We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
I remember as a kid helping my mom polish our silver flatware before the holidays and feeling like I was one of Miss Haniggan’s orphans. Surprisingly, that chore made me appreciate silver even more as I got older. And over the years I’ve picked up pieces at estate sales and thrift stores, and I’ve inherited some, too. Stainless Steel Sheet Coil
Since I don’t live in a manor house filled with a team of butlers, the cleaning and polishing gets done by yours truly. However, if silver is stored properly and cleaned occasionally, it rarely requires polishing.
Here’s how to clean and care for plated or sterling silver (whether it’s flatware, jewelry, or larger pieces) so that it can be enjoyed for generations.
Hand-washing silver flatware after a meal could take 20 to 30 minutes, but it will go faster if you enlist a helper who can dry the silver as you wash it. A piece of silver jewelry may take only a few minutes to clean.
The time it takes to polish silver varies depending on the amount and size of the piece(s) and the severity of tarnish. Lightly tarnished pieces may take only a few minutes to polish, but a silver tea set could take an hour or more if it’s severely tarnished.
Silver should never go in the dishwasher, because it can cause pitting or denting. The high heat and harsh chemicals in dishwashing detergents can also cause silver to whiten, a form of damage that requires professional refinishing. Also avoid using anything abrasive to clean it, including paper towels, rough sponges, scouring pads, or steel wool.
Before you start washing, remove any rings or jewelry that could potentially scratch your silver. Place a plastic container in the sink or line it with a dish towel, which will prevent silver from scratching if you accidentally drop it. If you want to be extra meticulous, wear nitrile gloves to protect the silver from fingerprints (skin contains tarnish-causing oils and acids).
Wash your silver under warm water using a cellulose sponge (which isn’t abrasive) and a mild dish soap (one that has a neutral pH and is free of phosphates), like citrus-free Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. Rinse the silver with water, and dry it thoroughly with a clean cotton towel. Never let it drip-dry.
Tarnish, or black silver sulfide, is an inevitable aspect of owning silver, especially if you’re not using it often or storing properly. According to Jeffrey Herman, the founder of the Society of American Silversmiths, “Silver tarnishes primarily because of particulate in the air that has acid or sulfur, which deposits itself onto a piece.” Luckily, tarnish can be easily removed with polish.
Before you begin polishing your silver, lay a clean cotton towel on your work surface. As when cleaning, remove any jewelry from your hands and, if you want to be extra careful, wear nitrile gloves to protect the silver from tarnish-causing oils and acids on your skin.
Before you reach for the polish, Herman recommends washing your silver with soap and water.
Next, use a cotton ball or cotton pad to apply aloe-free, alcohol-based hand sanitizer to the silver, rubbing it gently over the surface (70% isopropyl alcohol also works, but it can be harder to find).
Focus on cleaning one area at a time before moving on to the next, and switch to a new cotton ball or pad once it’s soiled. You may need to use cotton swabs for intricate cleaning, like in between fork tines.
Rinse the silver with warm water, and dry it immediately with a cotton towel. For lightly tarnished pieces, you may find this is all you need to do (which is preferable since it’s less abrasive than using polishes). If any tarnish remains, you’ll need to use silver polish to remove it.
There’s a lot to say on the subject of silver polish, but the simple advice is to use the least abrasive option you can get. Herman recommends using either Herman’s Simply Clean (his own product, which he developed) or Blitz Silver Shine Polish (Blitz sells Herman’s polish on its website).
Dip a damp cellulose sponge into the polish, and gently rub it across the silver (this doesn’t require much pressure). Focus on one area at a time, and avoid removing the dark patina in the crevices of ornate patterns because it shows the detail and craftsmanship of the piece. Herman suggests holding a piece of white paper next to your silver as you go, since this makes it easier to see spots you missed.
As the sponge becomes discolored, rinse it with water and squeeze it out completely before continuing—or switch to a new sponge once it’s heavily soiled. When you’re done, rinse the silver under warm water and buff it dry with a clean cotton cloth (if your silver has components that shouldn’t get wet, like wood or ivory handles, avoid this and use the “dry” polishing method instead).
For larger silver pieces, like bowls or teapots, begin polishing at the outer edges and work toward the center. Herman explained, “It’s like painting the interior of a house. You paint all of the tight spaces first and then use a roller to blend everything in.” If you need a quick tutorial, watch this video of Herman cleaning silver with hand sanitizer and polish.
If your silver will come into contact with food, wash it after polishing.
The two silver polishes we recommend and the polishing methods described above are also safe to use on gold. However, if your silver piece includes other metals, such as copper or brass, you may want to consult an expert before polishing.
If some hard-to-remove tarnish still remains after your first pass, you can reapply the polish “dry” using a cotton ball or pad instead of a moist sponge. Then, carefully remove the polish with a moist sponge and/or buff it off with a clean cotton towel (Herman demonstrates this method in this video).
You can also use this “dry” method if your silver has any components that shouldn’t get wet, like wood or ivory handles. Alternatively, Gerri Strickler, an associate objects conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, said before polishing your silver, you can cover these areas with plastic wrap to protect them.
Suzanne Amendolara, a professor of art at Edinboro University who has been making jewelry, holloware, and sculpture for nearly 35 years, told us, “If you’re wearing silver jewelry every day, it stays pretty clean. I don’t think you need to do anything. I think where it’s really an issue is when you’re storing it for periods of time.” She recommends washing jewelry in much the same way you would flatware, with a combination of warm water and Dawn Dishwashing Liquid and gently scrubbing it with a cellulose sponge or horsehair brush. Be careful not to remove the factory patina in the crevices of ornate pieces, since it helps those details stand out. Rinse the silver with water, and dry it with a cotton towel.
According to Amendolara, if you wax your silver jewelry, it’s unlikely that it will tarnish, especially if it’s stored properly. In many cases, light tarnish can be removed with a simple wash.
If you do need to polish your jewelry, you can use the same method you’d use for flatware. However, know that over time silver polishes can remove the patina of silver if it has a satin finish. In most cases, regular washing and rubbing with hand sanitizer should suffice in lieu of polish.
Never store silver loose in a drawer because it will scratch easily and tarnish quickly. Avoid wrapping it in newspaper or storing it in cardboard boxes that aren’t acid-free.
All of the experts I spoke with said the absolute best way to store your silver is wrapped in sulfur-absorbing flannel. Herman recommends using Pacific Silvercloth, which has been embedded with silver particles to help neutralize hydrogen sulfide gases and other pollutants in the air that cause silver to tarnish. You can buy treated flannel rolls for flatware or bags for jewelry, which last for about 30 years (depending on your climate) before they need to be replaced, according to Herman. If you start to see tarnish on your silver, you know it’s time to replace the flannel.
For long-term storage, place the flannel rolls or bags in a plastic zip-top bag, like Ziploc bags. Remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing it (but don’t use a vacuum-sealer because the pressure could potentially bend delicate pieces).
If you don’t want to invest in treated flannel, which can be quite expensive, a cheaper alternative would be to individually wrap your silver in buffered, acid-free tissue paper and store it in a zip-top bag with half an anti-tarnish strip, to help neutralize the sulfuric gases in the air. Replace the strips once a year.
Regardless of which method you choose for wrapping your silver, you can also add silica gel to the container or drawer to help absorb humidity. Herman likes silica gel that changes color once it’s fully saturated with moisture. This silica gel is also reusable—when the gel turns clear, heat the container in the oven at 300 °F for 3 hours—and can be used indefinitely. Strickler said a sachet of activated charcoal would also help absorb moisture.
If you want to display larger holloware pieces, like bowls or teapots, in a cabinet or hutch, Herman recommends lining the shelves of the display case with either Kenized SilverShield cloth (which has been impregnated with a proprietary compound) or Pacific Silvercloth. In addition to attracting the hydrogen sulfide in the air, the cloth also provides a barrier against the display case’s shelves, which emit acids and other gases and therefore could also accelerate tarnishing. Avoid using wool, which could have sulfur in it and tarnish your silver.
For the best possible defense, Herman recommends placing Intercept’s Portable Filtration Unit in your cabinet. This battery-operated device has a copper filter that absorbs and neutralizes tarnish-causing pollutants in the air (both the filter and the batteries will need to be periodically replaced). You can also put silica gel or sachets of activated charcoal in your cabinet to help absorb humidity in the air.
If you’re storing your silver in a display case, you’ll need to dust your silver often. Strickler told us, “Dust is hygroscopic and it will hold moisture to the surface. So that will cause tarnishing and corrosion that you don’t necessarily know is happening over a long period of time.” The experts we spoke with recommend using a cotton cloth or an air bulb for dusting. Avoid using feather dusters because they can’t be cleaned, and broken feathers can scratch your silver.
If you don’t plan to display your holloware in a case, wrap it in sulfur-absorbing flannel and store it in a plastic bin with silica gel.
Dinner-knife blades are not made of sterling silver because the metal is too soft to use for cutting (except for certain smaller pieces like butter spreaders or sugar tongs). Most blades today are made of stainless steel and don’t require polishing (though the silver polishes we recommend won’t harm the steel and will actually remove fingerprints).
If you own dinner knives that were made before 1924, they’re likely made of carbon steel, which can rust. To prevent that, Herman recommends applying a light layer of Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm to the carbon steel (after washing and drying) and rubbing it off with a paper towel until there is no residue left behind. If the carbon-steel blades are badly corroded, you can always have them replaced with new stainless steel blades.
What looks like discoloration may actually be the base metal beneath the plated silver starting to show. This damage requires professional re-plating (you can find a reputable conservator for repairing silver in your area on the American Institute for Conservation website). Don’t eat with such pieces or wear worn plated jewelry until it’s re-plated, since certain base metals are toxic or could turn your skin green (which is harmless unless you have a serious allergy).
Don’t try to repair scratches or buff them out yourself; to avoid causing further damage, have them repaired by a professional. Refer to Herman’s website for specific cleaning issues, such as removing coffee or tea stains, candle wax, or salt encrustation from silver, or contact him directly.
If you have heirloom sterling silver pieces from the pre-Colonial era through the 19th century, you may see slightly blotchy purple areas after polishing, known as firestain. Do not attempt to remove it because you can damage the silver and diminish its value.
All silver polishes are abrasive to some degree, even if they claim to be “non-abrasive” on the label, so it’s important to seek out the gentlest polishes to extend the life of your silver. Herman recommends using either Herman’s Simply Clean (his own product, which he developed) or Blitz Silver Shine Polish; he’s both of these to polish nearly all of the silver he cleans, including museum pieces. Herman’s Simply Clean is made using the highest laboratory-grade calcium carbonate, which Strickler told us is one of the usual go-tos for conservators. Both products are non-toxic and safe to use on silver jewelry or silver pieces that will come in contact with food, such as flatware or servingware (however, you should still rinse the silver after polishing).
If the other two options aren’t available, Herman also recommends using Scotchgard 3M Tarni-Shield Silver Polish and Twinkle Silver Polish (just be sure to use a cellulose sponge instead of the foam applicator that it comes with). I tested all four brands, and they all worked well. The Scotchgard 3M polish had an unpleasant smell, but it was effective.
Keep your silver away from chemical dips, such as Tarn-X, which will strip it and turn it a whitish-gray (I learned this the hard way). Chemical dips will also take off the patina found in the crevices of ornate jewelry or flatware patterns, which you don’t want to remove.
All of the experts I spoke with strongly advised against using products not specifically intended for polishing silver, such as toothpaste, ketchup, and baking soda, or using the aluminum foil technique, because these can permanently etch or dull silver. Many of these so-called “quick cleaning techniques,” which you might see in YouTube demos, can damage your silver, even if it’s not immediately apparent. For more information, refer to Herman’s extensive list of cleaners and polishes.
To add an extra layer of tarnish defense to silver, you can lightly coat pieces with Meguiar’s Quik Wax (as long as they won’t come in contact with food or drink—though the exterior of a teapot or pitcher would be safe to wax). Spray or rub the wax onto the silver, and buff it off with a dry cotton cloth until it looks dry and free of streaks. According to Herman, this will help keep your silver shiny for up to a year, as long as you dust it regularly.
To remove old wax from silver, apply aloe-free, alcohol-based hand sanitizer (70% isopropyl alcohol also works) to the silver with cotton balls or pads. Wash and dry the piece thoroughly before applying a fresh coat of wax.
If your silver has wood or ivory elements, you can wax those to protect them too, but with a different wax. Herman recommends Crystal Clear Paste Wax. In a well-ventilated space, apply a small, thin layer of wax and rub it all over with a cotton towel, being careful to avoid the silver. After a few minutes, buff the wax with a cotton or paper towel until it feels hard to the touch. Repeat with one or two more coats and allow the wax to cure for 24 hours before using or storing the item.
Jeffrey Herman, a silversmith who has been working with silver for over 40 years and the founder of the Society of American Silversmiths, phone interviews, November 4, 12, and 20, December 10, 2020
Suzanne Amendolara, professor of art at Edinboro University and a maker of jewelry, holloware, and sculpture for nearly 35 years, phone interview, November 6, 2020
Gerri Strickler, associate objects conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Zoom interview, November 9, 2020
Jeffrey Herman, The Care of Silver, hermansilver.com, July 7, 2020
Care of Silver (PDF), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, March 1, 2018
Cheryl Mendelson, Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House (pp. 554-557), November 4, 1999
American Institute for Conservation, Caring for Your Treasures (PDF)
Lyndsie Selwyn, Silver — Care and Tarnish Removal, Canadian Conservation Institute, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2007
Michael Sullivan has been a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter since 2016. Previously, he was an editor at the International Culinary Center in New York. He has worked in various facets of the food and restaurant industry for over a decade.
After 160 hours of research, we’ve created a buying guide to help you find a set of flatware you’ll love.
After over 200 hours of research and testing over 300 utensils, we recommend 11 sets in a wide range of designs and prices.
by Marguerite Preston and Wirecutter Staff
Here’s everything you need to host a dinner party with confidence and ease.
These kitchen and dining items were the most-purchased Wirecutter kitchen picks in 2023.
Stainless Steel Coil With Mill Edg Slit Edg Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).