Polishing Cloths

• Special polishing cloths are available that will remove tarnish from silver, brass and many other metals. Generally sold as a kit, two cloths are usually included -- one for tarnish removal and the other for polishing. It's important to follow the instructions by gently polishing the silver, taking care to be careful when polishing jewelry, especially when working around settings that might come loose. Polishing cloths are the safest method for polishing silver, but it can be a tedious process, especially when trying to clean small nooks and crannies.
  
  

Toothpaste

• Toothpaste has proven to work very effectively in removing tarnish from silver. Coat the silver with a thin layer of toothpaste and then rinse it gently under warm water, using gentle pressure to work the toothpaste into a thick foam before rinsing off well. One word of caution: Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, so don't rub too hard. This is especially important when using toothpaste to clean valuable jewelry, as toothpaste is abrasive enough to damage a delicate piece and diminish its value.
  
  

Baking Soda/Alka Selzer

• Baking soda is another common household product that can polish silver. The best way to do this is to place a small amount of baking soda on a toothbrush, using the brush to gently scrub away any tarnish. It's important to note, however, that baking soda is also slightly abrasive, so it's important to work as gently with baking soda as you would with toothpaste. Another similar tip for polishing silver jewelry involves Alka Selzer. Drop two tablets into eight ounces of water, and add the jewelry. When the fizzing stops, rinse your jewelry and pat dry. The process can be repeated if necessary.
  
  

Aluminum Foil

• For cleaning larger silver items, such as flatware or stemware, aluminum foil is a good option. First, find a container large enough to fully submerge the items, and drop a piece of aluminum foil in the container. Next, add hot water and baking soda. The final step is to dip the silver into the solution, ensuring it does not touch the foil. After a few seconds, the tarnish will disappear and the silver will shine. This works because aluminum is an active metal while silver is inert, resulting in a chemical reaction that causes the aluminum to react with the tarnished silver, freeing the metal while removing the tarnish.