Among silver’s chemical properties is a high degree of reactivity to sulfur-containing compounds in the air. The sulfur combines with silver to form silver sulfide; this chemical reaction causes tarnish or oxidation, which makes the silver dark, mottled, and dull.

Cleaning silver is relatively easy, and you can use everyday household items to complete the task. While there are a few different DIY methods, the results will vary depending on how tarnished your silver is and how much you’re willing to alter the original finish of the silver object. Ways to clean silver can involve stripping sulfide from the surface, dissolving the sulfide in a liquid, or reversing the chemical reaction that causes tarnishing.

You can use several household products to make a silver cleaning solution, including pantry items like vinegar and cornstarch:

1. 1. Vinegar and baking soda: Combine half a cup of vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl of lukewarm water. Submerge the silver items in the solution for at least thirty seconds and up to three minutes. Then remove them, dry them, and buff them with a microfiber cloth.
2. 2. Dish soap: Dishwashing soap is another simple solution for cleaning silver. Add a few drops of soap to a bowl of warm water, dip a soft cloth into the water, and rub the cloth gently on the silver pieces. This is suitable for objects like cutlery that may only be lightly tarnished.
3. 3. Cornstarch: Make a paste from cornstarch (one part cornstarch and two parts water) and coat the tarnished silver objects or the parts where the silver is tarnished, and let them sit for about fifteen minutes. Then, gently rub away the dried paste with a soft cloth made of microfiber or cotton.
4. 4. Toothpaste: Ordinary toothpaste can also work in a pinch. (It must be a basic whitening toothpaste containing hydrated silica.) Gently rub the tarnished area using a clean cloth and a dab of toothpaste. It’s good to test your toothpaste on a small, less visible area of silver to see how it responds. Keep in mind that this method is a bit more abrasive than others.
5. 5. Hand sanitizer: Squeeze a small amount of hand sanitizer onto a clean cloth or paper towel, and rub it gently on silver items, such as silver utensils or flatware to help remove tarnish.

A soft tooth brush or cotton towel will do the tick for cleaning too!

My jewelry comes with a free polishing cloth to help you keep it beautiful.