We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Home Cleaning Cleaning Products The 10 Best Silver Polishes of 2024 Including pastes, creams, and cloths. By Nor'adila Hepburn Nor'adila Hepburn Nor’Adila is a contributing writer for Real Simple. Her work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, US World News & Report, and Trip Advisor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and L. Daniela Alvarez Updated on March 14, 2024 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara In addition to fact-checking for Real Simple, Jillian covers various topics from food and wine to luxury travel and culture guides for outlets such as Travel + Leisure, Forbes, and Conde Nast Traveler. Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Final Verdict How to Shop FAQs Take Our Word for It Real Simple / Madison Woiten Whether you're dealing with jewelry or flatware, polishing silver is essential to maintain the look and lifespan of this delicate metal. While there are DIY cleaning solutions that use ingredients and supplies you can find at home, nothing beats the convenience and effectiveness of silver polishes. "Silver tarnishes over time as it oxidizes when exposed to sulfur compounds in the air, causing otherwise brilliant silver to appear dim and dirty," says Casey Fahey, restorer and head polisher of East Village Bangles. "Fortunately, this is only skin deep as silver polish reverses the surface layer of oxidation, revealing the shine underneath." To find the best silver polishes, we spent hours researching various silver cleaning products while considering factors such as type, formula, and function. In addition to Fahey, we spoke to Esme Rogers-Evans, expert jewelry designer at Duxford Studios, Alessandro Gazzo of Emily's Maids, Jennifer Roane and Melanie Fitzpatrick, owners of the jewelry brand LeMel, and Cara Hochhalter, owner of jewelry brand Maple and J, for product recommendations and tips on what to look for. Our Top Picks Best Overall Silver Polish: Goddard’s Silver Polish Foam at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Silver Polish Cream: Wright's Silver Cleaner and Polish Cream at Amazon ($6) Jump to Review Best Gentle Silver Polish: Hagerty Silversmiths' Polish at Amazon ($12) Jump to Review Best Heavy-Duty Silver Polish: Weiman Silver Polish at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Silver Polish for Jewelry: Connoisseurs Premium Edition Silver Jewelry Cleaner at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Silver Polish for Silverware: Hagerty Instant Silver Dip at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review Best Silver Polishing Gloves: Hagerty Silversmiths' Gloves at Amazon ($17) Jump to Review Best Silver Polishing Cloth: Goddard's Silver Polishing Cloth at Amazon ($8) Jump to Review Best Silver Polishing Wipes: Connoisseurs Silver Wipes at Amazon ($15) Jump to Review Best Silver Polishing Brush: Simple Shine Horsehair Silver Brush Set at Amazon ($13) Jump to Review Best Overall Silver Polish Goddard’s Silver Polish Foam Amazon View On Amazon $10 What Stands Out This versatile foam works on every type of silver. What Could Be Improved Foam cleaners can create more mess. Goddard’s Silver Polish Foam is our top choice for its versatility, deep-cleaning power, and ability to protect your silver. It’s effective at cleaning everything from jewelry to silverware to cookware to coins—and it’s also Fahey’s go-to silver polish. Although the formula was developed in 1847, it has been perfected to clean and restore silver while protecting it from degradation caused by environmental effects. The long-lasting silver polish foam can remove tarnish without any hard buffing or scrubbing, leaving your silver products sparkling in no time. It even comes with a detailed sponge applicator. As is the case with most silver polishes, rinsing your item after applying the polish and then drying immediately with a soft cloth will yield the best results. For those who want to use this polish for cutlery and cookware, it’s important to wash your items before using them to handle food. In addition to this 6-ounce jar, the silver polish is also available in a larger 18-ounce size. Type: Foam | Size: 6 or 18 ounces Best Silver Polish Cream Wright's Silver Cleaner and Polish Cream Amazon View On Amazon $6 View On Walmart $13 View On Home Depot $6 What Stands Out This gentle formula is versatile and safe to use on more materials than just silver. What Could Be Improved This polish requires a bit of scrubbing. Thanks to its gentle and ammonia-free formula, Wright’s Silver Cream is a mild yet versatile silver polish cream. This cleaner is safe to use on silver jewelry with diamonds and gemstones, as well as stainless steel, chrome, and porcelain. While this polish does require a bit more elbow grease to thoroughly clean most items, it’s able to remove tarnish from sterling silver. This formula is gentle enough to test out, remove tarnish, and reveal some shine without scratching or harming silver products. Gazzo recommends this pick as his preferred silver polish (next to DIY cleaning). This silver cream also comes with a sponge applicator for precise cleaning, making its budget-friendly price even more impressive. Type: Cream | Size: 8 ounces Best Gentle Silver Polish Hagerty Silversmiths' Polish Amazon View On Amazon $12 View On Home Depot $17 View On Target $24 What Stands Out It is a gentle formula safe for silver and silver-plated items. What Could Be Improved It has a strong odor. The Hagerty Silversmith Polish features a powerful liquid polish formula that is non-abrasive and gentle enough to restore shine without damaging the item you need to polish. It contains R-22 Tarnish Preventative, an active ingredient that prevents tarnish and leaves silver sparkling clean. According to the brand, this patented formula keeps silver untarnished longer than other polishes, so you don’t have to clean your silverware and jewelry as often. The formula is gentle enough for silver, silver-plated jewelry, metal tableware, musical instruments, and gold. This polish cleans silver in one step and doesn’t have to be rinsed. Apply the solution with a soft cotton cloth or horsehair brush, buff till shiny, and your jewelry is ready. Just note that it has an odor that some might find overpowering. Type: Liquid polish | Size: 8 ounces Best Heavy-Duty Silver Polish Weiman Silver Polish Amazon View On Amazon $10 What Stands Out This cleaner can buff away severe discoloration on silver and metal. What Could Be Improved It's scented, which some people may not like. Polishing silver and other metals can take some effort—especially if you’re trying to restore them to their former glory—but Weiman’s Silver Polish is heavy-duty enough to buff away major discoloration and tarnish, leaving behind a brilliant shine and coat of protection. In addition to silver, this liquid polish can revive dull metals like copper, gold, platinum, titanium, brass, and aluminum. Whether you need to polish antique silverware and teapots or delicate jewelry with precious gemstones, this cleaner leaves behind an immense sparkle and shine. While this powerful silver polish is ammonia-free, note that it does have a subtle floral scent. Its non-scratch formula makes it versatile and safe for several surfaces as long as you rinse the item with water and dry it immediately with a clean absorbent cloth. Type: Liquid | Size: 8 ounces Best Silver Polish for Jewelry Connoisseurs Premium Edition Silver Jewelry Cleaner Amazon View On Amazon $10 View On Target $8 View On Kohls.com $8 What Stands Out This liquid cleaner removes tarnish without scrubbing. What Could Be Improved This polish can cause damage if used too frequently. Liquid silver polish dips are typically harsher than creams or pastes, but the Connoisseurs Premium Edition Cleaner has a gentle ammonia-free formula that’s safe for silver jewelry. The cleaner has a plastic tray to submerge your jewelry in the solution for a few seconds before rinsing. However, for silver jewelry with extensive tarnish, you might need a second round—if so, wait five minutes and repeat the process. Though this product is for sterling silver jewelry, the brand also has cleaning solutions for fashion jewelry, diamonds, and gold. Keep in mind that while it is safe to clean jewelry periodically with this cleaner, don’t overdo it, or you might damage your jewelry. Type: Liquid | Size: 9.6 ounces Best Silver Polish for Silverware Hagerty Instant Silver Dip Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Walmart $15 View On Target $11 What Stands Out This polish removes tarnish in seconds. What Could Be Improved It can only be used on silver and not other metals. The Hagerty Instant Silver Dip contains an active ingredient that removes tarnishes within seconds—perfect for those who need their silver pieces cleaned right away. It’s also inexpensive, costing just a fraction of the cost of professional cleaning. To use it, pour a small amount on a cloth and apply it to the tarnished area. Rinse and dry with a soft microfiber towel for shine and polish. This polish is only safe for silver and is not recommended for cleaning stainless steel or other metals. Type: Liquid dip | Size: 12 ounces Best Silver Polishing Gloves Hagerty Silversmiths' Gloves Amazon View On Amazon $17 View On Walmart $23 View On Home Depot $20 What Stands Out This polish requires minimal cleanup. What Could Be Improved Only one pair is included with this purchase. Dry cloths are essential for polishing silver, as they can remove any excess water or solution and add a layer of shine to the surface. We like the Hagerty Silversmiths’ Gloves because they allow precision while polishing and require minimal cleanup. The gloves are made of a soft and absorbent heavy-gauge terry cloth that can withstand several cleanings. They’re also expert-approved: Fahey always has these in his toolkit to gently massage silver jewelry and other items. These gloves can clean, polish, and prevent tarnish on sterling, gold, and silver-plated items. But once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan, these gloves should be replaced rather than washed. However, you may find success by washing them and applying a separate polish cleaner. Type: Cloth glove | Quantity: 1 pair Best Silver Polishing Cloth Goddard's Silver Polishing Cloth Walmart View On Amazon $8 View On Walmart $12 What Stands Out The cloth has anti-tarnishing agents for gentle but effective cleaning. What Could Be Improved It is not the best option for heavy-duty tarnishes. Polishing cloths are a great cleaning solution for jewelry and other silver items that might be too large to submerge in a solution. Made of natural cotton, the Goddard Silver Polishing Cloth is one of our favorite picks because it has anti-tarnishing agents that restore luster while removing dirt and stains. The cloth can be cleaned and reused, but most experts warn that putting it in a washer may remove the essential chemicals embedded in the cloth. The cloth is available in a pack of one, two, or six, and is reusable for months or years, depending on your frequency of use. While this is a good option for touch-ups and general use, for heavy-duty tarnish, you might need something stronger. Type: Cloth | Quantity: 1, 2, or 6 cloths Best Silver Polishing Wipes Connoisseurs Silver Wipes Amazon View On Amazon $15 View On Walmart $12 View On Bigelowchemists.com What Stands Out This mess-free formula requires no dry time or treatment after polishing. What Could Be Improved This is not the most sustainable option as each cleaning creates single-use waste. For the quickest and most convenient way to clean silver, look no further than the Connoisseurs Silver Wipes. These dry and disposable wipes are non-abrasive and do not require any post-treatment or rinsing on silver items. A single wipe can clean up to four five-piece flatware sets, two to three small items, or one to two large pieces (like teapots or serving platters). While not as thorough as creams and liquids, these silver polishing wipes are loved for their mess-free cleanup that leaves your items with an effortless sparkle. There’s also an invisible anti-tarnish coating that protects silver from future buildup. Unlike the other polishes on our list, these wipes will work best on purely silver items that do not include other stones and metals such as diamonds or gold. Type: Wipes | Quantity: 10 wipes Best Silver Polishing Brush Simple Shine Horsehair Silver Brush Set Amazon View On Amazon $13 View On Walmart $13 What Stands Out The brushes can polish vintage silverware without scratches. What Could Be Improved No polish is included with the set. If you want to deep-clean your silverware and jewelry, we recommend a soft bristle brush like the Horsehair Silver Brush Set. This set includes a 6.75-inch all-purpose brush and a small 6-inch detail brush for raised surfaces and crevices in antiques, coins, jewelry, and more. Each brush is made from premium horsehair bristles that clean silver safely without leaving scratches. While you can use just the brush to clean, we recommend pairing it with a silver polish for the best results. Overall, this is a good choice if you have heirloom or vintage silverware that needs extra love to restore its shine. Unfortunately, the brush set does not include cleaning polish, which would have been a nice add-on. Type: Brush | Quantity: 2 brushes Final Verdict Our top pick is Goddard's Silver Polish Foam for its overall cleaning power that works on a variety of silver items. We also like that it's a long-lasting product that removes tarnish and leaves silver sparkling. For those who need something more powerful, we recommend Weiman's Silver Polish because it's a heavy-duty liquid formula that cleans extremely tarnished items. How to Shop for Silver Polish Like a Pro Type “There are many different types of polish and some are better at certain applications, whether that be delicate pieces, pieces with stones embedded, etc,” says Hochhalter. Foam, cream, liquid, disposable wipes, wadding, and cloth are some of the most commonly used types of silver polish. Choosing the right type could depend on the type of silver item you're cleaning (like cutlery, jewelry, or cookware) and whether or not you need a heavy-duty cleaner. Hochhalter says that creams and pastes are highly effective at removing tarnish, and are especially ideal for polishing detailed or textured silver pieces because they can reach small crevices. You can also opt for liquid dips like the Connoisseurs Premium Edition Silver Jewelry Cleaner. “While liquid dips are convenient for items without gemstones or intricate designs, they should be used cautiously as they can be too aggressive for delicate or antique silver pieces,” says Hochhalter. Also, consider the cleanup process for the product you choose—while a cream polish might be more effective, it will leave behind more of a mess. Formula Unlike other cleaning products, silver polishes aren't usually available in non-toxic or plant-based formulas (except for DIY solutions made of household ingredients). Gazzo recommends looking for silver polishes that are ammonia- and phosphate-free and wearing gloves and/or a mask if you have sensitivities. Roane and Fitzpatrick say that one of their favorite polishing methods is to use a foam jewelry cleaner paired with a polishing cloth. “The foam gets into the hard-to-reach places and breaks down the grime so it can be easily rinsed away,” they say. “After the foam rinse, a gentle rub with the polishing cloth removes any leftover dirt and tarnish, and the piece looks brand new.” Function While many silver polishes are versatile enough to use on several surfaces, others are catered to specific uses and items, like a silver polish cleaner that's designed for jewelry. All of the experts we spoke to also agree that it's best to spot-test your silver items, especially for plated pieces (which has a metal base and a thin top layer of silver). "Always be mindful with silver-plated pieces," says Gazzo. "Dip them in the product very briefly and always rinse with water and dry them immediately with a soft cloth." Questions You Might Ask How does silver polish work? According to the experts we spoke to, silver polishes work by reversing the chemical reaction that causes tarnish to occur by using ingredients like sodium carbonate. Fahey says the black color on tarnished silver is caused by an accumulation of silver sulfide. "Silver polish is meant to rub off silver sulfide from the surface of silver, returning the piece to its original shine," says Rogers-Evans. "It may sound shocking that the polish removes some of the silver, but it's only a very fine layer that isn't visible." How do you use silver polish? The recommended instructions on how to use a silver polish will almost always be found on the cleaner's label, but as a rule of thumb, Fahey recommends applying a sparing amount and gently massaging the cleaner onto your silver item. Then, let it sit for anywhere from several seconds up to a few minutes to allow the chemical reaction to take place. For detailed work, you can use a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush. After rinsing your silver items with cool water, always dry them with a soft towel. Gazzo says it's important to make sure your items are completely dry before storing them, preferably in a place with indirect sunlight and proper airflow. How often should you use silver polish? Silver polishes only need to be used occasionally. You can use them whenever your silver items start to appear dingy and look like they need a bit of a shine. If the silver is exposed to elements like sulfur and chlorine, says Fahey, your items might need to be polished lightly. Both Gazzo and Roger-Evans agree that the best way to keep your silver sparkling is to take preventive measures that delay tarnishing, like storing jewelry in an airtight box when not being worn and never showering, swimming, or exercising with it. "Sensitive types of metals like silver should be stored away from moisture, checking them occasionally to ensure they're looking good," says Gazzo. Take Our Word for It This article was written by L. Daniela Alvarez, a contributing writer with nearly three years of experience writing about lifestyle content and product reviews, and Nor’Adila Hepburn, a contributing writer at Real Simple. To compile this list, they spent hours researching silver polishes and compiling the best ones for the list. They also received tips on how to shop for silver polishes from a panel of experts: Casey Fahey, restorer and head polisher of East Village Bangles; Esme Rogers-Evans, expert jewelry designer at Duxford Studios, Alessandro Gazzo of Emily's Maids, Jennifer Roane and Melanie Fitzpatrick, owners of the jewelry brand LeMel, and Cara Hochhalter, owner of jewelry brand Maple and J. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit