How to Clean Silver with Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil

Silver is a beautiful, precious metal, but it can get tarnished over time, usually due to moisture in the air.
And if you are one of those who have been avoiding using your silver, only because it looks dirty and tarnished, there’s good news for you.
It is really easy to clean silver at home using a few common household items, like baking soda and aluminum foil.
In this post, I will show you how to clean silver step-by-step, so you can follow along easily.

First, let’s begin with the supplies you need and the precautions you need to take.

Supplies you will need

1. Baking Soda: A mild abrasive that helps to remove tarnish.
2. Aluminum Foil: Reacts with baking soda to create a cleaning solution.
3. Hot Water: Facilitates the reaction between baking soda and aluminum.
4. A Container: Select a container that is large enough to hold your silver items and is made from a material that will not react with the cleaning solution. Preferably made of glass or ceramic. If your silver object is large, you can simply use your kitchen sink. Avoid using metal containers.
5. Tongs and Gloves: To handle the hot silver safely.
6. Soft Cloth or Microfiber Towel: For drying and polishing.
7. A Toothbrush or Small Brush: This is optional, needed only if your silverware has an intricate design or if it has crevices that are hard to reach.
8. A Clean, Drying Cloth: For final polishing and drying.

Precautions To Take

1. Avoid Using Boiling Water: You do need hot water for the reaction, but boiling hot water can damage delicate or antique silver items. So try to stick to hot tap water. Or heat the water using your stove to make it hot – but be careful not to make it reach boiling temperature.
2. Check for Plated Silver: If your silver items are silver-plated, this method is NOT recommended because it can damage the plating.
3. Test for Reactivity: If you are cleaning an item with a unique finish or engraving, test the method on a small, inconspicuous area first.
4. Handle with Care: Use tongs or gloves when handling hot or wet silver items to prevent burns or damage.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Line the Container with Aluminum Foil: Cover the bottom of your container with a layer of aluminum foil, shiny side up. Make sure the foil is in direct contact with the container’s surface.

• Add Baking Soda: Pour 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda onto the aluminum foil.
• Pour Hot Water: Carefully add enough hot water to the container to fully submerge your silver items. The water should be hot but not boiling.
• Mix the Solution: Stir the baking soda into the hot water until it is fully dissolved. The hot water helps to activate the reaction between the baking soda and aluminum foil.

• Place Silver Items in the Solution: Gently place your tarnished silver items into the solution. Ensure that each piece is in contact with the aluminum foil for best results.
• Allow to Soak: Let the silver soak for about 1-2 minutes. You may notice bubbles forming, which is a sign that the tarnish is being lifted away from the silver.
• Check the Progress: After a few minutes, check the silver items. If the tarnish is not completely removed, you can leave them in the solution for a few more minutes.

• Gently Brush: For items with intricate designs or stubborn tarnish, use a toothbrush or a small brush to gently scrub the silver while it’s still submerged.

• Remove the Silver: Once the tarnish is gone, carefully remove the silver items using tongs or gloves. Be careful because the items may still be hot.

• Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse each silver piece under lukewarm water to remove any remaining baking soda residue.

• Dry with a Soft Cloth: Pat the silver items dry with a soft cloth or microfiber towel. Make sure to dry them completely to avoid water spots.
• Polish: Use a clean, dry cloth to buff and polish your silver to a shine.

That’s it – your silver should be clean and sparkling now. If you clean your silver regularly, you can prevent heavy tarnish buildup.