How to Polish Silver Jewelry

Everyone wearing silver jewelry knows the fact that it tarnishes over time and loses its shine. However, there is a way to return its shine through a few simple steps. If you are interested in learning how to polish silver jewelry and return its shiny appearance, read below. This article will guide you through the steps for polishing silver and help you learn all the tips!

How to Polish Silver Jewelry

Exposure to air, moisture, and oils causes silver jewelry to tarnish over time. Yet, with regular cleaning and polishing, you can maintain its elegance and original quality. Our simple polishing tips are easy to perform, making investing time in polishing totally worth it.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Veja

Clean the jewelry

There are different types of silver jewelry, such as sterling silver and silver-plated pieces, but the cleaning process is the same. So, how to polish sterling silver jewelry and silver-plated pieces? The best way to polish silver rings, sterling silver jewelry, and silver-plated pieces is to use gentle cleaning methods to protect their shine.

First, mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water and gently rub the jewelry with a soft cloth or super-soft toothbrush. Rinse with cool water and dry with a clean, soft cloth. For a deeper clean, a commercial silver polish can restore its shine.

Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasives when cleaning silver-plated jewelry, as they can wear down the plating. Instead, use a baking soda paste (mix baking soda with water until it forms a thick paste) to lightly brush the surface. Rinse and dry thoroughly. 

Polishing silver jewelry 

To polish silver jewelry, begin by washing it with mild dish soap and warm water to remove dirt. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Silver polishing or microfiber cloth works well for removing tarnish. Just rub gently to avoid scratching the jewelry. After cleaning your pieces, you can polish them with silver polish or non-gel toothpaste. If your pieces are heavily tarnished, we advise you to use aluminum foil and baking soda. Line a bowl with foil, add a tablespoon of baking soda and salt, and fill with hot water. Submerge the jewelry for a few minutes. The chemical reaction that occurs when cleaning the jewelry with aluminum foil and baking soda, called redox (reduction-oxidation), will lift the tarnish.

Silver tarnish consists mainly of silver sulfide (Ag2S), which forms when silver reacts with sulfur in the air. In the cleaning process, the aluminum foil and baking soda create an environment that facilitates the reaction. The aluminum donates electrons to the silver sulfide, which reduces silver sulfide back to silver and oxidizes the aluminum. In the end, rinse and dry your jewelry.

Finally, we advise storing jewelry in anti-tarnish jewelry bags to prevent further tarnish.

Addressing tarnish

We recommend wiping your silver jewelry with a soft cloth to remove dirt. For light tarnish, a silver polishing cloth is effective, gently rub in a back-and-forth motion. Do not clean with circular motions to prevent scratches. For moderate tarnish, you can mix white vinegar, salt, baking soda, and water paste. Soak the jewelry in a solution of half a cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of salt for about 2-3 hours. Rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

If the tarnish is more severe, use the aluminum foil method. Line a bowl with aluminum foil, then add a tablespoon each of baking soda and salt. Pour hot water into the bowl, submerge the jewelry, and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. The chemical reaction should remove most of the tarnish. Finally, rinse, dry, and brush with a cloth.

Polishing silver-plated jewelry

Remember to clean sterling silver gently to avoid wearing down the thin silver layer. The first cleaning step is to mix mild dish soap and warm water. Soak your jewelry in this solution for a few minutes. Use a soft cloth or a gentle toothbrush to remove dirt and grime, then rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. 

Most methods used for polishing silver jewelry can also be used for silver-plated pieces. For example, use a commercial jewelry polishing solution specifically made for silver-plated items or a silver polishing cloth for tarnish. Avoid abrasive cleaners or baking soda, as these can damage the plating. Store silver-plated jewelry in anti-tarnish bags away from moisture to maintain the shine.

Avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals like perfumes or lotions, which can damage its shine. A final polish with a clean, dry cloth will leave your jewelry sparkling and ready to wear.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Jan Faukner

Conclusion

For shiny silver jewelry, you need to clean and polish your pieces regularly. Learning how to polish silver jewelry is quick and easy. Before polishing silver pieces, we recommend cleaning them with warm water and mild soap. Then, you can polish them with a silver polishing or microfiber cloth. You can also use specialized silver polish or non-gel toothpaste. Remember that you can choose which method to use based on the tarnish level. 

Avoid abrasive cleaners or baking soda to clean silver-plated jewelry to avoid damaging the plating. Cleaning and polishing silver pieces will guarantee for a long lasting jewelry.