Apartment Therapy Re-Nest | How to: Clean Silver with Ketchup

How to: Clean Silver with Ketchup

We know there’s 12 uses for vodka—one of which is cleaning diamond jewelry—but we need to clean silver candlesticks.

Since we don’t own any chemical-y polish, we did a little online research for home solutions. Turns out some people recommend…ketchup?

Supposedly, the acid in the tomatoes reacts with the oxidizing of the tarnished silver. We have some candlesticks that need to be cleaned up, but we decided to tried it on a mismatched earring first.
Here's before:

Here's after:

So, it worked, mostly. There's a definite difference in the sheen level, but we wouldn't say it looked brand-sparkling new. Plus, our kitchen smells like tomato. We’re still a little skeptical to try it on our candlesticks, but we’re going to go ahead and use it to clean up other small pieces of jewelry that aren't too precious.

Here’s How:

Gather tarnished silver.

Put ketchup in a small bowl.

If your ring, bracelet, or earring has a smooth surface, place it in the bowl for 5-10 minutes.

If it has a detailed surface, use a soft cloth (like an old t-shirt to be extra green!) to work ketchup into the crevices.

Rinse jewelry with warm water, then pat dry.

Any other suggestions?

Comments (7)

Ketchup works really well for copper. I've never tried it on silver though. For copper, you have to let it sit awhile.

However, I'd like to hear more about vodka to clean diamond jewelry. My grandmother gave me her wedding band, and I'm hesitant of the cleaners jewelers might use!

posted by mniche on August 29th 2008 at 2:54pm
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You can use aluminum foil and baking soda to do an awesome job (I know from watching a video, not from actually cleaning any silver) as explained here: http://educ.queensu.ca/~science/main/concept/chem/c03/C03DEEA1.htm

I can't recall the video I saw, but it was a fun-with-science podcast type thing, and it made me want to have tarnished silver to try this on. It made a lot of sense as explained.

Also, if you want to go the other way (tarnishing your silver, for example, a necklace or charm) you can do so with an egg (the sulfur). I'm pretty sure you can do it without touching the egg to the silver, but here's a basic:
http://www.wikihow.com/Put-an-Antique-Finish-on-Your-New-Silver
(Again, haven't tried this but it makes sense theoretically!)

posted by happify on August 29th 2008 at 3:12pm
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I have used the baking soda/hot water/aluminum foil trick. It works! It got rid of the tarnish on a silver bracelet in less than a minute.

posted by mbm on August 29th 2008 at 3:34pm
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Toothpaste (regular not gel -- Tom's of Maine works fine) and an old tooth brush -- perhaps similar to baking soda and aluminum, but already mixed! Works great on jewelry, but I haven't tried it on silver ware.

posted by Green Me on August 29th 2008 at 5:59pm
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Ketchup works fine. Problem is: I can never get that smell out!

posted by RH on August 30th 2008 at 1:05pm
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Wow! I followed the link and the directions for the aluminium foil/ baking soda trick. It was so easy and fast. I'd recommend it highly!

posted by orrismb on August 31st 2008 at 4:14am
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I wonder about SOY products. --

I notice that my tarnished silverware will turn bright & shiny after dipping them in soy ice cream, or my cereal bowl with soy milk. Esp. soy ice cream.

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I have not pursued further knowledge on the subject, nor conducted tests.

I am guessing it's the antioxidant-ness of it (whatever compound in the soy product that provides it, & the acid of tomatoes) that grabs onto the oxidized (tarnished) silver.

--Perhaps it sort of illustrates what foods rich in antioxidants are doing for the inside of one's arteries (& maybe guts?)! I digress.

posted by digger61 on September 1st 2008 at 10:00am
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