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Cleaning sterling silver regularly is key to preventing tarnish.

Severalcleaning methodseasily remove tarnishing and keep the metal looking new and shiny.

Keep reading to learn how to clean sterling silver using simple methods and common items in your household pantry.

Person buffing silver with a microfiber cloth

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What Is Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver is composed of 90%+ silver and other metals such as copper.

Stir the dish soap into the water just enough for bubbles to form.

Applying the baking soda paste to the silver object

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Gently Clean

Take the pieces out of the bowl.

Avoid using any harsh drying cloth that can cause scratches or leave lint behind.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Use vinegar, baking soda, and water for a sterling silver cleaner.

Washing and drying the silver object with a microfiber cloth

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Olive Oil and Lemon Juice

Combine two pantry staples to make this homemade cleaning solution.

Cornstarch and Water

Make a quick cleaning paste out of cornstarch and water.

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice

Combine baking soda and lemon juice for a homemade silver cleaner.

Materials needed to polish silver

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Tomato Ketchup

This one-ingredient cleaning method couldn’t be easier.

Commercial Silver Cleaner

Mostcommercial silver cleanersremove tarnish and add shine.

Liquid cleaners or wipes are better than paste for ornate silver, which can get trapped in crevices.

Using silver polish

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Additionally, wear cotton or synthetic fiber gloves when cleaning silver.

Do not wear rubber gloves, which can sometimes react with sterling silver.

Silver does not tarnish permanently.

Many DIY cleaning methods can work for sterling silver.

Vinegar is safe for cleaning sterling silver but only use distilled white vinegar.