Knowing how to clean silver-plated items keeps them from becoming tarnished and dull. There are many commercial products to clean silver and silver-plated objects but you can also use safe and natural products such as baking soda and salt.
To tell the difference between a silver item and a silver-plated item, hold up a magnet and see how it reacts to the item. A silver-plated item will be magnetic, since it is made of various metals. If it’s not magnetic, it’s silver.
For older silver pieces, check with an antique dealer to see if it’s valuable enough that it should be left in its current condition, if you decide you want to sell it. Restoring silver, even silver-plating, is a hotly debated topic in the antique market.1 Some people think polishing causes damage and reduces the value, while others want the item to look as new as possible.
To clean a silver-plated item, immerse and soak it in a foil-lined container filled with boiling water, salt, and baking soda and watch the tarnish disappear.
Assess the Tarnish
Decide how much of the tarnish you want to remove. Some people want the item to look like new, while others prefer to leave a portion of the tarnish intact to give it some character.
Mix the Cleaning Solution
Combine 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of baking soda for every gallon of water. Pick a bucket or tub that is large enough for the silver to lay flat and be covered in the liquid.
Line a Bucket With Aluminum Foil
Place a few sheets of aluminum foil, the shiny side facing up, on the bottom of your container. The container should be flat enough on the bottom that the silverware can lie directly against it.
Sprinkle Salt and Baking Soda on Foil
Sprinkle equal parts salt and baking soda on top of the aluminum foil.
Add Boiling Water
Pour boiling water carefully into the container, being careful not to scald yourself with the water or the steam. Make sure the container you’re using is deep enough to contain the fizzing when the water hits the baking soda and salt. There should be enough water that you cover the pieces you will be cleaning. You may smell a slight pungent odor from the chemical reaction during the process.
Allow Silver to Soak
Place the silver-plated items side by side in the container using tongs. The tarnish may start to dissolve immediately but if not, add more salt, baking soda, or water, and ensure the aluminum foil is in direct contact with the silver item. Do not let the silver overlap or touch each other.
Let the silver soak for up to 30 minutes, then carefully remove it from the hot mixture with tongs, and wipe with a soft rag. If tarnish remains, soak the item longer.
Rinse and Dry
Rinse each silver item with clean water to remove the leftover salt and baking soda mixture. Dry with a soft rag so no moisture is left, since any moisture could cause the silver to tarnish again.
Alternatively, you can use the following home items
Lemon: Lemon juice removes water spots from silver-plated items. Dip a microfiber cloth in lemon juice and wipe off tarnish and water spots.
Vinegar: This is the best method for removing moderate amounts of tarnish in minutes. Submerge your item in undiluted white vinegar and let it sit there for 15 minutes (for light tarnish) to a couple of hours (for heavier tarnish). Rinse in plain water and dry the silver-plated piece.
Ketchup: Ketchup is good for polishing silver-plated objects to a shine. Squeeze ketchup onto a microfiber rag, gently polish the silver plate, and then buff the ketchup off with a clean rag.
Toothpaste: Regular white, non-gel toothpaste shines silver-plated items. Squeeze a bit onto a microfiber cloth, gently rub it onto the silver plate, and buff it with a clean cloth.
Source: thespruce.com