How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (2024)

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II recently came across some old jewelry with a lot of tarnish, and an old recipe for how to clean tarnished jewelry came to me from way back!

I came across some old jewelry that my Mom had left at my place when she moved. While some of it was way outdated, some of them were interesting and unique. But most of them were badly tarnished. I tried cleaning them with soap and water, but only a bit of tarnish came off. Then an old recipe, from when I was much younger, came to me!

What is Tarnish?

Having to clean tarnished jewelry is very common. Tarnish is nothing more than oxidization. When certain materials come in contact with air, especially if humidity is involved. In the case of copper, oxidization turns green. In aluminum, it turns gray. Silver will also turn gray or black. Bronze will turn green like copper. Aluminum and copper are often used in jewelry because they are cheap, lightweight, and easy to coat. You may see something that looks silver, but be copper underneath. Another advantage is that both metals rarely have any allergens. The main disadvantage is the tarnish. But I’ll show you how you can take care of that pretty easily.

Read more about which metals tarnish.

How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry

There are tarnish-removing cloths that you can use on jewelry and other items like silverware. They may work well for large flat objects, but in the case of silverware with intricate designs or jewelry with the same or on chains, you’ll only be able to get to the surface, leaving tarnish between links or deep in crevices. That’s where this recipe can really help. The best part is that it’s not noxious in any way and you probably already have everything you need.

Equipment/Ingredients

  • Aluminum foil or an aluminum pie pan
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon baking soda
  • 1 cup water, hot, but not boiling
  • 2 clean towels, 1 fluffy if you can

Instructions

In the bottom of a sink or a container, place the aluminum foil or pie tin. Next, to begin the process to clean tarnished jewelry, add baking soda and salt. If using a sink, make sure the stopper is in place and slowly pour the hot water over the powdered ingredients. Stir the mixture around a little to be sure the baking soda and salt are dissolved. It shouldn’t take long since the water is hot.

Place your jewelry or other items on the foil or pie plate. Now, you’ll need to wait. Some small items can be done in as little as 15 minutes, but some may take a few hours. If you are working with something large, like a vase, you can double or triple the amounts of baking soda, salt, and water. The foil or pie plate can stay the same.

When you see that most of the tarnished jewelry is mostly clean, pull the piece out of the water and rinse it off. Then lay it on the first towel to drip dry. Once it dries most of the way, take the fluffy cloth (terry cloth works great) and buff the item dry. Be sure to work in deep crevices, and in between links on chains. If you see a lot of tarnish between the links on the chain, return it to the solution to soak for a bit longer. Eventually, all the tarnish will come off.

When you have cleaned all of your items, simply drain the sink and toss the aluminum into the recycling. Pie plates and foil both recycle well. Keep your jewelry in a clean, dry place.

Avoid Having to Clean Tarnished Jewelry

There are a few things you can do to prevent jewelry from becoming tarnished in the first place.

  1. Keep your items dry. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. I don’t use air conditioning in my home, so the humidity creeps in. And in older homes, basements, and closets that have a lot of humidity.
  2. You won’t have to clean tarnished jewelry if you store your items in an enclosed container. Small jars, zip-top bags, and shoe boxes that seal are all ways to keep the air out of your things.
  3. Use an anti-tarnish cloth. They contain tiny particles of silver that catch tarnish before they can latch onto your things.
  4. Wear something else. If jewelry is worn constantly, tarnish can develop. Try a different necklace or ring.
  5. Clean them often. By cleaning your things often, tarnish won’t have a chance to build up.

Homemade Jewelry Cleaner

Note: You may also want to check our recipe for homemade jewelry cleaner.

Now you know how to clean tarnished jewelry, and silverware, naturally!

*******

How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (1)

About Debra Maslowski

Debra is a master gardener, a certified herbalist, a natural living instructor, and more. She taught Matt and Betsy how to make soap so they decided to bring her on as a staff writer! Debra recently started an organic herb farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina. You can even purchase her handmade products on Amazon!

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Comments

  1. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (5)Debra Maslowski says

    Hi Vicki, Yes, ammonia works too, but some people, like me, can’t handle the smell of it. This cleaner was created for those people.

  2. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (6)Debra Maslowski says

    Hi Monica, Angela is correct. The aluminum reacts with the other ingredients, driving dirt and tarnish from crevasses in jewelry.

  3. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (7)Debra Maslowski says

    Hey Angela, that’s great! A lot of people like the antique look. It’s really up to you.

  4. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (8)Debra Maslowski says

    Hi Pam, I wouldn’t use this type of cleaner with turquoise, either the stone or inlaid with resin. It could damage it. I would try a soft silver cloth on the metal areas instead.

  5. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (9)Pam says

    Sooooo…. I have silver jewelry with inlaid turquoise. Would that be ok or possibly cause damage to turquoise? Really want to try this. Thanks

  6. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (10)Angela says

    I actually don’t completely clean the tarnish on silver jewelry any more….as you pointed out, when you clean silver in the classic way, tarnish can remain in the folds and crevaces. I find that it enhances my silver jewelry, gives it a pleasant antique look, but that is my personal prefernce….

  7. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (11)Angela says

    Yes Monica, the salt and baking soda have a chemical reaction with the aluminium (oh, just in case you think that this is a spelling error: it is the original English name for what became aluminum in the US) and that’s what cleans the silver….

  8. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (12)Vicki says

    Household ammonia does a fine job cleaning tarnished silver jewelry.

  9. How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (13)Monica says

    Thanks for this! Is there a reason that foil is recommended as opposed to a bowl or other small container?

How to Clean Tarnished Jewelry: A Natural Recipe That Works! (2024)

FAQs

What is the best homemade solution to clean jewelry? ›

Dish Detergent & Warm Water

The best homemade jewelry cleaning solution is a mixture of a few drops of Dawn dish detergent in warm, not hot, water.

How do you make homemade cleaning solution for silver? ›

Cleaning silver with a combination of aluminum foil, baking soda, and salt typically does the trick for both small and large silver pieces.

Does hydrogen peroxide clean jewelry? ›

If you'd like to disinfect your jewelry, you can use regular household isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as long as the jewelry is solid gold or platinum and is only set with diamond, ruby, or sapphire. Take care with any other kind of stones and use a gentler form of cleaning.

What should you not clean jewelry with? ›

Never use these 4 things to clean your jewelry.
  • Baking Soda. Baking soda is abrasive, which is why it's great for cleaning sinks and toilets, but that abrasive quality can scratch gemstones and precious metals. ...
  • Toothpaste. ...
  • Boiling Water. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home.

How do you clean dirty tarnished jewelry? ›

For light tarnish, put a few drops of mild dish cleaning liquid (like Dawn) in warm tap water. Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wipe away any tarnish. Rinse any remaining soap or tarnish with cool water, and buff dry with a soft cloth.

What is the cheapest way to clean tarnished jewelry? ›

Baking soda, salt and aluminum foil.

Mix one tablespoon salt and one tablespoon of baking soda and mix with one cup warm water. Pour into the dish. The mixture will create a chemical reaction with the foil and bubble as it cleans the jewelry. Rinse with cool water and buff dry with a clean cloth.

What is the best natural silver cleaner? ›

Clean Silver with Vinegar

This cleaning agent is a great option for many things, including your tarnished silver. Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl of lukewarm water. Let the silver soak for two to three hours. Rinse with cold water and let airdry.

What is the best homemade jewelry cleaner for silver? ›

Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil

This process causes a chemical reaction that removes tarnish from the silver within second or minutes. You can see the process happening and the dark, discolored piece of jewelry changing back to its original state. It is truly amazing and is by far our best DIY method yet.

Does vinegar clean jewelry well? ›

A couple common household items with tons of uses are good old vinegar and lemon juice. Their chemical make-up can do wonders on a number of cleaning projects but your jewelry shouldn't be one of them. Sure it can get your jewelry clean, but the acidity and abrasiveness can damage silver.

Does hydrogen peroxide damage gold? ›

Yes, you can clean gold with hydrogen peroxide. It is a safe and effective way to remove dirt and tarnish from gold jewelry. However, it is important to remember that hydrogen peroxide can damage some types of gold, such as those that are plated or have gemstones set into them.

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