Some silver jewellery pieces have oxidised finishes and are often referred to as antique silver. This dark colouration is designed to give sterling silver jewellery an aged effect, and it can be damaged or even removed by some silver cleaners. Wiping these pieces gently with a silver cleaning cloth is your best option to avoid damage.

Using a silver cleaning cloth is arguably the easiest way to clean small silver items. In addition to doing a good job of removing tarnish, the soft material buffs the metal for a mirror-like shine. Wright’s cream is a trusted brand that works great to clean and shine a variety of metals, including silver, chrome, and pewter. It can even work for porcelain. But the real benefit and the reason it’s at the top of our list is how well it removes tarnish. It won’t scratch no matter how hard you scrub, as long as you use a soft cloth. We recommend using a rag or other cloth that you’ll only use for this purpose to avoid it becoming contaminated with other cleaning agents that are not safe for silver. This polish comes with a sponge that can be used to rub the cream into your items. If you’re still wondering about which silver polish will work best for your needs, read on for answers to some of the most common concerns about silver polish. Q. Can tarnished silver be restored? While many silver polishes are versatile enough to use on several surfaces, others are catered to specific uses and items, like a silver polish cleaner that's designed for jewelry. All of the experts we spoke to also agree that it's best to spot-test your silver items, especially for plated pieces (which have a metal base and a thin top layer of silver). Any type of silver alloy can benefit from a silver cleaner once it tarnishes. However, keep in mind that plated items must be cleaned gently to avoid wearing down the silver layers.Drop the silver items into the container so that they are touching each other and resting on the foil. You'll be able to watch as the tarnish disappears. Silver polishes come in various forms, including foam, cream, liquid, disposable wipes, wadding, and cloth. Choosing the right type could depend on the type of silver item you're cleaning (like cutlery, jewelry, or cookware) and whether or not you need a heavy-duty cleaner. You should also consider the cleanup process for the product you choose. For example, using a cream polish might be more effective, but will leave behind more of a mess. This foam cleanser is great to have on hand after you use your silver pieces, such as serving dishes or flatware. Tarnish is often caused by food residue on silver and this foam works in place of dish soap to target those contaminants and provide a protective barrier. It also shines your silver items to a high shine. Directions: Dampen the foam applicator with warm water. Then apply the foam to your silver until the formula begins to lather up. Rinse and dry immediately with a soft cloth.

Silver polish is a convenient cleaner to have at the ready in your pantry. Good silver polish will help you keep your jewelry and silver flatware shiny and tarnish-free. Some cleaners will even work with other metals, such as gold and copper, and a few even polish stainless steel. By cleaning your own jewelry, you save yourself the trip and expense of going to a professional jewelry shop to get your silver cleaned. It also adds convenience, allowing you to shine that tarnished piece of jewelry you plan to wear that evening at a moment’s notice. Add salt ( sodium chloride) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to the water. Some recipes call for 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt, whereas others call for 2 tablespoons each of baking soda and salt. There's really no need to measure the amounts precisely—just use a spoonful or two of each substance.One of the best ways to get to those intricate nooks and crannies in silver jewelry is with a spray like this one. W.J. Hagerty spray can reach places a cloth can’t reach. This spray is an excellent way to keep your silver jewelry in sparkling condition. It’s also a suitable option for silver plates and other dinnerware. A simple DIY soap and water solution can do a lot to clean and shine silver pieces. Most are gentle enough to use on silver, although you should be careful to use a non-scratch sponge or cloth. Always try a new cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it will not damage your treasures. A microfiber cloth can also help create a highly polished shine on your silver. Silver polishes only need to be used occasionally. You can use them whenever your silver items start to appear dingy and look like they need a bit of a shine. If the silver is exposed to elements like sulfur and chlorine, says Fahey, your items might need to be polished lightly.

Look for silver polish that is cost effective and won’t require a lot to treat your silver items. Liquids and creams often come in smaller containers—you only need a small amount to be effective. Dips are usually larger containers because you will need to pour out the solution into another dish to submerge your items. Silver jewelry cleaners are often the smallest because they have trays built in that can hold delicate pieces, like dainty chains and stud earrings.Both Gazzo and Roger-Evans agree that the best way to keep your silver sparkling is to take preventive measures that delay tarnishing, like storing jewelry in an airtight box when not being worn and never showering, swimming, or exercising with it. This recipe requires ammonia (non-sudsing type), liquid soap, and liquid bluing, 1/2 cup each. Also, take a cup of hot water. You can find liquid bluing in any grocery store, usually in the laundry section. Now mix these ingredients in a plastic bottle and close the cap. Shake well and let it cool. Always be mindful with silver-plated pieces," says Gazzo. "Dip them in the product very briefly and always rinse with water and dry them immediately with a soft cloth." When silver is mixed with other metals, it become an alloy. Sterling silver is the most common alloy used to make jewellery and a wide variety of tableware, and it is almost always mixed with copper for lasting durability. Sterling silver is also referred to as 925, which means it is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. However, some sterling contains a bit more silver: 95% or 950. For jobs that require removing heavily tarnished silver, Tarn-X PRO Tarnish Remover has a little more oomph than standard silver cleaners. It can cut through years of built-up tarnish to get your silver shining again.

Here are the best silver polishes, along with tips on how to keep your silver items in mint condition for years to come.

1. The Best Silver Polishing Liquid

This Goddard's cloth doesn’t clean silver as well as some heavier duty solutions, but it does provide a high shine polish with minimal work and scrubbing. The reusable cloth measures 17.5 x 13 inches, larger than silver cleaning wipes. While it can remove some light tarnish, it isn’t the best choice for antique or heavily tarnished silver. For routine upkeep and polishing, this is the easiest and least messy way to go. Flatware: While a cream or liquid will work well with utensils, cleaning a large silverware set using this method can be tedious and time-consuming. Dips that allow you to put multiple pieces of silver into a solution can speed up the cleaning of a 46-piece flatware set. Jewelry: Sprays and creams allow you to get into the fine details of jewelry that you can’t reach with a cloth. Dips are also effective for cleaning silver jewelry with nonporous gemstones. When it comes to convenience, wipes are at the top of the list. They are infused with a silver cleaning solution and come in canisters so you can pop them out one at a time. Many consumers love the fact that wipes aren’t messy to use. They also work well on most types of tarnish, are suitable for sterling silver and plated items, and can be used on numerous other materials without the need to rinse after wiping.