How to Make a DIY Silver Cleaner at Home

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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Updated on 01/24/24
Reviewed by
Amanda Rose Newton
Amanda Rose Newton
Reviewed by Amanda Rose Newton

Amanda Rose Newton is a pest specialist and horticulture expert, reviewing pest control and gardening content for The Spruce's Cleaning and Gardening Review Board. Her passion for pest control and sustainable gardening allows her to review plant and pest content for best practices and accuracy. She is a board-certified entomologist and volunteers for USAIDs Farmer to Farmer program. She is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and a pest specialist.

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Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

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In This Article
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 15 mins
  • Total Time: 20 - 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5

Whether you're cleaning jewelry, silverware, or serving pieces, a DIY silver cleaner can be the most cost-effective and simply ways to get back a polished, gleaming finish. All it takes is a few simple ingredients that you probably already have around the house.

silver cleaning

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

The best DIY silver cleaners include salt, baking soda, aluminum foil, and water. When tarnished silver and these household cleaners combine, a chemical reaction occurs known as ion exchange.

During this process, the tarnish on the silver (silver sulfide) is released and becomes aluminum sulfide on the foil. If the silver is tarnished enough, you may see brown or yellowish tarnish flakes on the aluminum foil. The process can be used on sterling silver or silver-plated items. However, it's important to note that silver cleaners can be abrasive, so it’s best to limit cleanings to when the pieces truly need it.

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Warning

While this cleaning method will remove tarnish, it can also harm your silver by loosening glued areas and removing so much of the patina that ornate patterns are lost. It is not recommended for use with fine silver or tarnished jewelry that is set with gemstones or pearls.

When the silver is added to the cleaning solution, the chemical reaction will create fumes (hydrogen sulfide) that smell like rotten eggs. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. You will also be using boiling water so take precautions to prevent accidents.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 1 Aluminum or glass pan large enough to submerge the silver
  • 1 Tea kettle or pot for boiling water
  • 1 Stovetop
  • 1 Microfiber cloth
  • 1 Plastic or wooden tongs

Materials

  • 1 Aluminum foil
  • 1 Table salt
  • 1 Baking soda
  • 1 Boiling water

Instructions

How to Clean Silver With a DIY Silver Cleaner

materials for cleaning silver
The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  1. Line a Dish With Foil

    Line the bottom of an aluminum pan or glass baking dish with aluminum foil. You can use a plastic tub but be sure that it will not be damaged by the boiling water.

    Tip

    If you select a pan that can be placed directly on the stovetop, you can create the cleaning solution, submerge the silver, and heat the water to boiling on the stovetop. This method works best for heavily tarnished items that need to stay in the heated solution for a longer period.

  2. Place Silver on Foil

    Place your silver pieces on top of the aluminum foil. Make sure they are touching the aluminum foil but the pieces themselves should not touch each other.

    dropping silver pieces into the water
    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

  3. Add Salt and Baking Soda

    Sprinkle two tablespoons of table salt and two tablespoons of baking soda into the container.

    adding baking soda to the basin of water
    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

  4. Add Boiling Water

    Pour enough boiling water into the pan to completely cover the silver.

    filling a container lined in foil with water

     The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  5. Soak for 2-3 Minutes

    • Allow the silver to soak for two to three minutes.
    • Turn over the silver pieces using a wooden or plastic utensil (tongs work best) so that as many surfaces of the item touch the foil as possible.
    • Let the silver soak another two to three minutes on the other side, or soak as long as five minutes for heavily tarnished items. If the water cools down during this process, add more hot water and refresh the baking soda and salt.
    letting the silver soak
    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  6. Remove, Rinse, and Buff

    • Remove the silver items, being careful not to drag them across the foil.
    • Rinse them with fresh water and buff dry with a lint-free microfiber cloth.
    carefully removing silver items
    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

Tips to Prevent Tarnish on Silver

  • Don't be afraid to use your silver jewelry and silverware—silver that's used more often tends to tarnish less.
  • Store all silver items in a cool, dry place. Higher humidity increases the likelihood of tarnishing.
  • When storing silver, keep it free from moisture by wrapping it in acid-free tissue or fabric that deters tarnish, such as unbleached cotton, silver cloth, or tarnish-resistant flannel.
  • Use chalk or silica bags in the storage area to help absorb moisture that can speed tarnish development.
  • For a quick polish, make a paste of baking soda and water. Dip a soft cloth in the paste and gently rub it on the silver. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the tarnish is transferred. Rinse well and dry the silver with a microfiber cloth.
FAQ
  • What does vinegar and baking soda do to silver?

    Vinegar and baking soda will react with silver to remove tarnish. A chemical reaction between the vinegar, baking soda, and silver destroys the oxidation on the silver that causes tarnish.

  • Do baking soda and aluminum foil damage silver?

    No, baking soda and aluminum foil do not damage silver. They cause an electrolytic action which helps remove tarnish.

  • Can toothpaste clean silver?

    Toothpaste is actually an abrasive substance that can damage silver and other metals.

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Originally written by
Erin Huffstetler
Erin Huffstetler

Erin Huffstetler is a frugal living expert who has been writing for over 10 years about easy ways to save money at home.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Finishing Techniques in Metalwork. Philadelphia Museum of Art