Simple Trick to Polish Tarnished Silver

If you have silver flatware hidden in a drawer somewhere that happens to be tarnished, this super simple trick will get it polished in no time!

I love throwing a dinner party, and when I do there are two things I like to incorporate—real silver flatware and cloth napkins.

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Pretty polished silver flatware laying on cloth napkins makes a table look like you went the extra mile, when it really isn’t that much extra work. It is the small details that sometimes have the biggest impact.

How I Found My Silver Flatware

What I think I love the most about using silver flatware is how I acquired the pieces.

I have two sets, an 8-place setting and a 13-place setting, and I picked them up at a yard sale and an estate sale for a very reasonable price. I believe I paid around $85 for both sets! It’s fun to think about the history of the silver I purchased. The larger set is from 1921, and the smaller set is from 1950. Ohhhhh, the dinner parties these pieces of silver must have been a part of.

How to Polish Tarnished Silver Flatware

The only downside with using real silver flatware is how it can tarnish so quickly, and it can be very time consuming to polish by hand. However, I have a simple solution that will polish silver in no time.

My mom shared this mixture with me when I bought my first set of silver at a yard sale. I have no idea where it originated, but it’s a brilliant idea.

Use a large stockpot and fill it with water and bring to a boil. Add ½ teaspoon of salt and 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda (I usually add 2 teaspoons). Put the tarnished silver into the boiling water, and add a piece of aluminum foil. Boil 2 to 3 minutes–you may need to go a little longer if the silver is really tarnished. Rinse the silverware well, then use a soft cloth to buff dry.

This concoction is like magic!

I hope you are inspired to pull out your tarnished silver and polish it up, or start the hunt for an older set if you don’t have any.

xoxo,
Molly

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Silver Tarnish Remover

Materials

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 to 2 teaspoons baking soda
• Aluminum Foil

Instructions

• Fill a large stock pot 3/4 full of water and bring to a boil, then add salt and baking soda.
• Place tarnished silver flatware in pot with boiled water mixture, and add a piece of aluminum foil.
• Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse the silverware well, then use a soft cloth to buff dry.