How to Easily Clean Sterling Silver with Common Household Items

 

Over time, sterling silver will oxidize and darken without use, but cleaning sterling silver doesn't have to be expensive or full of harsh chemicals. A fun and inexpensive alternative is using the aluminum foil method to clean your sterling silver. This is an easy and effective method that uses a natural chemical reaction to remove tarnish. Here’s how you can do it:

 

Materials Needed:

• Aluminum foil
• Baking soda (about 1 tablespoon per cup of water)
• Boiling water
• A non-metal container (glass or ceramic works best)
• Tongs or a utensil to safely handle hot items
• Soft cloth for drying

Instructions:

1. Line the Container

Line the bottom of a non-metal container with aluminum foil, shiny side up. A disposable aluminum baking tray will also work.

2. Boil Water

Boil 1-2 cups of water, enough to completely submerge the silver items you want to clean.

3. Add Baking Soda

While waiting for the water to boil, sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda over the aluminum foil in the container, trying to maintain an even amount across the surface. The ratio is about 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water.

4. Add Silver and Pour Boiling Water

 

Add your silver and then carefully pour the boiling water into the container. Ensure the level of water will submerge your silver items completely.

Add 1-2 more tablespoons of baking soda over the top of the pieces at this point.

6. Stirring and Waiting

Let the silver sit in the solution for about 2-5 minutes at first, depending on the level of tarnish, and then stir the pieces with the tongs to ensure the silver, baking soda, and aluminum foil touch. The contact between the foil, silver, and the baking soda solution causes a chemical reaction that will remove the tarnish. You may notice a sulfur-like smell as the tarnish is removed at this point.

Let the silver sit for a total of 30 minutes before removing.

7. Remove and Rinse

After 25-30 minutes, use tongs or any utensil to carefully remove the silver from the hot water. You should see a lightening color difference at this point. Rinse the silver pieces under cool running water to remove any baking soda residue.

8. Dry and Polish

Dry the silver thoroughly with a soft cloth, and if needed, gently polish it to restore its shine.

Results!

There is a very noticeable brighter and lighter difference without needing to polish the silver!

This method works because the aluminum, baking soda, and boiling water create a chemical process known as ion exchange, which breaks down the tarnish (silver sulfide) and transfers it to the aluminum foil.

Let us know if this has worked for you, or if you have additional tips and tricks in the comment section below!