May 29, 2019

Polishing Silver Forks and Spoons

It’s always so rewarding to complete various time-consuming chores around the home. After several cleaning and polishing sessions, my collection of silver flatware is shimmering once again.

Recently, after a dinner party at my Bedford, New York farm, my housekeepers took on the task of cleaning and polishing my drawers of silver. There are a few ways to clean silver. One nontoxic method is to fill an aluminum pan with hot water, salt and baking soda, stir until it is all dissolved, and then soak the pieces until a chemical reaction occurs that removes the tarnish. This technique is faster than hand cleaning but may cause pitting and remove the more desirable tarnish called patina. Silver cleaning cloths made especially for removing tarnish from precious metals are also available. Many experts recommend using a good-quality, non-abrasive commercial silver polish. I have been using Wright’s Silver Cream for years and love how it works.

Enjoy these photos of our process. And remember, there are more tips on storing and maintaining silver in my book, "The Martha Manual: How to Do (Almost) Everything" - in bookstores now.