How to Clean Vintage & Antique Silver

Though silver is prized for its soft sheen and delicate appearance, older silver dishes and decorations are often dulled and darkened by the natural effects of tarnish, transforming silver's normal color into a dark, slightly blue-black hue. To make the sheen and color of the silver look new while still enjoying the intricate appearance of vintage craftsmanship, carefully clean your old silver items using the proper cleaning solutions, tools and techniques to restore its luster.

• 1

  Inspect the silver for weak structural points. With items like teapots, footed dishes or jointed silver boxes, joints and hinges can become weak with age. Wiggle the item gently near the jointed spots to see if it's loose. If so, be aware of these spots while cleaning so you don't put pressure on them.

• 2

  Apply a generous amount of silver cleaner to the corner of a soft, dry cloth.

• 3

  Wet the silver lightly with the spray bottle.

• 4

  Wash the silver with the cloth. Press through the corner of the cloth with your fingertip and rub with gentle pressure in a circular motion. Go over the entire silver item, scrubbing every square inch in this fashion. Spend more time on areas that have especially thick tarnish. Apply more cleaner as needed.

• 5

  Rinse the silver in warm water to remove the cleaner and, with it, the tarnish you've rubbed away.

• 6

  Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you've removed all or the majority of the tarnish.

• 7

  Scrub stubborn areas with a soft toothbrush. Coat the brush with additional cleaner and work it in a circular motion in areas with crevices, engraving or filigree detail where tarnish is likely to be harder to clean.

• 8

  Rinse the silver again. Dry and buff with a thick towel.