The Top 5 Silver Polishes and Home Remedies for Polishing Fine Silver

Everyone loves to see sparkling silver and it is always such a delight to set my table with my antique silver. When you own beautiful antique flatware you want to make sure that you are properly caring for it and sterling silver should always be stored in an area where they remain free of dust and grime. Sterling silver flatware should never be placed in the same place as your regular silverware as this will cause your silver to corrode. Silver should also be stored away from any rubber such as dish mats, silverware holders, place mats, rubber bands or anything that has a rubber base. Rubber contains a form of sulfur that will cause the silver to corrode at a rapid rate. Along with avoiding rubber and other metal objects, you should not allow your sterling silver to be exposed to food for extended periods of time as some foods also contain sulfur and can corrode and tarnish your fine silver. The recommendation for any fine silver is to clean it immediately after you consume your food. I always wash my sterling silver in a mild dish soap and warm water and dry off immediately by using cheese clothe. The rubbing action of the rag against the sterling silver is what will give it that beautiful shine. There is a lot of controversy about whether sterling silver can be put in the dishwasher; I personally do not clean my silver in the dishwasher as the drying cycle can damage the silver and leave permanent water spots.

There are several good silver polishes on the market today, but there are a few that are exceptional and well worth their money. There are also several home remedies one could use to clean sterling silver with. Below is a list of some silver polishes that are quite good along with a few home remedies.

Polish One: Hagerty Silver Foam Polish

Hagerty silver foam polish allows for a fast, simple and non-toxic way to care for sterling silver and all the serving pieces that are used on a regular basis. Hagerty silver foam has no harsh abrasive chemicals that will scratch or damage your fine silver and can be used as often as needed. This is a wash and rinse polish, no rubbing or soaking is needed. Hagerty silver foam polish retails for 6.99 per bottle and can be found at walmart or any hardware store.

Polish Two: Maas Metal Polish

This Maas metal polishing cream is a powerful formula with a new lavender scent. This cream will instantly remove years of residue, tarnish, oxidation and rust from all metals including sterling silver. The super strength in this anti-tarnish polish has a corrosion inhibitor built into, which provides for long lasting protection. Maas is highly concentrated, just a dab will handle the largest and toughest job and is gentle enough to use for those delicate antique pieces. Maas Metal Polish retails for 10.99 per bottle.

Polish Three: Malco Twinkle Silver Polish:

Twinkle silver polish is a gentle easy way to clean your sterling or antique silver. This polish will quickly dissolve built up tarnish and corrosion and contains on phosphorus or abrasive components to it. Twinkle silver polishes anti-tarnish formula keeps silver beautiful longer by regular usage. Malco Twinkle silver polish retails for 4.49 for a 4.38 oz.

Polish Four: Home Remedy # 1 Toothpaste

If you do not want to use any chemicals or store bought polishes for fear of ruining your fine silver, there are a few home remedies that will clean and put a lustrous shine on your silver. If you are working with small projects, the best silver polish is toothpaste. However, not just any toothpaste will do, only use plain white paste. To apply you will simply rub a small amount of the toothpaste on the piece that is to be cleaned and buff it a little, then rinse and dry completely and you will have a beautiful shine. We all know that toothpaste is inexpensive and retails for about 1.00 to 2.00.

Polish Four: Home Remedy # 2 Baking Soda

The use of baking soda is for much bigger pieces and you should follow these steps to insure a great shine. Combine baking soda with water until you have made a paste and apply it to a clean damp sponge; rub the paste into the silver, leave for a few minutes and then rinse. For badly tarnished silver, you will want to let the paste sit for at least one hour or longer if needed; then you will clean off with the damp sponge and rinse the rest of the residue off and buff dry. Baking soda retails for about .79 cents and is very safe to use on all silver.

So when considering a polish to use on your fine sterling silver, that the beauty and luster of well-kept silver is unmistakable and if you have properly cared for your silver it will last for many generations.

References for this article came form chemistry.about.com and goodhousekeeping.com