How to Clean Sterling Silver at Home

Last Updated: February 21, 2022 References

You can breathe new life into sterling silver by cleaning it at home. Instead of relying on commercial silver cleaners, try removing tarnish with a soft, nonabrasive cloth. For tough tarnish, try a mild dishwashing liquid or a combination of aluminum foil, baking soda, and water.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Cleanser

1
Wash sterling silver with a mild dish washing liquid. Try filling a bowl with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Dip a soft toothbrush into the soapy water, then use it to gently scrub the silver. Rinse the jewelry in a separate bowl of warm water and dry it off with a soft towel or cloth.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist
Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.}
- Be sure to use a mild, ammonia- and phosphate-free dish soap for this.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jerry Ehrenwald
  Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist
  Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.}
- Always try this before other cleaning methods.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jerry Ehrenwald
  Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist
  Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.}
2
Try a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice. Mix one teaspoon of olive oil with half a cup (120 mL) of lemon juice in a nonreactive bowl. Dip a soft, nonabrasive cloth in the lemon juice solution and polish the silver with the cloth. Rinse the silver with clean water and dry with a clean cloth.^{[4]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Use commercial silver cleaners with caution. Commercial silver cleaners contain powerful solvents that can have toxic vapors. These cleaners also might require hazardous waste disposal because of the chemicals they contain. Commercial silver cleaners can also damage sterling silver, as they might remove anti-tarnish coatings or patina.^{[5]
X
Research source}
4
Don’t scrub your silver with baking soda or toothpaste. You should avoid scrubbing sterling silver with baking soda because the baking soda can scratch the surface of the silver.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} You should also avoid scrubbing sterling silver with toothpaste.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Tarnish

1
Boil water. Place one cup (240 mL) of water in a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil on the stovetop.^{[7]
X
Research source}
2
Line a dish or bowl with aluminum foil. To clean sterling silver with baking soda, you will need a bowl or dish that can withstand boiling water, like a glass baking dish or bowl. Tear off a piece of aluminum foil large enough to line the inside of the dish or bowl. Place the foil inside the dish, making sure the bottom and sides are securely covered with foil.^{[8]
X
Research source}
3
Place the sterling silver on the foil. Once you have lined the dish or bowl with foil, place the sterling silver directly on the foil. The silver must be in contact with the aluminum foil for the chemical reaction that removes the tarnish to occur.^{[9]
X
Research source}
4
Add baking soda to the boiling water. Once the water is boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat. Add one tablespoon of baking soda to the boiling water. It is normal for the solution to bubble and forth.^{[10]
X
Research source}
5
Pour the baking soda solution into the dish. Pour the solution on top of the sterling silver. Make sure the sterling silver is completely submerged in the baking soda solution.^{[11]
X
Research source}
6
Let the silver soak in the solution for 2-10 minutes. You will need to let the sterling silver soak for several minutes to remove the tarnish. Pieces that are severely tarnished may need to soak for as long as 10 minutes.^{[12]
X
Research source}
7
Rinse the sterling silver with cool water. Once you have soaked the silver long enough to remove the tarnish, remove the silver from the baking soda solution. Rinse the jewelry with cool, clean water. If possible, use filtered water.^{[13]
X
Research source}
8
Dry the sterling silver with a soft, nonabrasive cloth. Once you have rinsed the silver, dry it with a cloth made of nonabrasive fabric like microfiber or flannel. Make sure you dry the silver completely with the cloth.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Polishing Sterling Silver

1
Use a soft, nonabrasive cloth. You don’t need to purchase a special cloth to clean and polish your sterling silver. A soft, lint-free cloth made of a fabric like flannel or microfiber works well. Using a nonabrasive cloth will prevent scratches on your sterling silver.^{[14]
X
Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.}
- Never use an old t-shirt. Printing and ink on the shirt can damage the silver.^{[15]
  X
  Research source}
- Avoid tissues and paper towels, as they can scratch sterling silver.
2
Make long, back and forth strokes. Gently polish the surface of the sterling silver. Make long strokes that go along with the grain of the silver. Avoid rubbing the cloth in circles, which can magnify existing scratches.^{[16]
X
Research source}
3
Use clean sections of the cloth. When the area of the cloth you are using to polish the sterling silver turns black, begin using a new section of the cloth. This will ensure you do not place the tarnish you are removing back on the silver.^{[17]
X
Research source}
4
Try a cotton swab for detail. If you find it difficult to reach tiny, detailed areas of the sterling silver, try using a cotton swab. Make sure the swab is one hundred percent cotton, as other materials may scratch or dull your sterling silver.

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

What is the fastest way to clean sterling silver?

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.

Marcus Shields

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Two popular silver cleaners are Tornex and CLR. These are both safe to use on silver and are non-toxic, too.
Question

How do I keep my jewelry from tarnishing?

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist
Jerry Ehrenwald, GG, ASA, is a graduate gemologist in New York City. He is the previous President of the International Gemological Institute and the inventor of U.S.-patented Laserscribe℠, a means of laser inscribing onto a diamond a unique indicia, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number). He is a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York, a social club limited to 200 of the most accomplished individuals in the jewelry business.

Jerry Ehrenwald

Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Store your jewelry in tarnish-proof fabric or a clean fabric-lined space that is enclosed and airtight. This will prevent any contact with moisture or outside air that could tarnish your jewelry. Keep the jewelry away from the bathroom or any space that contains a lot of moisture or humidity. Also, be sure to store individual jewelry pieces separately so it won't corrode from other materials.