How to Remove Tarnish from Stainless Steel Jewelry: 4 Simple Cleaning Methods

Co-authored by Edward Lewand and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: September 27, 2021

Stainless steel jewelry is classic, fabulous, and chic. Not so much if it's super tarnished, though. If you want your jewelry to look brand new once again, there are a ton of simple solutions you can try. No expensive trip to the jeweler necessary!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Baking Soda

1
Combine baking soda and water to make a cleaning paste. This method will remove tarnish from your jewelry and can also help you polish it as well. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of baking soda and ¹⁄₂ tablespoon (7.4 mL) of water in a small bowl. Stir the ingredients together with a spoon until the substance forms a paste.^{[1]
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2
Use a toothbrush to scrub the jewelry with the solution. Submerge a toothbrush in the baking soda paste and gently scrub down each piece of jewelry. Try to work the toothbrush into the crevices of the jewelry to make sure you remove all the tarnish, dust, and grime.^{[2]
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3
Wash off the solution with water and let the jewelry dry. Run warm water from the faucet over the jewelry to rinse off the baking soda. After that, wipe down each piece with a clean cloth to dry the jewelry.^{[3]
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- Wait for your jewelry to fully dry before putting it away in storage. To keep the jewelry protected when you store it, keep it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Try a jewelry holder made out of a soft material.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Dish Soap

1
Mix dish soap and hot water to make the solution. This method is great for removing grime like grease from your jewelry in addition to removing tarnish. Combine 1-3 drops of dish soap with hot water. You don't need an exact measurement for the amount of water you use. Just make sure it will be enough to fully submerge the jewelry.^{[5]
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- Any standard dish soap will do.
2
Wet a cloth with the dish soap and water solution.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser
Expert Interview. 6 August 2019.} Choose a soft cloth that won't scratch or damage your jewelry in the cleaning process. Then, dampen the cloth with the solution.^{[7]
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3
Scrub your jewelry with the cloth. Clean off any tarnish, dirt, or dust. Use gentle motions to avoid scratching or damaging your jewelry.^{[8]
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4
Rinse off your jewelry in water and let it dry. Once you're done scrubbing your jewelry, wash off the cleaning solution with warm water. Then, use a cloth to dry off the jewelry.^{[9]
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- Once the jewelry is dry, store it away from direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

White Vinegar

1
Combine water and white vinegar to make your solution. Try out white vinegar to restore the shine in your jewelry in addition to removing any tarnish. Pour 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water and 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar into a spray bottle.^{[11]
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2
Spray the solution onto a cloth to wipe down the jewelry. Opt for a cloth made of soft material so that it won't scratch the stainless steel. Then, spray the solution on the cloth until it's damp and gently scrub the jewelry.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Edward Lewand
Graduate Gemologist & Accredited Appraiser
Expert Interview. 6 August 2019.} This will clean off any tarnish, dust, or dirt.^{[13]
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3
Soak the jewelry in the solution as an alternative. Combine 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water and 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar in a bowl. Next, place the jewelry in the solution. Fully submerge each piece and allow them to soak for up to 5 minutes.^{[14]
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4
Dry off the jewelry. To do so, gently rub the jewelry with a clean cloth. Avoid putting the jewelry back in storage until it is fully dry.^{[15]
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- Store your sparkling clean jewelry in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight.^{[16]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Toothpaste

1
Apply the toothpaste to a wet cloth. This is a terrific means to polish and remove tarnish from your jewelry with an ingredient you surely have at home. First, wet a cloth with water. After it's fully damp, dab a small amount of toothpaste on the cloth. Use plain toothpaste for this method.^{[17]
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- Avoid toothpaste with any whitening products in the ingredients, as these can be too hard on your jewelry and damage it.
2
Scrub your jewelry with the cloth. Use gentle motions to scrub the surface without leaving any scratches. This will remove any tarnish and grime, and will also help you restore your jewelry's shine.^{[18]
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3
Rinse the jewelry in warm water. Do this to wash off the remaining toothpaste. Make sure to rinse off any crevices to make sure you remove all of the toothpaste.^{[19]
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4
Wipe down the jewelry with a cloth to dry it. Make sure no water remains before storing your jewelry. Once it's dry, store it out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry location.^{[20]
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