Toothpaste

• A toothpaste containing baking soda will remove tarnish from silver and produce a bright shine on the surface. Apply it lightly with a finger or damp sponge and rinse with hot water. If the silver item is badly tarnished, you can leave the toothpaste on for an hour or more as needed. The toothpaste will not damage the silver. After rinsing, the silver can be polished with a soft, dry cloth.
  
  

Boiling

• Line a saucepan with aluminum foil and place one quart of water in the pan. Add one tablespoon of salt and one tablespoon of baking soda to the water. Bring the water to a boil and then place the silver items in it for three minutes. Remove items and dry them with a soft cloth. This is not to be used for silver-plated items as it may loosen the plating.
  
  

Salt

• For silver-plated items, line a bowl with aluminum foil and fill it with warm water. Add four tablespoons of salt and a drop of liquid dish soap. Soak the items for a few minutes as you can see the tarnish disappear, then dry with a soft cloth such as flannel. Do not use this method on jewelry that has been antiqued (oxidized).
  
  

Ketchup

• If you want to remove stubborn tarnish from within grooves and ornamentation, use a jeweler's brush to work ketchup into the crevices. Do not use a toothbrush, tooth pick, pin or other sharp object, as these may scratch the surface. Rinse within a couple of minutes after applying; don't let the ketchup sit on the silver for long.
  
  

Others

• Alka-Seltzer is not just for stomachs; it can be used to soak your jewelry in for a couple of minutes to bring the shine back. Silver items containing gemstones can be soaked overnight in a container filled with club soda or denture tablets and water. A vinegar or vodka bath is also used to clean some silver items but is not recommended for gemstones.