How to Polish Sterling Silver

Co-authored by Jerry Ehrenwald

Last Updated: February 21, 2022 Approved

Sterling silver is an alloy of the precious metal silver that is white in color and is highly reflective of light. Because silver in its purest form is too soft for use in everyday items, most silver used in jewelry, flatware, tea sets and other household utensils is 92.5% pure combined with another metal, usually copper, to make it more durable. However, sterling silver is still a delicate metal that is prone to tarnishing. Therefore, it requires specific care to keep it clean and polished to the reflective, high shine that makes it so well-loved. Whether you have flatware, kitchen items or jewelry, learn how to polish sterling silver so that your bright treasures shine for a lifetime.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Polishing Silver with Aluminum Foil, Baking Soda, and Vinegar

Download Article

For this method of polishing silver, you will be pouring boiling water over a bowl full of other tarnish-fighting ingredients. Depending on the amount and sizes of the silver you are polishing, you will need to boil more water; just enough to completely cover your items. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
Get a heat safe bowl and cut a piece of aluminum foil to fit the inside. Lay the aluminum foil shiny side up along the interior of the bowl. If you need to use multiple sheets in order to fill the whole thing, feel free to do so. ^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
Measure out 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt, and ½ cup of white vinegar. Add these one at a time into the bowl, creating a fizzy mixture on top of the aluminum foil. If you are polishing several larger items at once, you may need to double these measurements.
Use a spoon to mix together all the ingredients in the bowl so that they completely dissolve. Leaving chunks of baking soda or salt in the mix could scratch or dull your silver.
When your water has reached a boil, slowly pour it into the mixture. Use your spoon to mix the solution a bit more to make sure that it is thoroughly combined.
Slowly drop in each piece of silver, using tongs if necessary to avoid getting burned. Allow the silver to sit for a few minutes in the solution, flipping so that both sides are exposed halfway through.
Use tongs to pick each piece of silver out of the water, and place it onto your polishing cloth. Let it sit for a moment to cool slightly, and then polish the entire area of the silver with the cloth. Focus on previously tarnished areas to make sure that they are completely clean. ^{[3]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Polishing with a Mild Detergent

Download Article

1
Fill a bowl with warm water and detergent. You will only need enough water to fully cover the silver, so your bowl may not need to be filled very deeply. Use a mild dish detergent to wash your silver. Pour a small squeeze of the detergent into the water and slosh it around with your hands a bit to mix it well. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Avoid using any soaps that have ammonia or phosphate. ^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jerry Ehrenwald
  Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist
  
  Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.}
Place all your silver items into the bowl. Use a brand new sponge or soft toothbrush to gently scrub off dirt and tarnish on your items. ^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.} Don’t allow them to soak for too long, to prevent water spots. ^{[7]
X
Research source}
^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.} Take each piece of silver out of the soapy bowl of water individually. Run it under warm or cool water to rinse all the soap off.
Use a dry microfiber towel or cloth to dry off all the water. ^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.} Be sure to catch water hidden in cracks and crevices in jewelry or silverware. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
Use a silver polishing cloth or small microfiber cloth to rub off any tarnished areas that are still visible. Don’t use any fabric or material with heavy or stiff fibers, as these will scratch and dull your silver. ^{[11]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Polishing Silver with a Store Bought Polish

Download Article

There are two primary types of silver polish available on the market: a liquid, spray on, or cream silver polish. The former is better for regular polishings and minor tarnish while the latter is best for heavy tarnish and larger silver products. ^{[12]
X
Research source}
If you are using a liquid polish, shake the bottle well before applying. Get some of the liquid or cream on a clean polishing cloth, and wipe it onto the surface of the silver. Allow it to set for 1-2 minutes depending on the amount of tarnish.
Use another section of your polishing cloth to wipe the polish around on your silver, focusing on tarnished areas. This is your primary polish session, so get off any unwanted marks or spots at this point.
Run your silver under lukewarm or cool water to wash off the polish. Use a clean sponge or cloth to remove all traces of the chemicals and completely clean the silver.
Use a new silver polishing or microfiber cloth to dry the silver. Do this immediately after rinsing to avoid the formation of new water spots on the metal. Give a final polish to your silver, and you’re done!

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Other Household Items to Polish Silver

Download Article

This classic stomach-settler is useful for more than just clearing up indigestion; polish off dirty or tarnished silver by dropping it into a cup of the fizzy liquid. Allow the silver to soak for a few minutes before removing and polishing with a microfiber cloth. Voila! Your silver is sparkly and good as new. ^{[13]
X
Research source}
Fill a bowl with ½ cup of ammonia and 1 cup of warm water, and then drop your silver in. Leaving the silver to soak for ten minutes will dissolve the grime and exposure that tarnishes your silver. Remove from the solution, rinse with clean warm water, and dry off and polish with a polishing rag.
Not nearly as appetizing as fries with ketchup, silver dunked in this tomato-based paste will be returned to its former glory after a brief soak. Fill a small bowl with ketchup and place your silver in the sauce. Use a toothbrush to scrub a wider surface with the condiment or to reach hard to reach detailed areas. Leave the ketchup on for only a few minutes, and then rinse off with fresh water and polish with your microfiber cloth. ^{[14]
X
Research source}
Silver grills aren’t the only things that can be cleaned up with toothpaste. Use a clean, soft toothbrush and a bit of toothpaste and softly scrub your silver. Rinse off the toothpaste after your scrub and dry it off with your polishing rag.
The chemicals in window cleaner work great for polishing metal in addition to glass. Spray a bit of your favorite window cleaner onto a microfiber cloth and wipe down your silver with it.

Join the Discussion...

Hacks for how to clean silver at home?

13

WikiIbisDiver633

I was recently gifted a family heirloom from an aunt of mine. It’s this really old sterling silver necklace and it’s cute, but it’s kind of... Read More

1

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist

Start by making a paste with baking soda and hot water. Maintain a 3:1 proportion of baking soda to water. So, for example, you’d mix 9 ounces... Read More

1

WikiRiverLeaper642

Try lining a baking dish with aluminum foil and fill it with boiling water and a tablespoon of salt. If you set your silver in the water and move... Read More

See all 6 Replies and

Read Discussion

Video

Read Video Transcript

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How can I make sterling silver shine again?

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

Wash it with warm water and mild dish soap that doesn't contain any ammonia or phosphate.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question

How do I remove tarnish from my sterling silver?

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

Try gently scrubbing it with a soft toothbrush to get rid of any buildup on the surface.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Too much air exposure can cause sterling silver to tarnish. Store flatware and other dinner and kitchen items in cupboards and cabinets, and store jewelry in bags or cloth pouches. Sterling silver jewelry is not likely to tarnish with regular use, so don't hesitate to wear it.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Avoid getting cleaners and food with high acid contents on your sterling silver items, as they can cause discoloration.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Some jewelry stores carry polishing cloths that are specifically made for use on sterling silver. One side cleans and removes tarnish, and the other side of the cloth polishes sterling silver to a high shine. They also work well on sterling silver items besides jewelry and are worth having on hand.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Don't clean sterling silver items unnecessarily, because too much cleaning and scrubbing can damage the surface. Smaller pieces of silver, jewelry, and items that aren't very dirty will shine best if you simply use a soft cloth or a sterling silver polishing cloth on them.

Thanks
Helpful 7 Not Helpful 3
Do not use cleaners to polish sterling silver unless specifically labeled for such use. Some chemicals, solvents and cleaners can cause permanent damage to this delicate metal.

Thanks
Helpful 15 Not Helpful 15
Never buff sterling silver with an abrasive cloth, as it can scratch the finish, causing permanent damage.

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 6

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

Log in

How to Polish Sterling Silver

Steps

Polishing Silver with Aluminum Foil, Baking Soda, and Vinegar

Polishing with a Mild Detergent

Polishing Silver with a Store Bought Polish

Using Other Household Items to Polish Silver

Join the Discussion...

Video

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories