How To: Clean Silver Jewelry

Rinse the silver in warm water.

Blot your jewelry dry with a soft cloth.

There are a few different products that can be used to remove tarnish. If using a silver-cleaning cloth, rub the piece gently, with a back-and-forth or up-and-down motion (not in circles), moving the piece to a clean portion of the cloth as the tarnish comes off onto it. Continue until no more tarnish rubs off onto the cloth. If using a silver-cleaning fluid, let silver sit in the liquid and swish around for a few seconds. Pat dry with a cloth.

Tip: Silver cleaner won't harm gold and platinum, but it won't clean them, either.

For jewelry with engraving or other intricate designs, work a little silver-cleaning paste or polish into the grooves with a cloth or, very gently, with a wet, soft-bristle toothbrush. To clean the main surfaces of the piece, rub gently with a back-and-forth or up-and-down motion (not in circles), rinse, then blot dry with a clean, soft cloth.