How Do You Polish Silver?

There are probably a million and one ways to polish silver, but the one way that has worked best for me over the years is baking soda.  And, if you have children, you can kill two birds with one stone by letting them watch while you teach the chemistry behind it! :)

Basically, I line a large cooking pot with aluminum foil.  You can also line the bottom of a sink.  I then place my item to be polished in the pot.  In this particular case, it was my tarnished silver plated footed bowls.  See below.

See how black they are?

I then take another pot and boil water.  I pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and a couple of teaspoons of salt into the boiling water.  I then pour the boiling water (with baking soda) mix over the silver item and cover it with a tight fitted lid.  This is when the chemical reaction happens (aluminum foil, baking soda and salt).  I let it soak 5 minutes and then remove.  I rinse with water and rub dry with a microfiber cloth.

And, viola!  Aren't they so pretty and shiny??  So easy and quick to do!