If you’ve got silver that’s looking a little worse for wear, I’ve got a game-changing trick to de-tarnish your silver.
De-tarnishing your silver doesn’t have to be a huge chore or take hours of scrubbing. In fact, you can restore its shine in less than 2 minutes, using simple ingredients you probably already have at home. Whether it’s your grandmother’s silverware or your favorite jewelry, this easy method will have your silver gleaming like new—no fancy products needed!
De-Tarnish Your Silver
This method is so great because you likely already have all of the supplies you need at home. And it works on jewelry too.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Aluminum foil
- Almost boiling hot water
De-tarnish your silver {in less than 2 minutes}
Materials
- Aluminum foil
- ½ cup salt
- ½ cup baking soda
- Almost boiling hot water
Instructions
Line your sink {or a dishpan} with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
Pour the baking soda and salt into the sink.
Fill sink two-thirds full with almost-boiling water. Submerge silver for 1 - 2 minutes.
Rinse with hot water, and then immediately dry with a soft cloth.
Ta-da! Like brand new, in less than 2 minutes! Wild, right?!
Why this method works
The foil, soda and hot water produce a chemical reaction that sucks the silver sulfide, or tarnish, from the silver item, and onto the foil. After cleaning several pieces, you will notice that the foil has become quite dark.
Happy de-tarnishing!
Brian H
Sunday 24th of November 2024
Doesn’t work. I soaked my tarnished base for 10 minutes. No results.
Norma Jean
Saturday 7th of October 2023
I have used this method. However when first using it I did this in K sink, it ruined the stainless, ok remodel was coming. So now I use aluminum throw away deep large pans. Skip the rolled aluminum.
Dee
Friday 14th of July 2023
This is amazing. I just tried it and it’s so easy and turns out great. Thank you so much!!
edie
Wednesday 12th of October 2022
Wow! I thought my silver tea pot was ruined but this took all the tarnish off. I think the trick is to not leave your pieces in long. I turned mine constantly and took it out, rubbed it with a soft cloth and then dipped again. I also rinsed the salt off with cool water and rubbed again with a clean cloth. What an amazing thing. My teapot is so shinny again.
Brenda
Sunday 25th of June 2023
Will this work on silver plate?
Vicki
Sunday 29th of May 2022
Everybody loves a shortcut but please don't use this method on your treasured silver. The reaction that takes place, moving the molecules of tarnish from the silver to the foil, is also taking a tiny bit of silver with it. Plus, as a shortcut WD-40 is faster and safer. But for the real treasures stick to the hard work of silver paste/polish.