Knowing how to clean silver-plated items keeps them from becoming tarnished and dull. There are many commercial products to clean silver and silver-plated objects but you can also use safe and natural products such as baking soda and salt.
When cleaning silver-plated pieces, it is important to avoid excessive polishing as it can wear down the finish. It is also recommended to clean silver immediately after use, especially if it has come into contact with certain foods, to prevent sulfur buildup and tarnishing.
Use the following steps to learn how to clean silver-plated items naturally.
Silver vs. Silver-Plated
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The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
To tell the difference between a silver item and a silver-plated item, hold up a magnet and see how it reacts to the item. A silver-plated item will be magnetic, since it is made of various metals. If it's not magnetic, it's silver.
For older silver pieces, check with an antique dealer to see if it's valuable enough that it should be left in its current condition, if you decide you want to sell it. Restoring silver, even silver-plating, garners controversy in the antique market—some believe it's more damaging to the item, while others prioritize the brand-new look.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Bucket, washtub, or baking dish
- Pot to boil water
- Tongs
Materials
- Aluminum foil
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Soft rag
Instructions
How to Clean Silver-Plated Items With Baking Soda and Salt
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The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
To clean a silver-plated item, immerse and soak it in a foil-lined container filled with boiling water, salt, and baking soda and watch the tarnish disappear.
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Assess the Tarnish
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Decide how much of the tarnish you want to remove. Some people want the item to look like new, while others prefer to leave a portion of the tarnish intact to give it some character.
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Mix the Cleaning Solution
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Combine 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of baking soda for every gallon of water. Use a bucket or tub large enough for your silver items to lay flat and still be entirely submerged in the concoction; keep in mind that the solution will bubble, so be sure to account for this reaction when checking the height of your container.
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Line a Bucket With Aluminum Foil
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Place a few sheets of aluminum foil, shiny side up, at the bottom of your container. The container should be flat enough on the bottom that the silverware can lie directly against it.
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Sprinkle Salt and Baking Soda on Foil
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Sprinkle equal parts salt and baking soda on the aluminum foil.
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Add Boiling Water
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Pour boiling water carefully into the container, careful not to scald yourself with the water or steam. There should be enough water to completely cover the pieces you are cleaning. The liquid should start to bubble and fizz, and you might smell a slightly pungent odor from the chemical reaction during the process.
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Allow Silver to Soak
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Place the silver-plated items side by side in the container using tongs. If the tarnish isn't dissolving soon after beginning the process, add more salt, baking soda, or water and ensure the aluminum foil is in direct contact with the items. Do not let the silver overlap or touch each other.
Let the silver soak for up to 30 minutes, then carefully remove it from the hot mixture with tongs, and wipe with a soft rag. If tarnish remains, soak the item longer.
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Rinse and Dry
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Rinse each silver item with clean water to remove any leftover mixture. Dry with a soft rag so no moisture is left, since any moisture could cause the silver to tarnish again.
Additional Tips to Clean Silver-Plated Items
- Lemon: Lemon juice removes water spots from silver-plated items. Dip a microfiber cloth in lemon juice and wipe off tarnish and water spots.
- Vinegar: This is the best method for removing moderate amounts of tarnish in minutes. Submerge your item in undiluted white vinegar and let it sit there for 15 minutes (for light tarnish) to a couple of hours (for heavier tarnish). Rinse in plain water and dry the silver-plated piece.
- Ketchup: Ketchup is good for polishing silver-plated objects to a shine. Squeeze ketchup onto a microfiber rag, gently polish the silver plate, and then buff the ketchup off with a clean rag.
- Toothpaste: Regular white, non-gel toothpaste shines silver-plated items. Squeeze a bit onto a microfiber cloth, gently rub it onto the silver plate, and buff it with a clean cloth.
How to Store Silver-Plated Items
Store silver-plated items as you would any silver item so that it can remain moisture-free. Store it in a drawer or container lined with a tarnish-resistant fabric, silver cloth, acid-free tissue paper, or unbleached cotton muslin.
Place the wrapped item into a cotton or anti-tarnish bag. Avoid storing silver-plated pieces in plastic because of potentially trapped moisture.
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Can silver-plated items be restored?
Silver plating can be restored by re-plating the item by removing the old coating and adding a new silver layer. Contact a silver restoration service to handle the job.
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How do you clean silver plate that has turned black?
Make a heavy paste of baking soda and water to clean off the black tarnish from silver-plated items. Rub the paste on the item, leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse with a damp cloth with cool water and buff dry.
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Can you clean silver plate with Coca-Cola?
Carefully clean silver-plated items with Coca-Cola by letting a small piece soak in the liquid for a minute or so until you see the tarnish disappear. The acid in the liquid cuts through the tarnish.
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What should I not clean silver plated items with?
Do not place silver-plated objects in the dishwasher. High heat, chemicals, reactions with stainless steel, and acids in lingering food can harm the silver plate's finish. In addition, do not use abrasive or harsh cleaners, including chlorine bleach, to clean silver-plated pieces.