How to Polish Silver Rings

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Silver tarnishes as it’s exposed to air and light. Fortunately, restoring your silver to its original gleam can be done fairly easily. Whether you use a combination of baking soda and vinegar, salt and lemon juice, beer, aluminum foil and baking soda, silver polish, or toothpaste to get the job done, you’ll have your silver looking brand new in no time! Plus, each method is effective for rings with diamonds, gems, or other precious stones in them.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

Cleaning Rings with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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  1. Pour the 2 ingredients in a small plastic container. Then, stir the mixture 4-5 times with a spoon. You will start to see a bubbling reaction. [1]
    • You can use a metal or glass container if you’d like.
  2. Ensure the rings are completely submerged the entire time. Otherwise, you’ll have an uneven clean. Check the rings every 30 minutes to see that they’re completely soaked in the solution. Take them out of the mixture after 2 hours to keep tabs on their progress. [2]
    • If the rings don’t look clean after 2 hours, stick them back in the solution and wait 1 more hour.
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  3. Remove the rings from the baking soda and vinegar solution after a few hours. Use a toothbrush to scrub and polish the rings, paying special attention to particularly tarnished areas. [3]

    Tip : Dedicate a new, soft-bristled toothbrush to cleaning your rings and be sure to rinse it thoroughly once you're done.

  4. Turn on your faucet and let the water get cold. Then, place the ring under the water stream and rinse it for 15-20 seconds to remove the vinegar and baking soda residue. [4]
  5. Use a new, lint-free piece of cloth to remove any remaining residue and buff the rings. Make sure to flip the cloth over and use both sides to clean the rings. Otherwise, some of the residue could rub back onto the rings and you’ll have to start over. [5]
    • Do not use a paper towel to clean the rings, as this could scratch the silver.

    Did you know? The baking soda and vinegar create a chemical reaction which sucks up the tarnish and removes it from the rings.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

Soaking Your Rings in Beer

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  1. Use a regular, unopened beer to clean light tarnish off of your rings. Open the beer and transfer it into a glass or bowl.
    • You only need enough beer to cover your rings, so you may not need to use the entire can or bottle.
  2. Place your rings into the glass or bowl, then set a timer for 10-15 minutes. Allow your rings to soak so that the beer has time to remove the tarnish.
    • Leaving your rings in the beer for longer than 15 minutes won't harm them, but it's not necessary.
  3. Hold the rings under a stream of running water to rinse off the beer. Make sure you rinse the rings thoroughly to remove all of the beer.
    • Be careful not to drop the rings. It may be a good idea to close the drain in the sink just in case.
  4. First, soak up any excess water. Then, use the cloth to lightly buff the rings to remove any remaining tarnish. Your rings should look shiny and clean!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

Using Lemon Juice and Salt

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  1. Use a measuring cup to pour the correct amount of water into a bowl. Use warm water so that the salt will more easily dissolve.
    • Don't use hot water because you don't want to accidentally burn yourself.
  2. Measure out the correct amount of salt and lemon juice. Add them to your warm water, then stir the ingredients together with a spoon until the salt dissolves.
    • It should only take a couple of minutes to mix the ingredients.
  3. Measure out the dry milk, then slowly pour it into the bowl. Stir the mixture with a spoon until the dry milk completely dissolves in the water. Once the water is an opaque, milky white, your solution is ready to use.
    • You can try doing this method without the milk. If you don't want to use dry milk, triple the amount of salt and lemon juice you use. Add 3 tbsp (51 g) of salt and 3 US tbsp (44 mL) of lemon juice.
  4. Slowly drop your rings into your homemade cleaning solution. Then, leave them to sit for at least 6-8 hours. This gives the solution time to work.
    • You can leave them to soak overnight for an easy option. Otherwise, set a timer so you can check on them in 6-8 hours.
  5. Use a fork or slotted spoon to retrieve your rings from the cleaning solution. Then, hold your rings under warm running water. Rinse your rings until all of the cleaning solution is removed.
    • Be careful that you don't accidentally drop your rings in the sink. It's best to close the drain just in case.
  6. Pat your rings dry to remove any excess moisture. Then, use your cloth to buff the rings, which should remove any remaining tarnish. Your rings should look shiny and tarnish-free!
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Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Polishing Rings with Aluminum Foil

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  1. You can use a plastic, glass, or metal bowl or dish for this process. Rip off a sheet of aluminum foil and use it to cover the entire inside of the bowl. [6]
    • To ensure the aluminum foil fits securely, wrap it around the edges of the bowl and press down firmly to lock it in place.
  2. Use enough water to fill the dish that’s covered in aluminum foil. Place the pot on the stove and turn the burner to high. Keep the pot on the stove until the water comes to a roaring boil. [7]
    • The aluminum foil dish doesn’t need to be that big to fit a couple of rings, so you won't need a lot of water. As a result, it should come to a boil within a few minutes.
  3. If you’re working with an 8 oz (230 g) container, you’ll only need 1 cup (240 mL) of water and therefore only 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of baking soda. Pour the baking soda into the water and stir the mixture for about 5 minutes. [8]
    • The solution will froth and bubble a little bit.
  4. Set the rings at the bottom of the dish. Depending on how many rings you’re trying to clean, some of the rings might touch up against the side of the dish. This is why it’s important to have the sides of the dish covered in aluminum foil as well. Let the rings sit on top of the aluminum foil for 5 minutes. [9]
    • In order for the chemical reaction to occur, the rings need to be touching the aluminum foil at all times.
  5. Remove the mixture from the stove and slowly pour it into the dish. Wear oven mitts and pour carefully. Let the rings sit in the solution for 10 minutes. [10]
    • Depending on the level of tarnish, the job might be done in 2 minutes. Check your rings every few minutes to see how much of the tarnish has worn off. Once the rings look shiny and polished, you can remove them from the solution with tongs.
  6. Take the rings out of the solution and put them on a kitchen towel. You can finish drying the rings off by wiping them with a clean, white cloth. [11]
    • This process works for anything that’s made of silver.

    Did you know? The aluminum foil works with the solution of water and baking soda to reverse the chemical reaction that made the silver tarnish in the first place.

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Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

Using Silver Polish to Clean Your Rings

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  1. You get can silver polish at your local hardware store or buy a bottle online. Squeeze out a dab of polish and rub it into the cloth. You can dampen the cloth if you’d like. [12]
    • You can get a bottle of silver polish for under $10.
  2. Don’t rub the polish in a circular motion. If you do this, you’ll highlight the scratches in the rings. Place your fingers in the cloth and gently rub the polish over each part of your rings. The polish will eliminate the tarnish and make your silver rings shine. [13]

    Tip : Use a clean cloth for each ring and flip the cloth over when you see tarnish on the fabric to avoid transferring it back to the silver.

  3. Run the faucet for 2 minutes so that the water becomes warm. Once the water heats up, place the rings underneath the faucet to remove any excess polish. Then, buff the rings with a new, dry cloth to get the shine you’re looking for. [14]
    • Clean the rings with an unused cloth to avoid putting the tarnish or polish back on the rings.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

Utilizing Non-Gel Toothpaste to Clean Your Rings

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  1. Put a dollop of toothpaste directly on the silver. Apply the same amount of toothpaste you would use to brush your teeth. It doesn’t matter where on the ring you put the toothpaste because you’ll be spreading it evenly with your toothbrush. [15]

    Warning : Do not use toothpaste with gel to clean your rings. The gel will not clean the rings effectively.

  2. Add a few drops of water to your toothbrush and vigorously scrub the toothpaste into the rings. Get in all the tough to reach spots, such as any engravings. The toothpaste will eliminate the tarnish and make your silver look good as new. [16]
    • Use a new, clean, soft-bristled toothbrush for this job.
    • Wipe off any excess toothpaste with a dry cloth.

    Tip : If your rings have a ton of tarnish on them, let them sit for about 1-2 minutes before finishing the job.

  3. Turn on your faucet and place each ring under the running water for about 30 seconds. Be sure to remove all the toothpaste and tarnish residue [17]
    • Pat the rings dry with a cloth when you’re done.
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Join the Discussion...

Hacks for how to clean silver at home?
WikiIbisDiver633
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
WikiRiverLeaper642
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
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      Tips

      • You can prevent tarnishing by keeping your silver rings in an anti-tarnish bag. Put a piece of chalk in the bag to soak up any moisture that gets inside. [18]
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      • Wearing your rings often will also help prevent tarnishing because the friction will rub off the tarnish. [19]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlXW3IdlB-Y#t=1m12s
      2. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlXW3IdlB-Y#t=1m43s
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlXW3IdlB-Y#t=1m51s
      5. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/homemade-jewelry-cleaner-clean-silver-jewelry-one-simple-trick-t103333
      6. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/homemade-jewelry-cleaner-clean-silver-jewelry-one-simple-trick-t103333
      7. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/homemade-jewelry-cleaner-clean-silver-jewelry-one-simple-trick-t103333
      8. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/
      9. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/homemade-jewelry-cleaner-clean-silver-jewelry-one-simple-trick-t103333
      1. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/
      2. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/homemade-jewelry-cleaner-clean-silver-jewelry-one-simple-trick-t103333
      3. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/
      5. ↑ https://newengland.com/today/living/cleaning/homemade-silver-cleaner/
      6. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-polish-silver-with-toothpaste-210817
      7. ↑ https://lifehacker.com/use-toothpaste-to-polish-silver-5939760
      8. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-polish-silver-with-toothpaste-210817
      9. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/
      10. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a46705/how-to-clean-silver/

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