The gleam of sterling or silver-plated jewelry, flatware, and serving pieces is gorgeous, but exposure to air tarnishes silver over time. Instead of commercial silver polishes that contain harsh chemicals, polish silver with baking soda, water and aluminium foil for a fast and easy way to restore the shine.
Sterling silver will not be damaged by aluminum and baking soda. Other types of silver may be damaged by this method, however. Only use it for sterling silver pieces. If you're not sure if your jewelry is sterling silver, err on the side of caution and refrain from washing it with aluminum and baking soda.
For silver that is heavily tarnished, mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Wet the silver and apply the cleaner with a soft, lint-free cloth (not paper towels). Work the paste into the crevices, turning the cloth as it gets gray. Rinse and buff dry.
Carefully pour the hot water over the items in the tub and add 1 cup of baking soda per gallon of water. Allow items to soak for up to 30 minutes, depending on how heavily tarnished. Let water cool down or remove items with tongs.
Place the soiled silver items into the foil-lined bowl. Pour very hot water into the bowl to cover the silver items. Add two heaping tablespoons of baking soda to the water until it begins to bubble. Allow the silver items to soak in the baking powder mixture for about 30 minutes.
This type of reaction creates carbonic acid. This carbonic acid is what helps to break down the tarnish and other buildup on your silver jewelry, leaving it clean and shiny. STEP 1: Combine a cup of lukewarm water, ½ cup white vinegar, and two tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl.
Baking soda leaves behind a white, dusty residue after it dries. Therefore, you should never use it to clean surfaces with deep grooves or cracks because the residue will get left behind and can build up.
This is a classic, easy DIY silver cleaning recipe. Use non-gel and non-abrasive toothpaste. Squeeze a small amount of it on a soft cloth or paper handkerchief. Rub onto the jewellery or silverware with circular motions to polish it and clean off the tarnish.
Cleaning silver with Vinegar
Even the most tarnished pieces of silverware can come back to life just by using vinegar. The combination of bicarbonate of soda, aluminium foil and vinegar make for a deadly foe to tarnish and will leave your silverware looking beautiful once more.
Toothpaste contains abrasive particles that can polish off tarnish. These same particles can scratch silver up as well. In particular, you should avoid using toothpaste on sterling silver, highly-polished silver, or anything that is silver-plated.
Cleaning silver with vinegar is safe for your silver, you, and the environment, and it's great for bringing back the sparkle. Vinegar is a natural cleaner, disinfectant, and deodorizer that is tough on tarnish. Here's how to polish silver and get back that sparkling shine with vinegar and baking soda.
Silver is a common metal used in jewelry or dinnerware. If you don't have any chemical cleaner, you can use Coca-Cola, or Coke, as a simple cleaning substitute for sterling or plated silver. The acid in Coke works to cut through any grime or rust on the silver's surface.
Use vinegar, tea tree oil and baking soda.
Cover the jewelry with half a cup of white vinegar and one drop of tea tree oil. Leave the jewelry to soak in the mixture overnight, or for eight hours while you are at work. If you see debris floating around in the solution, you know it is working.
"Oxidation on silver can be cleaned off with lemon juice and baking soda," Rebecca Harvey shared. Easy enough to just reach in the fridge and pantry for these supplies, we set to work.
Over time, as silver is exposed to air, a chemical reaction occurs that gives silver a black tarnish. Luckily, your rings and bracelets aren't destroyed—you just need to learn how to clean silver jewelry at home to remove this tarnish and make these pieces shine.
Polish Silver with Ketchup: For extra sheen, try cleaning silver with ketchup. The condiment can be used as a paste to polish tarnished metals including brass and silver. Remove Water Spots from Silver with Lemon: Lemon is an effective natural cleaner that can be used on silver, too.