The Martha Stewart Blog : Blog Archive Polishing Silver Before a Winter Dinner Party

February 9, 2026

Polishing Silver Before a Winter Dinner Party

If you're entertaining at home this winter, don't forget to take time to polish the silver.

Last week, my housekeeper Enma Sandoval took on the task of cleaning and polishing some of the silver in my Winter House Brown Room - a couple days ahead of a small dinner party I hosted. There are several 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. Experts recommend using a good-quality, non-abrasive commercial silver polish. Silver cleaning cloths made especially for removing tarnish from precious metals are also available.

Enjoy these photos.

: Polishing silver three or four times a year is generally sufficient to keep it in good condition, but if you’re entertaining and planning to use some pieces, give them a little extra attention before the event.

: I hosted a small dinner party for 12 over the weekend and asked my housekeeper to polish some of the pieces in my Brown Room. These are already finished and look so beautiful.

: These pieces are very lightly tarnished – some pieces don’t even look tarnished at all.

: I’ve used Wright’s Silver Cream for years. Wright’s Silver Cream is a gentle all-purpose polish that works on all types of silver. It also works nicely on stainless steel and chrome.

: After washing this silver serving tray with dish soap and warm water to remove any dust, Enma applies a small amount of silver cream.

: Enma rubs both sides of the tray. Tarnish ranges in color from a light yellowy gold to almost black, depending on how long it has been allowed to develop. In addition to using soft sponges and rags, use cotton swabs to apply the cream to tight spots and crevices when cleaning.

: After rubbing the piece with silver cream, rinse the piece well.

: And then wash it with dish soap and water again to ensure all the cream is removed.

: Enma uses the sponge to remove any of the leftover cream.

: And she rinses both the top and bottom of the tray thoroughly, so there is no trace of cream left.

: All the cleaning is done on a terry cloth towel lining the bottom of the sink, so the metal doesn’t bang against any surfaces. The towel is also a good idea to use when washing special china… just in case anything slips through the fingers.

: After rinsing, Enma dries the silver right away with a soft absorbent cloth to avoid any water marks.

: Here she is cleaning a silver dish. It may take a little longer when cleaning a piece with more intricate designs, crevices, or indentations. Enma is sure to wipe every area, getting into the tight spaces carefully. It’s also a good idea to use gloves when taking on this task, so the cleaning cream does not come into contact with the skin.

: Completely coat any pieces with the cream. The silver will start to brighten as it is rubbed. Always use silver polishes that are non-abrasive, and opt for formulas, such as creams and gels instead of sprays.

: The silver dish is rinsed carefully over the towel and then dried in the same fashion as the silver tray.

: Every piece cleaned is buffed to perfection. Do not let your silver air dry, because water left standing can cause spotting.

: These pieces will look so lovely in my Brown Room. Another tip – never clean silver in the dishwasher. The detergents’ aggressive chemicals, combined with the washer’s high cleaning temperature, will eventually turn it grey or white, with a dull, non-reflective surface.