Natural Ways of Polishing Silver

Storage

• Silver tarnishes more quickly in high humidity so store it in a cool, dry location. For extra protection, wrap the silver in anti-tarnish or acid-free tissue paper. Always keep silver items somewhere free of dust, sunlight and open air. Silver restorer Jeffrey Herman recommends sealing silver pieces in individual polyethylene bags with anti-tarnish paper. Silver should be stored immediately after cleaning.

General Cleaning

• Silver should never be washed with other kitchen utensils in a dishwasher, as the harsh wash cycle and contact with other items can damage the silver. Silver should be cleaned regularly with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Lightly wipe down the silver with the wet, soapy cloth. Use a clean soft cloth to dry the silver completely. Don't wear rubber gloves, which can corrode silver, according to Miss India, a company that designs and sells silver jewelry, antiques and other gift items.

Baking Soda

• Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, of Science is Fun, suggests boiling 1/2 gallon of water in a pot. Take the pot off the heat and set it in the sink. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda, which will boil over. Pour the mixture into a shallow pan lined with aluminum foil, then submerge your silver items in it. After about three minutes, remove the silver. Completely polish and dry the silver with a clean soft cloth. Repeat the process as necessary.

Soft Drinks

• A lemon-lime decaffeinated soft drink, such as 7Up, can be used to polish silver, according to Miss India. Put a silver item in a cup or bowl filled with the soft drink and let it sit for an hour. Then thoroughly rinse the silver with water and dry it completely with a soft cloth.