Can you clean silver without silver polish?

[KatyMac]

It's probably not silver......maybe it's just stainless steel or metal; but it's a bit dull

[floweryblue]

One of our silver jewellery suppliers suggested rinsing 'silver cleaner' dipped jewellery in a bicarb solution, it seems to work a treat.

Or, try a home made alcohol dip: shiny foil face up in the bottom of a pot with a bit of gin or vodka, then wash with washing up liquid and dry thoroughly before storing.

[PigletJohn]

you really need to know what it's made of before deciding how to clean it.

Goddards and other silver cleaners chemically remove the tarnish from silver and silver plate, and leave an anti-tarnish film.

Other metal polishes work by an abrasive action. It won't matter on stainless, but it will wear away silver or other plating.

What is the thing you are polishing?

[KatyMac]

It's a wide bangle (maybe 2 inches) - it wasn't expensive so I guess it's not silver; but it went that silver tarnish colour (iykwim)

DH sat there last night with a cloth & just rubbed & rubbed & it has come up really nicely

[PigletJohn]

I expect it is silver plate then.

Look out for a tub of Goddards Silver Pad, it is a sort of pink soap that removes tarnish and gives a good and lasting polish. A tub will last for years.

John Lewis do an own-brand.

[chimchar]

toothpaste works.

have used it on many solid silver things, but not on silver plate....not sure if it would damage it or not.

[PigletJohn]

Toothpaste is mildly abrasive so it grinds away the tarnish and a layer of the surface.

Silver plate is very thin so wears away easily.

[PigletJohn]

Interestingly (perhaps) butlers used to be taught, when polishing silver, to hold it with their thumb on the hallmark so it did not get worn away.

[chimchar]

Oh shit! Thanks for that info piglet...I guess it's ok if it's an absolute emergency, but not for long term use!!!

[catwithflowers]

Thanks piglet! I was just about to clean some lovely silver plate butter knives (ebay!!!!) with toothpaste but will resist now and get a proper cloth!!!!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Mix some bicarb into hot water, put in a bit of tinfoil and your silver and leave for a few minutes, depending how bad it is, then rinse and dry with a clean cloth.

[PigletJohn]

The Goddards silver pad contains a chemical that breaks down the tarnish, so you don't need to rub much to polish it off.


I have used the aluminium foil method, and it does work well at chemically breaking down the tarnish as well, though it does leave a very white and slightly frosted surface, so I prefer the Goddards polish. You sponge it on in water like soap, and after rinsing, polish off with an old vest.

The foil method is useful for anything ornate where it is difficult to clean the crevices.

[floweryblue]

If you are going to use a silver cloth, make sure it's a Town Talk one, by far the best and most long lasting in my experience.

[Palmtree]

Cut a potato in half and rub the silver with the "innards" (iykwim) - works a treat, and then wipe clean with a paper towel.

[floweryblue]

Cool tip with the potato, we'll give it a go.