When cleaning silver-plated pieces, it is important to avoid excessive polishing as it can wear down the finish.
Use the following steps to learn how to clean silver-plated items naturally.
A silver-plated item will be magnetic, since it is made of various metals.
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If it’s not magnetic, it’s silver.
Use other ingredients to polish silver, such asvinegar, lemon juice, and ketchup.
Each has weak acids that can eliminate tarnish.
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Assess the Tarnish
Decide how much of the tarnish you want to remove.
The container should be flat enough on the bottom that the silverware can lie directly against it.
There should be enough water that you cover the pieces you will be cleaning.
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You may smell a slight pungent odor from the chemical reaction during the process.
Allow Silver to Soak
Place the silver-plated items side by side in the container using tongs.
Do not let the silver overlap or touch each other.
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If tarnish remains, soak the item longer.
Some darker spots might be the base metal showing through the silver plating.
This is common on older pieces where the silver plating has been worn down over time by polishing.
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Place the wrapped item into a cotton or anti-tarnish bag.
Avoid storing silver-plated pieces in plastic because of potentially trapped moisture.
Contact a silver restoration service to handle the job.
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Make a heavy paste of baking soda and water to clean off the black tarnish from silver-plated items.
The acid in the liquid cuts through the tarnish.
Do not place silver-plated objects in the dishwasher.
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In addition, do not use abrasive or harsh cleaners, including chlorine bleach, to clean silver-plated pieces.
The British Antique Dealers' Association.
Collecting Guide: How to care for silver.Christie’s.
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