Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

How to Clean Silver Easily

Cleaning silver can be a slow and careful process. Some types of silver are very fragile, and you feel the need to take your time with your valuable collection. Nevertheless, you don't want your silver scratched or damaged, and keeping it clean is one way to protect it from the elements. There are some rather simple things you can do to clean silver and keep it ready for display or for its next use.

Things You'll Need

Baking soda
Water
Soap
Glass
Rag or sponge
Spoon
Silver polish

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a drinking glass about halfway with hot water. It doesn't have to be scalding but hot enough to melt baking soda. Put about two spoonfuls of baking soda into the water and mix it until it dissolves. Wait a moment and put the piece of jewelry into the water.
- 2
  Check on the silver every 10 minutes or so to make sure the concoction is working. You'll want to leave it in for about 30 to 45 minutes total. If you take it out and notice that it's not cleaned, you need more time and probably a little more baking soda.
- 3
  Clean bigger pieces of silver with something such as a rag or sponge. You'll want to put baking soda and warm water on the rag and rub the tarnished area of the silver you want to clean. This could take several tries, depending on the reason the silver is stained. If this doesn't work, lay the piece down on a flat surface, cover the tarnished spot with a little baking soda and put some water on it. Let it sit.
- 4
  Wipe the baking soda and water mixture off of the piece in about 20 to 30 minutes. If the piece is not cleaned, repeat the process until the tarnish washes away.
- 5
  Use silver polish, if the baking soda method doesn't seem to be working as well as you'd like. Put a little dab of silver polish on a clean rag and rub it on the silver. Let it sit and wipe away the excess tarnish.

Other Collecting