How To Polish Your Silverware To Bring It Back To Life

A no-stress guide to cleaning your silver and keeping it looking great.

Even if you’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth, these days it’s highly likely you’re going to have to clean it yourself. There are few more appealing sights than a row of gleaming picture frames or a table set with sparkling knives and forks, and it doesn’t have to be a massive trial to keep them looking their best. In fact, one of the most effective ways of keeping them looking pristine is – in the case of jewellery and cutlery – to use them frequently, so don’t let the thoughts of maintenance deter you from enjoying your favourite things.

Step 1: Gather the necessary supplies

To clean your silver, you need a soft sponge, washing-up liquid, silver polish and lots of soft, lint-free cloths. I often use old flannel or cotton jersey pyjamas cut up into generous squares. Be wary of using any cloth with a looped pile or sewn hems as these can catch on delicate decorative embellishments. You will also need clean tea towels for drying the silver and rubber or latex gloves – it’s a messy, manicure-ruining job.

If you want to try a homemade method – I find this particularly good for cutlery – you will need a plastic, ceramic or glass container large enough to hold what you want to clean in one layer, some aluminium foil and bicarbonate of soda and a pair of wooden or rubber-tipped tongs.

Step 2: Prepare the silver

Give the silver a quick wash in warm, soapy water first to remove any dust and grease. Then buff it dry on a clean linen tea towel or lint-free cloth and you’re ready to go.

Step 3: Clean with silver polish

If I’m using silver polish, I tip a little on to a soft cloth I’ve folded over a few times and work my way over the surface of the piece, rubbing gently. As the tarnish transfers to the cloth, I put more polish on to a clean section of the cloth and continue until I have covered the whole piece.

If it’s a piece with lots of delicate decoration, I sometimes tip the polish on to a dampened sponge instead of a cloth as it can be easier to get into all of the nooks and crannies. Then I wash the piece in warm, soapy water to remove all of the tarnish and polish before rinsing in clean water and gently buffing dry with a tea towel.

Step 4: Natural cleaning

I use this method to clean cutlery. It’s quick, easy and highly satisfying. Take a plastic, ceramic or glass container large enough to hold your cutlery or other small pieces in one layer and line it with aluminium foil, shiny-side up. Toss in some bicarbonate of soda – you need about two tablespoons per litre of water – and fill the container with boiling water from the kettle.

Place your cutlery in the container and watch the tarnish vanish before your eyes; there will be a strong, sulphurous smell. It usually only takes a few seconds. Carefully remove the pieces from the container with wooden or rubber-tipped tongs. Rinse and buff dry with a soft cloth or a tea towel.

This method also works well for silver jewellery, but do not use on pieces that include pearls, opals or soft gemstones such as emeralds.

Step 5: Storing your silver properly

For cutlery, jewellery and other pieces you bring out only for special occasions, anti-tarnish cloths and bags are helpful at keeping the tarnish at bay. Store in a cool, dry place. Adding a piece of chalk to the bag will help to absorb moisture and delay tarnishing.

Cleaning silver FAQs

How should I clean silver jewellery?

The best way to keep your silver jewellery looking good is to wear it. The gentle friction against your body and clothes will help keep tarnish at bay. Giving it a quick wipe with an anti-tarnish cloth when you take a piece off will also keep it gleaming. Alternatively, you could invest in an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner. They only cost about £20 ($44) to £30 and are easy to use. You simply place the piece in the small container of water or cleaning solution, turn it on, and let the high-frequency sound waves gently dislodge any dirt and grease. Do not use on any piece containing pearls, opals or softer gemstones such as emeralds.

Does toothpaste clean silver?

You can use non-abrasive toothpaste to clean silver, though I wouldn’t use it on very fine pieces. Apply it with a soft, dampened sponge or with a soft, baby’s toothbrush. When you have covered the whole surface, leave it for a couple of minutes before rinsing and buffing dry.

How often do I need to clean my silver?

It really depends on how often you use it and how you store it. Frequently-used pieces tarnish more slowly. Cutlery you keep stored away and take out only for special occasions may only need cleaning a couple of times a year. Decorative pieces you keep on display will react to the sulphur in the air and tarnish more quickly (interestingly, when I lived in inner London I found the pollution meant my silver tarnished more quickly than it does now that I live somewhere with cleaner air). These will need cleaning more often, possibly four or five times a year. I try to do a couple of pieces each month so I am not left with masses to do all at once.

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