How To Clean Silverware
With Toothpaste

To clean silverware with toothpaste, place a clean cotton tube sock on your polishing hand.

Dampen the sock slightly under cold running water. Squeeze a pearl-sized drop of toothpaste on your "gloved" fingertip. Apply the toothpaste to the silver using up-and-down rather than circular strokes until the tarnish is gone.

Use a twisted bit of rag or a toothbrush to get between tines and other tight spaces. Rinse the silver thoroughly and polish it dry with the clean, dry side of the sock. 

Clean Silverware with Toothpaste and Prevent Future Tarnish

Now that you know how to clean silverware with toothpaste, here's how to keep your silverware looking its best:

  • For regular silverware cleanings, rinse under warm running water and use a mild soap, such as dishwashing liquid, to remove surface dirt.
  • Resist the urge to submerge silverware: less is more with this precious metal. 
  • Wear gloves while cleaning to protect the silverware from fingerprints. Cotton is best, but rubber works, as long as you wash a new pair first. (Any sulfur that remains on the gloves could tarnish the silver.)

Storing Silverware Safely

  • Store silverware in an airtight plastic bag or a chest lined with tarnish-resistant flannel.
  • Resist the urge to bundle silverware in rubber bands: the rubber can cause surface discoloration.
  • Avoid serving sulfur-containing foods such as mayonnaise and eggs from your platters - they'll cause tarnishing.


You Might Like These:

  • Seasonal allergies can reduce kids - and adults - to a sniffling, sneezing, uncomfortable mess. This room-by-room allergy relief cleaning tips can help keep the sniffles under control.

    Allergy Relief Cleaning Tips

    Seasonal allergies can reduce kids - and adults - to a sniffling, sneezing, uncomfortable mess. This room-by-room allergy relief cleaning tips can help keep the sniffles under control.

  • Cleaning brass is easy to do at home, thanks to the built-in germicidal and antimicrobial components. These bright ideas for cleaning brass can bring back the sassy shine you love.

    Bright Ideas for Cleaning Brass

    Cleaning brass is easy to do at home, thanks to the built-in germicidal and antimicrobial components. These bright ideas for cleaning brass can bring back the sassy shine you love.

  • Vacuuming secrets to success: Here ares the best ways to clean carpet so that you can get the dirty job done right  - and teach the kids to do the same.

    Vacuuming Secrets to Success

    Vacuuming secrets to success: Here ares the best ways to clean carpet so that you can get the dirty job done right - and teach the kids to do the same.

  • Cleaning flat screen TVs. Chances are your television sees a lot of action, so give it its cleaning due. Here are 5 steps to keeping it clean.

    Cleaning Flat Screen TVs

    Cleaning flat screen TVs. Chances are your television sees a lot of action, so give it its cleaning due. Here are 5 steps to keeping it clean.

  • Bed bugs: They're back! But not for long, if you know the key bed bug removal tips for success. Here's how to send bed bugs packing.

    Bed Bug Removal Tips

    Bed bugs: They're back! But not for long, if you know the key bed bug removal tips for success. Here's how to send bed bugs packing.

  • How to clean your phone, tablet, and other touchscreens.

    How to Clean Your Phone

    How to clean your phone, tablet, and other touchscreens.

  • How to remove rust from metal?  These 4 homemade remedies can help remove even the toughest  buildup.

    How to Remove Rust from Metal

    How to remove rust from metal? These 4 homemade remedies can help remove even the toughest buildup.

  • A house cleaning schedule that works. Until someone out there introduces a universally free service, this house cleaning schedule can help you make quick work of cleaning.

    A House Cleaning Schedule That Works in Less Time

    A house cleaning schedule that works. Until someone out there introduces a universally free service, this house cleaning schedule can help you make quick work of cleaning.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.