How do I clean silverware so that itkeeps its shine?

Answer 1

Jewelry Care & Cleaning
Sterling silver jewelry care & cleaning

Cleaning sterling silver jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry develops a beautiful, soft patina over time. Sometimes, oxidation is part of the design and should not be removed, but most of the time people like their silver jewelry to shine brightly. Here are a few ways you can keep your sterling silver jewelry looking its best.

The Sunshine Polishing Cloth is a favorite of jewelers because it's quick and easy to use, isn't messy, and does a nice job of shining metals to a nice polish. If your piece has high and low areas and the low areas are intentionally oxidized, you can polish just the high, shiny areas without ruining the oxidized "shadows" that accent the details. You can buy the Sunshine Polishing Cloth at many jewelry supply stores and jewelry stores. If you make your own jewelry, you may also want to check out the amazing Rio Grande which sells it direct.

Commercially prepared silver cleaners can work well if used according to directions. Hagerty's is one reputable brand of silver polish. One of my favorite cleaners is a long, coiled strip of cotton fiber infused with cleaning polish. You can tear off a small piece and rub the silver vigourously to bring up a beautiful, long-lasting shine. Silver "dips" can contain dangerous chemical fumes; they work almost instantly, but there are less noxious alternatives out there, so I tend to avoid them. If you do use them, dip the piece quickly and then immediately rinse thoroughly in water. Then dry and buff it with a soft cloth to remove any potential residue that can develop into a dull film later on.

An inexpensive and effective way to clean silver when you are not trying to preserve any oxidation or patina is to use an electrolytic cleaning solution. You can purchase these commercially, but they're fast, easy and inexpensive to make yourself. Here are two recipes - one for cleaning small amounts of silver, one for larger amounts.

To clean small amounts of silver:

Line a large, flat, glass container (such as a rectangular Pyrex baking pan) with aluminum foil, shiny side up. Add 2-3 inches of boiling water, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Place the silver in the solution in a single layer, making sure each piece of silver touches the foil and that all the silver is covered with the boiling water. Let it sit for anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes until clean. Pour off the solution, remove the foil, rinse the silver thoroughly in clear water, and dry and buff it with a soft cloth (I like flannel). This method "pulls" out the tarnish like a magnet.

To clean larger batches of silver:

If you want to clean a large amount of silver at once, dedicate a large pot specifically for this purpose. DO NOT use it for cooking after you use it to clean silver! Again, line it completely with aluminum foil, shiny side up. Add ¼ cup baking soda, ¼ cup salt and ½ gallon of water. Add your jewelry, again making sure some part of each piece touches the foil. Bring the solution to a slow boil and simmer it for about 3 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it sit for another 5-7 minutes. CLOSE YOUR SINK DRAIN AND LINE YOUR SINK WITH A DISHTOWEL TO CATCH ANY JEWELRY THAT SLIPS THROUGH THE COLANDER HOLES. Place a colander on the towel and pour out the solution so it drains out, leaving just the jewelry. Remove the foil (don't throw it away until you've made sure you can account for all the jewelry you put in!) and rinse the pot clean. Put the jewelry back into the clean pot and fill it with clear water to rinse the silver thoroughly. Drain again and dry thoroughly. Buff, if you wish, to soften the shine.

To remove tarnish or stubborn stains from silver jewelry, cover the piece with a coat of toothpaste. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach into corners, crevices or engraving. I like using small toothbrushes designed for young children; they're easier to fit into tight places. Run the piece under water briefly and work the toothpaste into a lather, then rinse thoroughly in clear water.
This works well on silverware.

Answer 2

if it's sterling silver or silver plate no matter what you do it won't keep it's shine indefinately. My inlaws clean theirs by putting a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of the sink, with warm water and salt...put the silver on the foil in the salt water and the tarnish disappears. Might still have to gently rub a few place but it works.
If you are talking about stainlesswear, once a month i soak mine in a water and vinegar mix in the sink for a little while (an hour or so) that helps to get off any build up from anything and shines it up pretty well....but there isn't anything that i know of that will keep any metal shining for really long periods of time..especially if it is used even now and then.

Answer 3

If it is silver it wont keep its shine. But if you use it regularly the normal wiping of washing will keep it pretty polished. A quick way to shine it is to put it in a large aluminum pot or into a pot with a layer of aluminum foil and a baking soda solution and let it soak for a while.

Answer 4

I keep my silverware in a velvet lined box and it stays shiny. I never use it anymore...too much work. I don't like silver stuff anywhere, again too much work. It was a gift I never would have purchased it. I personally like pewter, I collect Paul Revere pewter ware, at tag sales, no upkeep required.
As for other things included jewelry...it all requires work. I choose not to spend my time on it.

Answer 5

I've never shined silverware but on my silver jewelry I use toothpaste to keep it fro getting tarnished. It will probably work for silverware too.

Answer 6

Dry it right after cleaning --bone dry -- and put it in a box lined with felt or wrap it in felt.

The water and oxygen in the air tarnish silver.

Or -- buy new silver that is "soverign silver" (1% germanium) -- it essentially doesn't tarnish because of the germanium.

Answer 7

put silver in a bowl with very hot water
some aluminium foil and bi-carbonate soda leave till bubbles stop
remove and polish with soft cloth

Answer 8

with silver polish and then wrap it in ceran-wrap. it only looses it's shine if the metal comes into contact with air (silver oxydises)

Answer 9

White vinegar.

Answer 10

With silver cleaner