This article was co-authored by Alicia Sokolowski and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert® certified, and EWG verified™ cleaning products. AspenClean’s glass cleaner was voted Parent’s Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents’ magazine. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto.
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Silver is a beautiful, versatile metal, and its soft luster adds a touch of elegance to dishes, flatware, and jewelry. Unfortunately, silver also scratches easily and can quickly develop tarnish (a thin layer of corrosion) on its surface. But you can prevent that from happening! This article lists several helpful ways to keep your silver clean, tarnish-free, and shiny for years of display and use.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I clean silver with baking soda?Alicia SokolowskiAlicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert® certified, and EWG verified™ cleaning products. AspenClean’s glass cleaner was voted Parent’s Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents’ magazine. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto.
Green Cleaning Specialist -
QuestionCan I use rubbing alcohol to clean silver?Community AnswerYes. As with toothpaste, baking soda, white vinegar, and aluminum foil, rubbing alcohol is a common household item that may be used to clean silver. Alcohol works well on both silver jewelry and silver flatware.
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QuestionCan I use vinegar or 7-Up up to clean my silver earrings?Community AnswerYes, I tried it for mine and it worked great. Vinegar works best, but 7-up should also work.
wikiHow Video: How to Clean Silver
Warnings
- Do not use fine silver to serve food containing eggs or mayonnaise, which can tarnish silver quickly.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Avoid wearing silver jewelry in swimming pools. The chlorine can damage the silver in a short time.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You’ll Need
- Nitrile gloves
- Cellulose sponges
- Cotton balls, pads, and swabs
- Soft, 100% cotton towels
References
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-silver-plate/
- ↑ https://hermansilver.com/care.htm
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-silver-plate/
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-silver.html
- ↑ https://hermansilver.com/silver-polish-abrasion-ratings.htm
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/silver_cleaning_secrets
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/silver_cleaning_secrets
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-polish-silver-with-toothpaste-210817
- ↑ https://www.readersdigest.ca/home-garden/cleaning/weird-tricks-clean-silver/
- ↑ https://hermansilver.com/silver-polish-abrasion-ratings.htm
- ↑ Alicia Sokolowski. Green Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-silver.html
- ↑ https://www.readersdigest.ca/home-garden/cleaning/weird-tricks-clean-silver/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/silver-prevent-tarnishing-22967562
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-silver.html
About This Article
To clean silver, start by applying some silver polish to a cotton ball or Q-tip. Then, rub the silver with the polish, using a straight, back-and-forth motion. Once you've gone over all of the silver, rinse it off with water and then dry it with a soft, clean cloth. In addition to polishing your silver, remember to wash it promptly after each use so it doesn't tarnish. To wash your silver, wipe it down with warm water and phosphate-free detergent. For advice on how to remove tarnish from silver with baking soda, scroll down!