A silver-cleaning product with the words “poison,” “flammable,” “corrosive” or “harmful if swallowed” on the tag probably doesn’t inspire much confidence when you’re searching for a silver cleaner. It possibly has you searching for home remedies so that you can avoid those awful, toxic substances. The good news is it’s possible to earn a homemade remedy from common household ingredients to get all your silver clean and shiny.
Gather the Ingredients
Start by laying out an old towel or cloth on a flat work surface, such as the dining or kitchen table or kitchen countertop. You will need a measuring cup, baking soda, white pepper, white vinegar, a sheet of tinfoil, a large bowl, a pan and a microfiber polishing cloth. Have a tbsp handy for measuring the salt and baking soda. If you want to do the job on the stove, you’ll need a set pan.
The Prep Work
Boil the cup of water in a pan on the stove. If you’ve got a microwave, you can heat it there for just one minute on high, but use caution to avoid getting it too hot, since you can seriously burn yourself. Cut a sheet of tinfoil to line the bottom of the bowl, shiny side up. Add one tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of white pepper to the bottom of the bowl atop the foil. Gradually pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar into the mixture. When the vinegar mixes with the baking soda, it begins to fizz. Thoroughly mix the vinegar and the dry ingredients until they dissolve.
The Waiting Stage
Add the warm water into the mixture in the bowl. Establish the silver-plated spoons that you would like to wash on the tinfoil so they’re covered by the mixture. The only thing you have to do is turn them over with tongs to receive full exposure, since the chemistry and makeup of the various ingredients combined with the tinfoil do all the hard work for you. Allow the spoons sit in the mixture in 2 minutes to an hour, depending on how tarnished they’re. Then remove one spoon at one time, dry and buff it with the polishing cloth, which should get rid of any remaining tarnish. You can also add the spoons to your pan of boiling water on the stove, after adding 3 tablespoons baking soda along with a crumpled ball of aluminum foil. Remove when the tarnish dissipates.
White Toothpaste
Another method for cleaning silver begins with a tube of white toothpaste. All you need to do is coat the spoons, rubbing as you operate, with a bit of toothpaste. Allow the toothpaste, then wash the spoons in warm soapy water. Buff and polish dry. If you are cleaning spoons with etched designs, or jewelry, then an old toothbrush may help spread the toothpaste into all the crevices. You can also use the toothbrush with the warm soapy water to remove the toothpaste before drying.