Clean Silver in 3 Simple Steps

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For spotless silverware, you'll need a silver polish - ordinary toothpaste will work and is less expensive - and an old sock or clean, lint-free towel.

1. Place a clean cotton tube sock on your polishing hand.

Dampen the sock slightly under cool running water. Squeeze a pearl-size drop of toothpaste on your gloved fingertip.

2. Apply toothpaste to the silver.

Apply the toothpaste to the silver using up-and-down rater than circular strokes until the tarnish is gone. Use a twisted bit of rag or a toothbrush to get between silverware tines and other tight spaces.

3. Rinse well.

Rinse the silver well and polish it dry with the clean, dry side of the sock.

4. Store silver safely.

Store silver in an airtight plastic bag or in a chest lined with tarnish-resistant flannel. Avoid serving sulfur-containing foods such as mayonnaise and eggs from your silver platter - they'll cause tarnishing.

Here are a few items that might help in cleaning and storing your silver: