Good way to clean silver jewelry and other silver

**katlnhats** · 06-17-2006, 12:20 AM

Hi,

This is a really easy and inexpensive way to clean all of your silver (jewelry, silverware or larger items).
You can do this in the sink for larger things, but smaller (like jewelry), just use a glass jar with a lid.
All you need are 3 things:
Aluminum foil
Water
Salt (table salt, rock salt and even baking soda as it's a natural salt as well)

I use hot water from the tap; for jewelry you can just use strips of aluminum foil and a tablespoon of salt, filling your jar half-full with water. This also works with cold water. The aluminum with the salt and water acts as a magnet for the tarnish on the silver. Just drop a few pieces of silver jewelry in the mixture for a few minutes and then take it out and wipe it off - if it's not too badly tarnished, the tarnish will be gone. If your things are really badly tarnished, it still works but you may have to repeat it a couple of times. Easy! And everything you need is usually right in the house (keep the jar covered when you're soaking your small pieces).

For bigger items, use the sink, put a sheet of foil on the bottom and a handful of salt. Run very hot water into the sink, then submerge your items in it for 2-3 minutes. The tarnish should be gone.

It's also alot easier than rubbing and rubbing with the silver polish, and that polish usually has chemicals in it that aren't good for you. Try it!

Kat

**verwon** · 06-19-2006, 07:21 AM

Hey thanks, I am out of foil, but I will have to pick some up and try this. I have some actual SILVER silverware that is badly tarnished, because I didn't know when I got it, that you aren't supposed to run it in the dishwasher with the steel stuff. OOPS! LOL!

**katlnhats** · 06-20-2006, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by verwon

Hey thanks, I am out of foil, but I will have to pick some up and try this. I have some actual SILVER silverware that is badly tarnished, because I didn't know when I got it, that you aren't supposed to run it in the dishwasher with the steel stuff. OOPS! LOL!

ROFL, that's a common mistake! It works on silver -- the real stuff, but it may take a couple times to get all the tarnish off. We "had" some real silver silverware, but gave it to our son. But this did work on it when we had it.

Hugs,
Kat

**jlieb88** · 07-01-2006, 12:07 PM

My aunt always uses toothpaste. Make sure its the minty kind. Also an inexpensive way to clean silver!
I never heard of the salt thing. I will have to try that!

**katlnhats** · 07-01-2006, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by jlieb88

My aunt always uses toothpaste. Make sure its the minty kind. Also an inexpensive way to clean silver!
I never heard of the salt thing. I will have to try that!

Hi,

That's funny, my Mom used to use toothpaste to clean silver, gold, you name it! LOL But, most of the toothpaste has baking soda in it, which is a natural salt. It worked for her too - though she scrubbed! I posted the other one cuz it's easier

Kat

**tonialj72** · 11-02-2007, 02:55 PM

Thanks so much for the info. It really helped. I got this turkish charm from a friend with my name on it that was so tarnished! Now it is all shiny!

**francisco81** · 12-15-2007, 04:52 PM

great suggestion, I wonder if it works like you said. I will have to try it on my silver jewelry. thanks for the topic and happy posting

**AnitaAllen** · 12-31-2007, 05:44 PM

I just tried this...and actually signed up for this forum because of this WONDERFUL household hint!!! IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM! I was just going to clean one item, did a Google search and BAM here I was cleaning my WHOLE jewerly box since it was SO easy!! You read and try somethings that just don't work, but this is brilliant and so cheap to do! Thank you so much for your helpful post!!

**notmini** · 02-07-2008, 10:39 AM

This is a very good advice for cleaning silverware. I'll try it on a ring at first. I don't want to ruin my wifes silverware that she got from her grandma. Do you know how you can make dishwasher parts clean and shiny again?

**Shazza08** · 02-10-2008, 05:01 AM

I tried this today on a very tarnished sterling silver charm bracelet. And it worked. I put some warm water in a small glass jar. Added a couple of rounded teaspoons of salt, and some strips of foil. Put the bracklet in and shook it around every 10-15 seconds or so every minute or so, and after about 15-20 minutes it was perfect. Like brand new. I can't believe it!! Excellent

**Zpat** · 02-20-2008, 05:42 AM

I got to try this as I got silver rings and some old but nice silver table utensils.

**Anson Richmon** · 06-08-2008, 07:06 AM

Hi,

Thanks. That seems to be a cool way to remove the tarnish off. Will try it out.

Just wondering, is there any way to prevent silver from tarnish, once and for all or probably at least a couple of years, so I wouldn't need to take out my silver jewelry and give them a bathe every now and then?

Regards,
Anson

**Shop4Bargains** · 06-10-2008, 03:56 PM

oh wow, that's pretty cool. I wonder if the salt:water ratio makes any difference. For example, if it still works if the water is too diluted, etc.

**Dan Abraham** · 10-04-2008, 02:52 AM

Awesome tip here mate!

Now I can keep my sterling silver jewelry clean, which was a huge problem for before, and I didn't want to pay like $20 for my local jewelry to clean the thing, so this works haha