Silver cleaner can help remove tarnish and give your jewelry or flatware a new shine. These DIY home remedies use common pantry ingredients that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Pegeen suggests lining a pan with foil and filling it with baking soda before adding your silver pieces, which will create a chemical reaction that clears away tarnish. Ketchup also works well as a quick silver polisher. Baking Soda Baking soda is a kitchen staple that is inexpensive, safe and easy to find. This powerful ingredient has many household uses, including zapping bad smells and keeping teeth sparkling white. It also happens to be a strong silver cleaner that does not require the use of harsh chemicals. The baking soda method works well for most silver items, from flatware to jewelry. It is especially helpful for large, heavily tarnished pieces. Simply line a pot of appropriate size with aluminum foil, shiny side up. Fill the pot with boiling water, add baking soda and salt and let your tarnished silver soak in the solution. This process does not produce toxic fumes and is simple enough for kids to participate in as a fun chemistry experiment. The baking soda cleaning method is one of the best options for environmentally-friendly silver polishing. Lemon Juice Lemon juice works to remove the oxide layer that builds up on silver and causes it to darken. Just applying some lemon juice over your jewelry and rubbing it with a dry cloth will naturally brighten up your pieces. For more heavily tarnished pieces, try adding baking soda to the lemon juice for an extra helping hand. The citric acid in lemons also helps to break down hard water stains, lime deposits and calcium. If you have an old silver necklace that’s starting to look dull, treat it to a lemon and olive oil soak overnight. Then, use a microfiber or cotton flannel cloth to polish the piece until it shines. Lemon-Lime Soda In this simple-but-effective silver cleaning method, you use lemon-lime soda to wash away tarnish. Line a plastic basin with aluminum foil, pour in the lemon-lime soda and place your silverware or jewelry inside. Allow it to soak for an hour and rinse thoroughly. This is a great option for items that have only minor tarnish. However, it is important to avoid using this method on plated silver or pieces that feature gemstones as the abrasive ingredient may wash away the oxidation added by the goldsmith. This health-conscious soda is low in calories and contains live probiotics to aid digestion. It’s also surprisingly delicious and can rival some of the best lemon lime sodas in terms of taste and carbonation. It has a refreshing citrus flavor and none of the off-smells or lack of fizz that some of the other functional sodas we tested have. Dish Soap With more options for scent profiles than ever, it’s no surprise that dish soap is now a popular choice of silver cleaner. Many brands offer a variety of soothing combinations, while others boast a natural, earthy scent. And with sustainable packaging a main concern, more and more companies are offering reusable bottles that can be easily refilled. For heavier tarnish, mix baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply to a soft, lint-free cloth and work it into the crevices. Then, rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. This method is safe for most gemstones, but shouldn’t be used on pearls or other softer stones. The acidity in vinegar could damage them. Alternatively, dampen a cloth with white paste toothpaste (not gel) and gently rub your jewelry. Silver Foam Cleanser This silver polish foam cleans, shines and protects silver. It is especially useful for heavily embossed and intricately decorated silver pieces, such as ornately carved flatware and home decor items with ornate filigree. It easily sponges into these intricate patterns to instantly dissolve tarnish. Once rinsed, it leaves a tarnish-resistant barrier that keeps silver shiny and protected for weeks to come. Simply dampen the included sponge applicator with warm water and apply the polish foam to your silver. Wash and rinse, then dry with a soft cloth to obtain a radiant longer-lasting shine. This silver cleaner is safe for sterling, silver-plated and pewter objects and can be used on everyday use silver utensils and serveware. It contains no abrasives or harsh chemicals and is non-toxic and biodegradable.