How To Clean Silverware 

woman polishing silverware.

How to clean silverware? Toothpaste is one of the best and least expensive ways to clean silverware of that annoying tarnish that builds up over time. 

Silverware - whether sterling or sterling plate - generally responds the same way to a variety of tarnish removers, toothpaste included (namely, the tarnish is successfully removed).

The only caveat to be aware of when using toothpaste is to be sure the paste is white and is free of whitening additives or baking soda. Here's how to clean silverware with toothpaste.

How to Clean Silverware in 3 Easy Steps

1.  Place a Cotton Sock on Your Hand

To begin, place a cotton sock on your polishing hand. Dampen the sock under cool running water. Squeeze out any excess water with your other hand.

2.   Apply Toothpaste to the Sock and Clean

Squeeze a pearl-size drop of toothpaste onto the dampened sock at your fingertips. Using up-and-down (not circular) strokes, rub the toothpaste onto the front and back of silverware.

To get the toothpaste between silverware tines and other tight spaces and grooves, pull the sock away from your fingers at the tips and twist tightly.

3.   Rinse Toothpaste 

Rinse the toothpaste from your silverware under fresh running water. Remove the sock from your hand and set aside; grab and don its mate, and polish the silverware dry. 

Prevent Future Tarnish

  • Store silverware behind glass, in an airtight plastic bag, or a chest lined with tarnish-resistant flannel. 
  • Resist the urge to bundle your silver in rubber bands: the rubber can cause discoloration on silverware.
  • Avoid serving sulfur-containing foods such as mayonnaise and eggs from your silver platter - it's a recipe for instant tarnish. 
  • Avoid using rubber or latex gloves when cleaning silverware - both are corrosive to silver.


You Might Like These:

  • How to clean window blinds at home? Dust, vacuum, or blow dry regularly, especially along the floor.

    How to Clean Window Blinds

    How to clean window blinds at home? Dust, vacuum, or blow dry regularly, especially along the floor.

  • How to clean hair brushes. Clean hair brushes keep your hair clean longer, and ensure you're not adding lint or fluff to your hair after washing it.

    How to Clean Hair Brushes

    How to clean hair brushes. Clean hair brushes keep your hair clean longer, and ensure you're not adding lint or fluff to your hair after washing it.

  • You've always heard about the benefits of a family meeting, You've always been curious. Now's the time. Get started with these family meeting rules of order as your guide.

    Family Meeting Rules of Order

    You've always heard about the benefits of a family meeting, You've always been curious. Now's the time. Get started with these family meeting rules of order as your guide.

  • Surface disinfecting after illness. The importance of surface disinfecting increases when someone in your home has the telltale signs of a cold or other viruses or complains of an upset tummy.

    Surface Disinfecting After Illness

    Surface disinfecting after illness. The importance of surface disinfecting increases when someone in your home has the telltale signs of a cold or other viruses or complains of an upset tummy.

  • The best approach to getting kids to clean is to train them while they're toddlers, so they never imagine until later years that it's even possible to go to bed with toys on the floor.

    Getting Kids to Clean

    The best approach to getting kids to clean is to train them while they're toddlers, so they never imagine until later years that it's even possible to go to bed with toys on the floor.

  • Vacuuming secrets to success: Here ares the best ways to clean carpet so that you can get the dirty job done right - and teach the kids to do the same.

    Vacuuming Secrets to Success

    Vacuuming secrets to success: Here ares the best ways to clean carpet so that you can get the dirty job done right - and teach the kids to do the same.

  • Cleaning flat screen TVs. Chances are your television sees a lot of action, so give it its cleaning due. Here are 5 steps to keeping it clean.

    Cleaning Flat Screen TVs

    Cleaning flat screen TVs. Chances are your television sees a lot of action, so give it its cleaning due. Here are 5 steps to keeping it clean.

  • How to clean lamps and light fixtures to allow your home to get all that expensive wattage you're paying for. Here's how to safely clean lamps and lamp shades.

    How to Clean Lamps and Shades

    How to clean lamps and light fixtures to allow your home to get all that expensive wattage you're paying for. Here's how to safely clean lamps and lamp shades.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.