How To: 6 Easy DIY Ways to Clean & Polish Tarnished Silverware & Jewelry

Is your beloved silver bracelet looking a little worn? Stick it in a bowl of tomato ketchup to remove the tarnish. The acid in the tomatoes oxidizes with tarnished silver, which helps make your silver items look newer than ever before.

If you're not keen on the idea of mixing your favorite condiments with dirty-looking silverware, or wearing ketchup-smelling silver earrings, you can also use toothpaste, lemon juice and salt, milk and cream of tartar, or baking soda to bring some new life back to your tarnished silver spoons, forks, knives, earrings, necklaces, and other silvery items in your home that need a new shine.

If you have a lot of silver to clean at the same time, try boiling it in a pot lined with aluminum foil and filled with water, baking soda, salt, and white vinegar. Then just cool and plunge in warm soapy water and clean. For silver with stubborn tarnish, try this boiling method a second time.

Got your own tips for removing tarnish from silverware? Share with us.

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