water to the container until the silver is submerged.
5. Let the silver soak for three to five minutes, then turn over the silver pieces using tongs. Let the silver soak for another three to five minutes. You’ll notice the tarnish transferring from the silver to the foil.
6. Remove the silver, rinse with warm water, and dry it with a lint-free cloth.

Lemon Juice and Salt

Acidic lemon juice can clean up dull silver on its own, but the addition of a little table salt in the mixture works as an abrasive to scrub at any additional tarnish. This method works well for items in need of a light polish.

1. Mix a cup of lemon juice and a tablespoon of table salt in a bowl.
2. Dip a lint-free cloth into the solution and gently rub the silver.
3. Rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth.
4. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and dry with a clean cloth.

Toothpaste

Look no further than your bathroom vanity. A little toothpaste can go a long way in cleaning up your silver! While this method won’t remove heavy tarnish, it’s a good option for regular cleaning or lightly tarnished items.  

1. Apply a pea-sized dab of toothpaste to the silver.
2. Gently rub the paste on the tarnish spots using your fingers, soft-bristle toothbrush, or a lint-free cloth. 
3. Let the toothpaste sit for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse off with water and dry with a clean cloth. 

Ketchup

Yes—ketchup! The acidity from the tomatoes works to remove the tarnish buildup. 

1. Apply a thin layer of ketchup on the silver.
2. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. 
3. Scrub the ketchup-covered silver with a lint-free cloth. 
4. Rinse the item(s) with cold water.