Silver is a soft, lustrous metal, so gentle cleaning is key. A mix of warm water and mild dishwashing soap, will usually do the trick for cleaning everyday jewelry.
Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to warm water. Mix until bubbles form.
Soak jewelry in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes.
Use a soft-bristle brush, such as a toothbrush, to clean any crevices.
Rinse jewelry in warm water.
To dry, gently rub jewelry with a silver cloth or microfiber towel. (Note: Avoid using paper towels, as these can scratch the silver.)
Fine silver jewelry with diamonds or other precious gems can often be cleaned with soap and water as well.
If soap and water don’t do the trick, you can try other DIY methods for cleaning silver that utilize common pantry and household staples, including baking soda, lemon juice, olive oil, white vinegar, salt, and toothpaste.
Make a Baking Soda Paste
Mix two parts baking soda to one part water to make a paste, then gently rub the mixture onto the jewelry. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth or microfiber towel.
Mix Lemon and Olive Oil
Mix 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon olive oil into a solution. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and gently rub the silver until it shines. Rinse and dry.
Combine Vinegar and Baking Soda
Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda together, then let your silver jewelry soak in the mixture for two to three hours before rinsing and polishing.
Try Toothpaste
A small amount of diluted toothpaste and a soft-bristle brush can do wonders for cleaning sterling silver jewelry.
